Sail Port Stephens - Williams brothers fight it out for supremacy

by Di Pearson on 17 Apr 2010 Chris Williams and his Team GUE are leading the Sail Port Stephens Performance Racing division after scoring a win in Race three today – while his older brother, Kim is in third place after finishing that race in third place – in between sits Sally Warneford’s Thirlmere.

The Williams brothers are long time rivals on the water, and when it comes to sailing sports boats Chris has always had the upper hand and this week has proved no different. Both are at Sail Port Stephens with their families and both are sailing Melges 32’s belonging to Kim.

Sailing two windward/leeward courses on Salamander Bay just after midday, Chris pulled off fifth place and the win, while Kim finished the day with fourth and third places. Chris has a two-point lead over Warneford’s Sydney 38, with a further one point to brother Kim.

“We finished with just two boat lengths between us today – it was good close racing,” said Chris, who has won many sports boats events, most notably at the former Skandia Geelong Week, now known as Audi Victoria Week.

“Today was a bit of a lucky dip – it was very fluky. Having said that, I don’t think Kim’s ever beaten me in Sports Boats,” said Chris, who sails for Gosford Sailing Club. Officials shortened the second race when winds became too light and shifty.

Sailing with Chris at Port Stephens are young brothers, Nick (14) and Sean (11) Connor. Nick is the open MJ national and state champion, while Sean is the junior national and state champion. The two also won the Flying 11 Junior title together. “They’re very good and this is a great experience for them,” says Chris.

Thirlmere, skippered by Warneford, pulled off a pair of second places. At the back end on tactics was World Masters Laser Radial champion Vanessa Dudley, fresh from her win in the Brisbane Gladstone Yacht Race aboard the yacht Wedgetail. Also on the crew are veteran Sydney-Hobart sailors Phil Eadie and Michael Hesse.

A diverse mix of yachts includes Bruce McKay’s Sayer 12 Wasabi and the two Melges 32 sports boats skippered by Chris Williams (Team GUE) and Kim Williams (Rock N Roll) to Koko, Roy Leslie’s Elan 37, all from NSW.

Originally owned by Queenslander Ken Down, Wasabi was designed and built by Queensland yachtsman Jon Sayer and made her debut in the Melbourne-Osaka Double Handed Yacht Race in 2007. McKay purchased the Wasabi green yacht in 2008 and has entered her in a variety of races including his first Sydney Hobart last December.

Racing in the series concludes tomorrow with the Performance Racing division contesting an Around the Buoys Race starting from 11.00pm.

For further information, please visit: www.sailportstephens.com.au