Sunshine for closing Ladies Day Race of Audi Winter Series

by Jennifer Crooks, CYCA media on 25 Jul 2010 The 65 starters in today's closing ladies day race of the Audi Winter Series, were greeted with a sun drenched Sydney Harbour, warm winter temperatures of 15C and a steady 8 knots of sou’ south-easterly breeze, in the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia organised race.

Many boats got into the true spirit of the day dressing up in colourful costumes and wigs including the start boat led by Principal Race Officer Jennifer Birdsall.

The team onboard 61 year old Erica J, with Louise Stevenson at the helm got into the fun of the day with each crew member wearing a Lucille Ball blonde wig. The wigs did not hinder their performance as they came up with the win in non-spinnaker Division B.

'The conditions today suited the boat and we had a fantastic time! Because of the long tiller on the boat, it felt a bit like steering a surf board around the course!' Stevenson said.

'Les (Goodridge, the owner) was constantly making suggestions throughout the race but these were politely ignored!' Stevenson added. Other place getters in Division B non spinnaker were Megan Gayler on The Luge in second and Marianne Connolly on Chameleon third.

Commodore Garry Linacre commented at the prizegiving this afternoon 'The new Sailing Committee had made their first great decision in providing lovely weather and arranging a race with no gybes in it at all.'

Stephanie Cook, part owner of MortgageChoice Rumba, was very pleased with her first place in Spinnaker Division B.

'We don’t traditionally do well in light winds – it was really difficult to keep the boat going, but we pointed well and high when rounding marks,' Cook said.

'Our spinnaker work wasn’t good – the boys let us down at the front and were promptly told off. They were also our ballast and had to keep shifting their weight to keep the boat going, while the girls were calling the shots from the cockpit. It was good preparation for the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race next week,' Cook added. Other place getters were Heather Kosa on Tigger in second and Barbara Maunsell on Sinewave third.

Heather Johnston skippered Inkonkoni to victory in non spinnaker Division A after a great start. 'I must thank the owner Arthur Lane for trusting me with his boat today. I had several secondary skippers providing sound advice but I steered my own course and went with my gut feelings!' Johnston said. Inkonkoni was the lucky boat to be drawn as the winner of the Audi Winter Series prize car - an Audi A5 Sportback 3.0 TDI Quattro, which one lucky crew member will be able to drive for a week. A decision had not yet been made as to who the lucky crew member would be to drive away in the Audi this evening.

Stephanie Lyons skippered Livewire into second place in non spinnaker Division A, with Pam Messenger skippered Bainbridge Utopia into third place.

Dinah Eagle skippered Nocturne into first place in spinnaker Division A, with Julie Plant on Europa second and Lexi Silver on Quetzalcoatl in third.

Each division winning skipper will have their name engraved on the Chris Lee Trophy, which was presented to the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia by Chris Lee’s friends in appreciation of her dedication to yachting shortly after her passing in 1979. Chris served as a CYCA Associates Committee Member for ten years and was also a Race Officer and Secretary of Woollahra Sailing Club.

Full race results: http://www.cyca.com.au/sysfile/downloads/2010/club/2010-aws-cld/series.htm