Dragon pre-worlds- Husband and wife do battle
by Peter Campbell on 2 Apr 2010
Olga White on Murka 11 Bernie Kaaks - copyright
Russian husband and wife sailors Mikhail Muratov and Olga White, each skippering their own boat, are sharing the overall lead after day one of the International Dragon class Pre-Worlds regatta on Melbourne’s Port Phillip.
Royal Brighton Yacht Club is conducting the regatta in preparation for the world championships to be sailed on the bay in early January next year, attracting 18 Dragons from New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia in addition to the Russians.
White led all the way to win the first race at the helm of Murka 11, with her husband helming Murka 12 in second place. The results were the reverse in race two.
The Russian crews have sailed with success in previous Australian regattas, including the last two Prince Philip Cups, in Sydney and in Perth, with impressive results as they prepare for next year’s Dragon worlds.
Sydney boats placed third in both races, Baikal (Wolf Breit) finishing third in race one and Andrew York steering Wizzardy into third berth in race two.
Former world champion and nine-times Prince Philip Cup Australasian champion in the classic Dragon class, Tasmanian Nick Rogers, placed fourth and eighth.
The two Russians are equal on 3 points after day one, followed by Andrew York on 8 points, Wolf Breit on 9 points and Nick Rogers on 12 points. Close behind, both on 13 points, are puff-aus (Richard Lynn, WA) and Taranui (Matt Whitnall, NSW).
Today’s races were sailed in southerly winds that strengthened from 10-15 knots to 15-20 knots later in the afternoon.
Two races are scheduled each day tomorrow, Sunday and Monday.
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