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6th January 2009
By Peter Campbell
Photo: Mel Nathan
Tasmanian Dragon class skipper Nick Rogers has opened up a commanding points lead, but Russian boats won both races on day two of the Prince Philip Cup sailed on Sydney Harbour.
In flukey easterly easterly breezes ranging from 10 to 15 knots, Rogers steered Karabos IX to a third and a fourth place while his old rival and heat one winner, 81-year-old Sydney yachtsman Gordon Ingate, skippering Whim, slipped to third place with a fourth and an 11th place today.
The two Russian boats each scored a win today, with Murka 3, skippered by Mikhail Maratov, winning heat two and Murka 9, steered by Olga White, placing first in heat three.
Overall results are provisional, subject to protests to be heard this evening, with Karabos IX on 16.7 points under the old Olympic scoring system. Murka 9 is second on 18 points, with Whim on 25 points, followed by Taranui, skippered by Matt Whitnall, on 31 points. In equal fifth place on 38.7 points are the West Australian boat Hotspur (Ken Stevenson) and the Sydney boat Abracadabra (David Seaton).
Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron race officials were forced to delay the start of the morning race for one hour 50 minutes due to unstable wind conditions, with the heat eventually seeing the two two Russian yachts take the two top placings, with Murka 3 beating Murka 9 by 54 seconds.
Third place went to Karabos IX, just 12 seconds ahead of Whim, the defending Prince Philip Cup champion. This placed Karabos IX and Whim equal on points after two heats.
The win was a change of fortune for Maratov who, on Monday evening, had been disqualified from heat one following a collision with the Tasmanian yacht Kirribilli, skippered by Andrew Crisp. Kirribilli was dismasted and the rig severely bent but with the help of Nick Rogers and his crew, it was repaired and Kirribilli II was out racing today, placing seventh in heat two. Although the Russian boat retired after the collision, admitting fault in the port-and-starboard incident, the protest committee upheld a protest by Kirribilli II and awarded redress, to be calculated on average placings at the end of the regatta. The protest committee, in disqualifying the Russian boat, found it had caused serious damage and that, as the port tack boat, it was reasonable for it to have avoided the collision.
With the easterly breeze freshening during the afternoon, Russian Olga White sailed Murka 9 to a 34 second win from Taranui, skippered by Etchells sailor Matt Whitnall, with just 18 seconds to third placed Abracadabra (David Seaton), just 38 seconds ahead of Karabos IX, a placing that lifted the Tasmanian boat to a clear pointscore lead.
Provisional top placings after three heats of the Prince Philip Cup:
1. Karabos IX, Nick Rogers, Tas – placings 2-3-4, 16.7 points;
2. Murka 9, Olga White, Rus 9-2-1, 18 points;
3. Whim, Gordon Ingate, NSW 1-4-11, 25 points;
4. Taranui, Matt Whitnall, NSW 4-14-2, 31 points;
5. Hotspur, Ken Stevenson, WA 6-8-7. 38.7 points;
5. Abracadabra, David Seaton, NSW 8-13-3, 38.7 points;
7. Liquidity, Richard Franklin/Damien Hannes, NSW 10-10-25, 45 points;
7. Murka 3, Mikhail Maratov, Rus DSQ-0-8, 45 points.
Further information:
Peter Campbell – 0419 385 028 or email – peter_campbell@bigpond.com Close Window »
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