Back to back wins for defending Mt Gay Top Jock

by Lisa Ratcliff on 21 Apr 2007 Martin Hill’s Estate Master has taken out the CYCA’s Mt Gay Rum Top Jocks Regatta for the second year after fighting off strong challenges from the young team led by Seve Jarvin and Carl Crafoord’s Team Lewmar in the light air on Sydney Harbour today.

'The pressure was on being the defending champion,' admitted an excited Hill this afternoon.

Hill, sailing in his third consecutive Mt Gay Rum Top Jocks Regatta, entered with a top crew of gold medallist Tom King and champion match racer Michael Dunstan.

'I feel like I’m two timing,' he laughed tonight, referring to last year’s winning combination of himself plus Olympians Michael Blackburn and Malcolm Page who are presently in France competing in Hyeres in their respective Laser and 470 classes.

Hill is a big supporter of this annual regatta because it 'provides an opportunity to sail against people you admire and because it takes you out of your comfort zone,' he commented. He also today praised the CYCA and in particular Jenni Bonnitcha for hosting the regatta.

Two races were completed this morning in the dying land breeze in Rushcutters Bay before the third was abandoned during the starting sequence. The race committee then shifted the course to Rose Bay where a pleasant 8-10 knot sou’easter filled in to allow a further four fleet races to be contested.

The Hill, King and Dunstan combination finished the pointscore with three wins and two seconds, their worst result a fourth.

'There were times we found ourselves well back and had to claw our way through the fleet…you can never let your guard down out there,' said Hill.

Estate Master only had to start the final race to take out the regatta but heading into the penultimate race, Carl Crafoord’s Team Lewmar was applying plenty of heat - right up until they wrapped themselves around the top clearance mark while leading, pouring cold water on any chance they might have had to sneak past Seve Jarvin and finish second overall.

'Bobby [Wilmot] is in his car driving home sobbing,' laughed Crafoord tonight. Wilmot was helming the Elliott 6 when they caught the mark.

In the third race, which was re-sailed, four teams were over at the start. Two returned and two were scored OCS (On Course Side) including the then regatta leader Jarvin and his Gotta Love It 7 crew of Sam Newton and Rob Bell. When final results were tallied, the OCS made no difference to Jarvin’s second overall ahead of the third placed Team Lewmar.

Race officer Jeremy Whitty made the unusual choice not to use the black flag when the fleet became over zealous on the start line, instead using the 'Z' code flag twice which invoked a 20% penalty for being over at the start rather than a disqualification. This proved very astute decision as all six races counted towards the final pointscore.

'The efforts of Whitty and his team throughout the day to capitalise on the available breeze provided the competitors with a great day of sailing and a complete programme,' added Jenni Bonnitcha.