22nd February 2009
By Sam Crichton
Guido Belgiorno Nettis’s Transfusion has taken the double by winning both the 2009 Hamilton Island Farr 40 Australian Championship and the 2008-09 Australian Farr 40 Circuit after racing wrapped up yesterday.
Although a member of the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, Belgiorno Nettis sailed the regatta under the burgee of his other club, Middle Harbour Yacht Club.
“The competition element of the Farr 40 class is extraordinary and the talent is the Australian fleet is up there with the best. I hope the Australian boats will have a good showing at the upcoming Rolex Farr 40 World Championship in Sardinia,” commented Belgiorno Nettis.
Photo by Sam Crichton
Frustrating would be one word that comes to mind when describing the final day of racing in the Championship as the nine teams sailed in a very light six knot breeze from a east north east direction in a large rolling swell.
RSYS member Lang Walker’s Kokomo went into day three with a four point lead over Transfusion which was narrowed after race seven of the series to two points when Transfusion won, Lisa and Martin Hill’s Estate Master was second and Kokomo finished third.
Graeme Wood’s Wot For crew displayed light air racing skills leading the fleet around the course to take the gun for the second last race of the series. Transfusion finished third and Kokomo crossed the line in eighth place which moved Transfusion into the lead.
The RSYS race committee managed to get the final race of the series started within one minute of the cut off time for a start sequence and this race ultimately decided who would take the final place on the podium.
New Zealander Brett Neill and his team on White Cloud managed to pick the shifts and cross the line in front of the eight of boats and this secured third place overall for them for the 2009 Hamilton Island Farr 40 Australian Championship.
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