30th June 2008
By Peter Campbell
Veteran Squadron member Norman Longworth, a Life Member and past Commodore, continued his great skills as a helmsman last week, scoring two wins with Aurelia II on Sydney Harbour.
On Wednesday he steered Aurelia II, a Van De Stadt-designed Sea Cracker 10 design, modified by Warwick Hood, to victory in Division 2 of the RANSA Wednesday Winter Series. On Saturday he won Division 2 of the Squadron’s Winter Series.
Longworth has been racing with the Squadron since 1955, firstly as an Olympic aspirant in the singlehanded Finn dinghy class and then in the International Dragon class, as well as with Aurelia II in mixed divisions since 1995.
In that half century-plus he has amassed a vast number of successes in the International Dragon class and in cruiser/racer mixed divisions.
In 1959 Norman crewed for the late Eric Strain in Marjorie Ann to win the Prince Philip Cup, then in 1976 he steered Tom Thumb to victory in the Prince Philip Cup. Last season he won another NSW Championship with Karabos VIII, the 1995 World Champion boat and the fourth Dragon he has owned
On Saturday, Aurelia II scored a close 24 second win on corrected time in Division 2 of the Squadron Winter Series from Troika, Ruth McCance’s Yyngling, third place going to line honours winner Petite Bateau (Andrew Mathers and Al Chase).
“Light air, smooth water suited us perfectly on both days,” the 77-year-old Norman Longworth added. His win on Wednesday was a perfect example of light weather sailing on Sydney Harbour.
Lahaina II - photo by John Sliger
Division 1 saw Trish Stanley steer her Beneteau 40.7 Willyama to her second successive win, taking first place in another close result, beating Ian MacDiarmid’s recently-acquired Hell Razor by 17 seconds on corrected time, third place going to Sweet Chariot (Ray Enwistle).
This was MacDiamid’s first race as owner of Hell Razor, a Bakewell-White-designed F36 Razor, taking line honours.from Sweet Chariot. “She was originally set up for ocean racing, but I have now set her up for inshore events with more creature comforts,” MacDiarmid said today.
“Despite a mediocre start, we picked the shifts in the light winter wind to get the gun,” he added. “It was my first race as new owner, but my second with the boat as I helmed her to a handicap win for the previous owners some months ago.”
In Division 3, first place went to Caroline la Douce (Graeme Smith/Peter Jones/Gregory Clark) from Tallawonga (Christopher Deane) and Crackajack (David Galvin/Chris Harper/David Ward).
Close Window »
|
