14th April 2008
Weekend Racing Review
by Peter Campbell
Jervis Tilly and his Etchells Bushfire climaxed a remarkably successful summer sailing season with the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron when he won the prestigious Varuna Trophy on the Harbour on Saturday.
The Varuna Trophy is a handicap race between the winners and top placegetters in the Main Series and Short Inshore Series in each division and one-design class over the past season.
In light winds Bushfire outsailed the opposition to take line honours and first place on corrected time by two minutes from Division 4 Main Series winner Esquisse 2, Richard Staines’ Hood 23.
Division 3 Short Inshore Series winner Half Hour, skippered by Paul Hendrey, took third place.
Bushfire led the fleet around the course, crossing the finish line nearly six and a half minutes ahead of Double Trouble (Steve Wyatt), with Half Hour third to finish. Esquisse 2, the smallest boat in the fleet, sailed exceptionally well to finish sixth in the fleet.
Over the 2007-2008 summer season, Bushfire has won the Etchells Main, Spring and Summer Series pointscores, along with the Etchells Club Championship, the Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club Series and the Mini Regatta pointscore. She was the top qualifier in the Sydney Fleet for the 2008 World Championships.
The Varuna Trophy was presented to the RSYS by the crew of the classic yacht Varuna in honour of their skipper Dr John Musgrove, who has sailed the yacht on Sydney Harbour since 1946.
Varuna, built more than 70 years ago and her skipper, now in his eighties, have raced this past season in the Classic Division of the Sydney Amateur Sailing Club. Dr Musgrove is a 50 Year Member of the RSYS.
Varuna on Saturday contested the Amateurs Club Championship, placing a creditable 12th on handicap in fleet of 22 starters.
From Peter Campbell
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