Australia’s Mark Bradford leads Etchell Worlds Race 8

by Al Constable on 9 Nov 2002 Australia’s Mark Bradford leads Etchell Worlds fleet in race 8

The last day’s racing of the 2002 Waiwera Infinity Water Etchell World’s in Auckland New Zealand is not about who will win.

We know that already, it’s about four Australian crews battling for second and third.

Yesterday afternoon Cameron Miles, the 1999 Etchell World Champion took second place from Brisbane’s Mark Bradford.

Bradford wants the silver and this morning his determination is yielding results.

Race 8 started on time at 10am in the same southwester that’s been blowing all week at 18 knots.

The line was skewed 10 degrees but Bradford was away to a good start and picked the shifts up this 3-mile beat to lead at the first mark ahead of the British crew of Tim Law. Third was yet another Australian Chris Jackson ahead of….

Stuart Childerley, showing that he cannot and will not be denied his second title in a row.

Michael Coxon 5th, America’s Russ Steiner 6th, Ian Johnson 7th, Mark Richards 8th, Bruce McBriar 9th and Cameron Miles 10th.

At the end of the run, Bradford was still leading but Childerley showing the speed he has had all week under spinnaker had climbed into second place ahead of Jackson. McBriar had picked his last gybe perfectly to move to fourth.

Michael Manford came from 17th on the hoist to 9th on the drop, so he could cause some headaches for Miles now 11th

Peter McNeill was back in 47th The 100 boat fleet was already spread over 6 minutes.

Bradford retained his lead up the second beat but his North Sails boss Michael Coxon sailed through Childerly into second place. Chris Jackson is now third and Iain Murray has moved from 10th to 4th. Childerly is now fifth.

As they turn for the run to the finish Cameron Miles is now 7th

Michael Manford came from 17th on the hoist to 9th on the drop and held that up the beat.

Peter McNeill was back in 47th, but move to 29th up the beat.

The 92 boat fleet is spread over 9 minutes.

More soon