Club Marine Series 2010-11 hailed as huge success

by Mike Sabey on 18 Apr 2011 Club Marine Series 2010-2011, held in Melbourne, was a huge success with Victoria’s top keelboat sailors singing their praises.

Royal Yacht Club of Victoria’s Club Captain and successful owner of the new Archambault A31 Penfold Audi Sports David Ellis was one competitor full of praise, saying, 'Club Marine’s sponsorship helps raise this summer long event’s profile for the 140 boats and over 800 competitors and it fosters a much wider interest in keelboat racing.

'There are few fleets anywhere in the world that have IRC and the AMS measurement systems so well embraced right the way through the fleet from the fifty footers down to the smaller division three club racers like the entry level S80s,' he added.

Last Friday 15th April more than 75 owners and crew together with a team from the sponsor’s head office attended the presentation of trophies at Royal Brighton Yacht Club.

Club Marine’s National Client Services Paula Cook said, 'We are delighted our sponsorship of this series helps support Yachting Victoria’s drive to increase the popularity of sailing and boating.'

Regatta at a Glance
In Division Zero for the Grand Prix fast fifty footers, Alan Whitley’s Sandringham Yacht Club based TP52 Cougar II steered by John Williams’ son Peter was consistently rock solid through, dominating the IRC results across the entire summer, scoring seven bullets (ie firsts) and three seconds to finish on 13 points.

Phil Simpfendorfer’s Elliott 44 Veloce (SYC) which is still being optimised and finished runner up in IRC, but in Performance handicap it took the trophy with five excellent wins.

Division One
Bruce McCraken’s consistently sailed Beneteau 45 Ikon (Hobsons Bay YC) was crewed mostly by seven family members including his wife Margaret, daughter Breeahn with her fiancé Rodney Muller on foredeck, Kirwan Robb (former Australian 49ers champion and sailing master) and his wife Erin and her brother Stuart Landells wrapped up series with three firsts and two thirds to finish on 11 points. The were ahead of Executive Decision 18 pts.

But in the AMS division Grant Botica’s Adams 10 Executive Decision (RYCV) reversed the results scoring 4 wins to take the trophy on 12 points.

Division Two
David Ellis’s new Archambault A31 Penfold Audi Sports (RYCV) took the second division double, winning both IRC and AMS with 3 bullets in each, forcing Terry Hall’s Absolut (Sandringham YC) into the unusual role of being the bridesmaid twice over.
David Ellis said, 'The double justifies of boat and the fine effort my crew has put in over the summer to hold a determined crew aboard Abslout.'

Division Three
In IRC 3, Michael Manson’s top performing Young 88 design Young Lion (SYC) made it four annual Club Marine titles in recent years with 3 wins and AMS it also scored with 4 wins, however next season Michael heads back in Division 2 after purchasing a new IRC French Archambault A31 which Penfold Audi Sports David Ellis is helping get set up and optimised.

In Performance handicap, which had more than 40 entries, Jurgen Pfeiffer’s Take Five from RMYS on 17 points scored a narrow victory over Young Lion.

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 Club Marine Series website Yachting Victoria website