Perfect day for last pointscore race in Winter Series

by Peter Campbell on 7 Jul 2002 The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's hugely popular BMW Sydney Winter Series pointscore racing ended today as it started back in April - on a brilliantly sunny day and with a moderate to fresh breeze for the big fleet.

Results in today's race, sailed in a testing 15 to 20 knot west-south-westerly breeze, decided the winners and placegetters in each of the eight handicap divisions, with a little as two three points separating the top boats going into this 13th and final race of the Series.

Competition has been the closest in years and with handicap changes kicking in for the last race there were several upsets in the ultimate pointscore results. The fresh westerly blowing right from the start also favoured the front-markers which quickly opened up good leads on the first round.

In Division A, topscoring points today went to Geoff Lee's Sayer 42, Taurus VIII, with close rival Infinity III, CYCA Vice Commodore Martin James' Farr 65, back in 10th scoring place. The winner of the final race was the casual entry, Austmark, with Taurus VIII second.

The end result was that first place overall went to Taurus VIII, a welcome home present for the owner who has been overseas for most of the Winter Series, the yacht being skippered by Rolfe Mische in his absence.

Infinity III held on to second overall, third going to The Dreamtime, a Murray 50 skippered by John Woodruff.

There was plenty of celebration back on The Deck at the CYCA for Phillip and Nada Dickinson and their crew of the Beneteau 50, Champagne on Ice. A 10th across the line but a seventh scoring place was sufficient for them top win the overall pointscore in Division B. During the season, Champagne was penalised 14 minutes so they are looking serious competive for the northern racing.

They finished 10 points ahead of CYCA Commodore-elect John Messenger in his Sydney 38, Utopia, third going to another Sydney 38, Kone Next (Richard Holstein).

Casual entry Savoir Faire (Malcolm Roe) won the final race.

Division C saw an overall win by the Sydney 36, Jayargee (Stephen Griffin) just three points in front of the Adams 10, The Amateurs, skippered by Jonathon Gibson. Third place went to the Peugeot Racing, the Beneteau 36.7 owned by Peter Whitford.

Winner of the final race in Division C was 3 Carats, skippered by Jon Saniford.

The Tribal Syndicate's Elliot 10, Spearhead, ended with a convincing winning margin in the pointscore in Division D, second place overall going to David Mason's Beneteau 42.7, Deception, and third to Cougar, John McCarthy's Farr 11.6. The last race went to the casual entry, Panacea/Sydney by Sail, skippered by Rick Wilcox.

Division E produced a remarkably close result, with the three top boats in the overall points finishing in that order in the last race today, and each having final score of 518 points.

A countback was needed to separate them, with Reve (Kevin Whelan) winning from Cutloose (Rob McConchie) and Redeemer (Michael Phillips).

Another last race winner, Magic, David Wright's Elliott 7, finished overall winner in Division F, with a 12 point margin from the North Shore 33, Laissez Faire (J.Hill and G.Connery) and the J24, Hyper Active (Simon Lavers).

Sea Rug Hoo Ha, Peter Howes' Halvorsen 25, finished last today in Division G, but was able to discard the race and win Division G by five points from Clewless, Guy Irwin's Endeavour 26. Third overall was Syonara (G.Maughan).

The BMW Sydney Winter Series win for Sea Rug Hoo Ha ends an outstanding year for Peter Howes, having also won the summer and overall pointscore with the Sydney Amateur Sailing Club.

Today's final race in Division G saw the former Sydney Hobart Race competitor, the Currawong 30, Katinka, notch up her third win of the BMW Sydney Winter Series. Owned by veteran ocean racing navigator Des O'Connell and his son, Paul, the win hopefully will be a welcome tonic for Des, who is recovering from a heart operation.

Privateer, William Mirrow's Beneteau 34.7, took out the non-spinnaker Division J by finishing six places ahead of nearest rival, the former One Cup world champion Stormy Petrel (Kevin O'Shea), third overall going to Wings Three (Paul Billingham and Rob Moodie). Winner of the last race was the little Hood 23, Riff Raff (Paul and Suzie Haas).

The BMW Sydney Winter Series will end next Sunday with the traditional Ladies Day Race for the Chris Lee Memorial Trophy.


BMW Sydney Winter Series 2002

Provisional Final Pointscore

Division A:

1. Taurus VIII (Geoff Lee) 517 pts

2. Infinity III (Martin James) 514

3. The Dreamtime (John Woodruff) 511

Division B:

1. Champagne on Ice (Phillip & Nada Dickinson) 516 pts

2. Utopia (John Messenger) 506

3. Kone Next (Richard Holstein) 501

Division C:

1. Jayargee (Stephen Giffin) 597 pts

2. The Amateurs (Jonathon Gibson) 504

3. Peugeot Racing (Peter Whitford) 497

Division D:

1. Spearhead (Tribal Syndicate) 518 pts

2. Deception (David Mason) 511

3. Cougar (John McCarthy) 510

Division E:

1. Reve (Kevin Whelan) 518 pts

2. Cutloose (Rob McConchie) 518

3. Redeemer (Michael Phillips) 518


Division F:

1. Magic (David Wright) 531 pts

2. Laissez Faire (J.Hill/G.Connery) 519

3. Hyper Activ (Simon Lavers) 510

Division G:

1. Sea Rug Hoo Ha (Peter Howes) 516 pts

2. Clewless (Guy Irwin) 511

3. Syonara (G.Maughan) 507

Division J:

1. Privateer (William Mirrow) 539 pts

2. Stormy Petrel (Kevin O'Shea) 530

3. Wings Three (Paul Billingham/Rob Moodie) 524