2010 LCMR Regatta- Dogwatch, Scud and APC Max take out the prizes

by Doug Cuming on 4 Oct 2010
APC Logistics 2010 Lock Crowther Memorial Regatta.

Consistent sailing has brought Lake Macquarie sailor Ken Davies handicap victory in his catamaran Dogwatch; Pittwater specialist Kurt Ottowa took out the OMR trophy and APC Max (Tony Considine) took the line honours prize by coming first in every race. Seawind catamaran sailor Ron Bickerstaff on Deja Vu took the Cruising Division over several other Seawinds and gentlemen racers.

The 28 catamarans and trimarans in the LCMR series were presented with unpleasant conditions: with rain squalls up to 25 knots then dying out altogether in typical Pittwater style. In some races the faster boats would streak ahead only to be becalmed and be caught up by the rest of the fleet; in others the rest of fleet would be becalmed whist the leaders carried their own private wind to the finish. The squalls provided some interesting moments as boats flew hulls, dug in bows and experienced general chaos.

Other performers included the consistent Indian Chief (Darren Drew) with second on handicap, OMR & line honours; Lukim Yu (Club Captain Robin Ottowa) took third on handicap and Big Bird (race organiser Steve Barton) took third on OMR. Felix (David King) and Vivacious (Roland Schmidmair) took second and third in the Cruising division.

[Sorry, this content could not be displayed]
Sunday Race 3
Race 3 started near the RMYC using the same course as yesterday morning – out to Barrenjoey with a loop around Mackerel and Stokes Point, then back to the Club. A clean start saw the speedsters shoot off in a steady breeze: APC Max led out of the start followed by Indian Chief, Quickstep then Voodoo Spirit around the Towlers mark.

Around Taylors Voodoo had passed Quickstep but they recovered to pass again with Lukim Yu in tow. Lukim passed Quickstep on the fluky run down to Mackerel to be third behind APC Max and Indian Chief. The wind carried the leaders quickly around the Barrenjoey mark stretching their lead as the rest of the fleet struggled to move in windless conditions.

Again APC Max finished first followed by Indian Chief and then Lukim Yu who sailed an excellent race picking vital shifts to distance herself from Quickstep and Voodoo Spirit. APC won the triple with the both handicap wins followed by Lukim and the Chief, with Dogwatch recording a consistent fourth. In the Cruising division Powerzone was the dominant line honours winner with Vivacious taking out the handicap prize.

Sunday Race 4
The afternoon race off Mackerel was a congested affair with Big Bird coming off second best when she banged her bows into the rear beam of Louie the Tri; both boats able to continue without drama. Again the speedsters headed off in a familiar pattern around Lion Island as the wind increased to 20 knots under the influence of a rain cloud. Again the brave hoisted their spinnakers for the run down to Walker Point, most gaining an advantage over those who hesitated. APC Max headed the fleet around the mark followed by Indian Chief and Quickstep, both just ahead of Voodoo Spirit.

The wind held up for the leaders who made short chop of the sail back upwind to Barrenjoey and following the remaining wind down Pittwater to the finish. Unfortunately for the smaller boats the wind died down before they got to the mark and they struggled in the sloppy seas and incoming tide to make headway. As a consequence the handicap winners were also the top finishers.

Back at the bar the tall stories intermingled with the NRL Grand Final on the television – all agreed that this year's Lock Crowther Memorial Regatta was one of the best attended for several years despite the weather conditions.

The next event on the NSW Multihull calendar is APC Logistics Australian National Multihull Regatta on November 22-28 run by the Wangi Amateur Sailing Club in Lake Macquarie. Many of the Sydney multihulls, as well as boats from Queensland, Victoria and South Australia, will join the local Lake fleet for a very competitive event on flat open water. Further details can be found at: http://www.wangirslasc.yachting.org.au/.

LCMR Race results are available on the RMYC Multihulls Lock Crowther Memorial Regatta website: http://www.royalmotor.com.au/multihulls/Crowther.html.
For any enquiries please contact the Royal Motor Yacht Club on (02) 9997 5511.

Results

Line honours: APC Max 1,1,1,1,(4); Indian Chief 2,2,2,2,(8); Quickstep 3,5,4,3,(15)

Performance handicap: Dogwatch 1.5,5,4,9 (19.5); Indian Chief 18,7,3,3,(31); Lukim Yu 16, 4,2,11,(33)

OMR: Scud 1,5,4,3,(13); Indian Chief 8,2,2,2,(14); Big Bird 2,4,6,6,(18)

Cruising: Deja Vu 6,1,2,1,(10); Felix 3,4,3,3,(13); Vivacious 4,5,1,5, (15)

[Sorry, this content could not be displayed]
[Sorry, this content could not be displayed]
[Sorry, this content could not be displayed]
[Sorry, this content could not be displayed]