21st November 2008
By Peter Campbell
Only three points separate the top four boats after four heats of the International Dragon NSW Championship being conducted this week by the Squadron.
The first three heats were sailed in Saturday’s Mini Regatta, the remaining five each evening this week as part of the Squadron’s Spring Twilight Regatta, which also includes the Milson Goblets Series for the International Etchells class.
Saturday’s Mini Regatta produced three different winners in the Dragon State Championship – Carl Ryves’ Sidewinder, Richard Franklin’s Liquidity and Martin Burke’s Riga.
Last evening, Liquidity scored her second win, with none of Saturday’s winners in a top place as the fleet raced in a 10-12 knot ENE breeze.
Norman Longworth lowering Karabos VII
Progressive points after four heats show Riga on 14 points (2-6-1-5), the consistent Karabos VIII, skippered by Norman Longworth, on 16 points (4-2-2-8) while on 17 points are Sidewinder (1-3-9-4) and Liquidity (OCS-1-3-1).
A dozen Dragons are now racing the Squadron as the fleet leads up to hosting the Prince Philip Cup Australasian Championship in January when entries are expected from most Australian States and New Zealand.
In Hobart, former World champion Nick Rogers has finally launched Karabos IX in a bid to win his tenth Prince Philip Cup. He won the Cup when it was last sailed on Sydney Harbour in 2004 and last year, in Hobart, he sailed on mainsheet for veteran RSYS member Gordon Ingate when he won his first Prince Philip Cup, skippering Whim.
Karabos IX is the 205th Dragon registered in Australia, with Rogers also challenging the Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club for the historic Sayonara Cup, on behalf of the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania.
This week’s racing for the International Etchells Milson Silver Goblets has attracted several entries from the Pittwater fleet and the first heat saw one-design racing at its best with only three minutes between the first nine boats to finish
Victory went to Fathom (Rupert Henry) by 27 seconds from Bald Eagle (John Dunn & Glen Mattrass) with just 8 seconds to third placegetter North Sydney Station (Ed & Will McCarthy & Michael Coxon), followed closely by Just a Dash (Julian Plante), Fifteen (David Clark & Andrew Smith), Strength & Honour (Joshua Chant), Steampacket VI (Bruce Wookey & Rob Brown), Avalon (Michael Bellingham) and Humpback (Stephen Barlow & Peter Gardner).
In addition to the Dragon State Championships, the Hood 23s are also contesting their States, with RSYS Division 4 fleet boats Esquisse 2 (Richard Staines) and Brother Hood (Tony Craven & Jack Rigg) sailing well.
Esquise II, the Division 4 Main Series winner last season, followed her win in Saturday’s Squadron race by notching up a 1-2-2 score to lead the States after the first three races conducted by the Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club. Brother Hood won heat three following two thirds and is third overall with Merringa II (W Langshaw) second overall.
Saturday’s win was the first of the season in the RSYS Spring Series for Esquisse II. She is currently equal third on 23 points with Hornblower (Peter Campbell) with Kerstin II (John Bowman/Ken Chase/Julian Goldie) heading the pointscore on 17 points from Brother Hood on 19 points.
Close Window »
|
