The Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron entry Saskia has turned in her best performance so far at the 8 Metre Centennial World Championships being sailed at Rhu on the Firth of Clyde in Scotland, placing a close 4th in race six.
John and Michael Stephen’s 76-year-old yacht is seventh overall in the 20 boat international fleet and a clear leader of the Classic eights.with two races to sail.
The fleet ranges from modern 8-metres through to several built early last century when the Metre Rule of yacht design was introduced in 1907.
Saskia is sailing back on the Clyde, where she was built in 1931, for the first time in nearly 60 years and is relishing conditions when the breeze gets up.
So far her overall placings have been 6-6-8-9-13-4-11 for a net 44 points, which gives her an eight point margin in the Classic division over the Japanese entry, Aun.
Race six started in 14 knots of north-easterly wind, with the two Swiss boats Aluette (current overall leader) and Yquem first to the windward mark, although Yquem had already been declared OCS.
Saskia, with John Stephen on the helm, sailed out towards the shore and crossed ahead of the Dutch boat Hollandia (currently third overall) coming up to the weather mark, but Hollandia just got around ahead.
At the finish, Aluette maintained her lead, with the disqualified Yquem next to finish, followed by the Scottish yacht Lafayette, with Hollandia, Saskia, first of the Classic boats, and Ganymede close astern.
Unfortunately for the Australians, the wind died away to 8 knots at the start of the second race of the day with the two top placed boats, Aluette and Lafayette duelling throughout the race. Saskia had a mediocre race, placing 11th but still first of the Classic yachts.
Aluette won again to go into the final day of racing with8 points, a three point lead from Lafayette on 11 points, and another six points to Hollandia on 17 points. Saskia is seventh on 44 points. – Peter Campbell
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