Yachting Victoria Club Marine Series- Crew lucky to escape injury

by Mike Sabey on 6 Dec 2010 Yachting Victoria Club Marine Series - The crew of the nine metre sloop Matador were lucky to escape serious injury when the tip of their broken mast crashed to the deck, following a two boat head on collision just minutes before the start of heat two of the Club Marine Series sailed on Port Phillip over the weekend.

The second division Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron based Bull 30 (pictured left) owned by Murray McCutcheon was reported to be on port tack when it collided with the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria based Adams 10.5 Cousin It, co owned by Adrian Caharija and Tony Fishley.

Mr McCutcheon said later, 'Fortunately none was injured in the incident but the noise of our carbon mast snapping was frightening!'

Meanwhile at RYCV the crew of Cousin It who claimed they were on starboard tack prepared to lodge a protest. Its helmswoman Dianne Knight said, 'Matador was forced up by a third boat into us, standing its mast up which snared the top of ours and the next thing there a loud crack as I lost steerage!'

Cousin It’s mast suffered stretched rigging and is to be inspected during the week, whilst Matador’s post Christmas ORCV Bay Dash campaign is in tatters, as the crew say it will take weeks to sort out a new rig which is insured, but not by the event’s naming rights sponsor.

Out on the division two race course, David Ellis’s new Archambault A31 Penfold Audi (RYCV) relished the 12-14 knot tropical breezes to produce its second straight win, lifting it to head of the division’s leader board on 2 points ahead of Terry Hall’s Sandringham YC based Absolut which has scored a pair of seconds (4 pts).

Young Lion roars in Division Three
In division three that is enjoying 40 plus boats fighting for the performance handicap honours, Michael Manson’s Sandringham YC based Young Lion on 4 pts has opened up an early series lead with a first and third, whilst snapping on its heels is Brendan Kruger’s Wavelength (SYC) on 9 pts.

Division One forty footers shoot out
The Sydney 38’s are exerting pressure at the top of Division One’s leader board with David McCraken’s Hobsons Bay YC’s Sydney 38 Ikon scoring two wins from three heats (4 pts), whilst Alan Woodward's Beneteau 45 Reverie (Royal Bright YC) is on 8 pts with a first and second.

In Division Zero for the super quick 50 footers, after six heats Alan Whitley’s Sandringham YC based 52 Cougar II has etched out a handy lead on 11 points, with Robert Hanna’s snappy Shogun is second overall four points astern on 14.5 pts

The Club Marine Series next race day will be on Saturday fifth of February 2011 off Williamstown and Brighton (to be conducted by Royal Brighton Yacht Club), with Division O starting gun firing at 1155 and the other divisions at 1355 hours.

Club Marine Series at a Glance
2011
5 February 1155 and 1355 Hours - – conducted by Royal Brighton Yacht Club
19 February 1155 and 1355 Hours – conducted by Sandringham Yacht Club
5 March 1155 and 1355 Hours – conducted by Keep Cancer at Bay
9 April 1155 and 1355 Hours – conducted by Hobsons Bay Yacht Club

Club Marine Insurance is the naming rights sponsor for the Series which was first staged in 1992. Club Marine is a long term supporter and active participant in the great Australian marine lifestyle, that includes recreational boating and racing.

As the country’s largest provider of pleasure craft insurance, it is also proud that it’s been protecting the insurance needs of Australian boaters for more than 40 years.

More Info: www.clubmarineseries.com.au www.yachtingvictoria.com.au