Nothing wintery about today’s Audi Winter Series race

by Lisa Ratcliff on 2 May 2010 There was nothing wintery about today’s Audi Winter Series race which marked a return to summer-like conditions for the fleet of 140 as they drifted leisurely around the course enjoying the unseasonably warm autumn sunshine.

The 10 knot westerly breeze stayed in just long enough for all but division C boats to pass through the gate the first time, meaning that principal race officer Denis Thompson wasn’t able to shorten the course - and that the final results were going to be bit of a lottery.

“There’s no sign of the breeze but it’s a beautiful clear day and everyone is enjoying the warm weather,” said Thompson mid-race.

In division C the heartbroken crew aboard Troy Dillon’s Beneteau 44.7 CMist went from famous to fair when 100 metres from the finish line the breeze shut down and they found themselves up pointing 180 degrees away from the finish boat, and drifting backwards. Eventually the sea breeze collected them on the way through, but not before it had cruelly deposited the three divisional placegetters over the line first.

Ten knots eventually evaporated to two knots during the transition between the land breeze and a light afternoon sea breeze which finally gathered the tired fleet up and pushed them home within the 4.30pm time limit, the time set to ensure a daylight finish, and unofficially, to give the devotees plenty time to get home for the riveting third series of Underbelly.

Today’s division B winner was Guy Stening’s super lightweight Melges 32, Optimum, sailing for the host club, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.

“While it was a bit of a lottery and it really could have been anyone’s race, we were watching what was going on around the harbour so there was some skill involved in putting the boat where the breeze was paying,” said Stening this evening.

“At only 1,700 kilos and with a big carbon fibre rig, we definitely had an advantage today. It was fluky as, we were quite a way ahead of the rest of our division when we saw them bearing down on us.”

“We saw Sean Langman put his kite up and thought ‘this is going to be interesting’ but luckily the nor’easter reached us before he did.”

Division D winner was the wily Peter Sorensen and his Sydney 36CR The Philosopher’s Club. ‘Soro’ stacked the rail with sailing heavyweights and managed to keep the boat moving for the entire pursuit race, a tenth of a knot the lowest boat speed recorded.

“It was a very tiring day. We just tried to keep our momentum going and avoided stopping dead in the water by tacking,” said Sorensen, sailing for Middle Harbour Yacht Club.

After a couple of lead changes, George Waldthausen’s Cavalier 350 Superfine stepped out in the light stuff to finish the division F winner. Superfine has contested every Winter Series since 1996 and prior to that Waldthausen raced his previous boat for five years meaning he’s almost reached his 20th consecutive series. He’s had a couple of thirds but has never managed a series win, “the reason we keep trying year after year,” he laughs. “One day we’ll get it,” he says, undeterred.

In the big boat division, Leslie Green’s Swan 60 Ginger took the gun from Bob Steel’s Quest and Stephen Ainsworth’s Loki, the two having made a break for it during the first transition.

From the race track, Loki’s navigator Michael Bellingham provided updates: “The wind has been average 5 knots every direction, but a beautiful day. We are having a nice day with a little sea breeze building to finish. What else would you rather be doing?” Fair question.

This afternoon’s lucky winner of the Audi A5 3.0 TDI quattro for a weekend was Anne Lawrence, crewmember on Vanessa III.