3rd November 2008
By Peter Campbell
King Billy, Phil and Elesa Bennett’s regular competitor in the Squadron’s SOPS Division 3, sailed at her best on Saturday to win the Gascoigne Cup, the historic short ocean race off Sydney Heads that has been conducted by the RSYS since 1886.
The breeze was a steady 12-14 knots south-easterly and heavy enough to get this stoutly built Jarkan 38 cruiser/racer sailing up to her PHS rating, with the combined Division 1 and Division 3 results deciding the winner of the Cup.
Cruiser/racers dominated the top four placings on corrected time, with King Billy winning from Steve Wyatt’s Double Trouble, third place going to Big Blue (Bob & Ann Penty) just seconds ahead of Time Out (Ross Gardyne & Peter Blair) and the veteran yacht Stormy Petrel (Kevin O’Shea).
It was a straightforward race over the 15 nautical mile course that was true and fair, giving little opportunity for any tactical advantage.
Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race line honours contender Andrew Short Marine-Shockwave 5 took out the IRC division of the Gascoigne Cup as well dashing around the course to take line honours in fast time.
The Reichel/Pugh 80, which only last Monday took line honours in the 414 nautical mile Hempel 35th Gosford – Lord Howe Island Race, sailed the 15 nautical mileshort ocean course in 1 hour 29 minutes and 47 seconds, an average speed of just over 10 knots.
It was an impressive performance following her line honours win in the Lord Howe Island Race. She is emerging as a potential line honours opponent for Wild Oats XI which emerged from a Bankstown aircraft hanger this week after modifications designed to make her even faster in pursuit of a fourth successive line honours victory in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.
In the Gascoigne Cup IRC results, ASM-Shockwave 5 won on corrected time from Annette & Robin Hawthorn’s Imagination and Matthew Short’s TP52 Shortwave.
Inshore, the Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club conducted heat 8 of the RSYS Spring Series in a 10-14 knot south’easterly that required good tactical sailing with the wind pressure and direction changing during the afternoon.
In Division 1, Charles Curran’s 60-footer Sydney was beaten for line honours by casual entry Vanguard (Dick Cawse) but gained first place on corrected time. In Division 2 Peter Edwards’ Gondwana won by just three seconds on corrected time from Arcturus II (Peter Davenport).
In Division 3, first place went to Senta (Terry & Julie Clark) from line honours winner Wallop (Brian Collis & Stephen Wall) while in Division 4, Wallop’s nextdoor neighbour on the CYCA marina, Hornblower, steered by Steve Sweeny in the absence of owner Peter Campbell, scored her first win in a consistent Spring Series.
Only three points separate the top three boats in Division 4, with Kerstin II (John Bowman/Ken Chase/Julian Goldie) on 15 points, Brother Hood (Tony Craven & Jack Riggs) on 15 points and Hornblower on 17 points.
In the International classes, Chris Harper won the Ynglings in Shining Star, Carl Ryves continued his winning ways with Sidewinder in the Dragons, while Matt Whitnall steered dot to a 10 second win from Fifteen (David Clark & Andrew Smith) in the Etchells.
Third place went to North Sydney Station (Ed & Will McCarthy and Michael Coxon) just 11 seconds ahead of Fathom (Rupert Henry)
This was the eighth heat in the World Qualifying Series for the international event in Melbourne next March.
Next weekend will see Gosford Sailing Club hosting the NSW State Championship for the International Etchells class, with the local fleet including Olympian and two-times World Laser Champion Tom Slingsby.
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