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Grant Thornton Short Haul Pointscore Race 9 Report

The Grant Thornton Short Haul Pointscore race on Saturday (6 December) was the 9th of the season and the last to count toward the Spring Pointscore.

First place in PHS Division went to Peter Lewis in Lu Lu Belle, competing in their first Short Haul race of the season. Niel Burling in the well sailed Baltic Lady took second and are the winners of the Spring Pointscore. Caprice of Huon was third.

In the IRC Division the placings were Caprice of Huon, Zephyr and MRX.

The winner of the IRC division of the Spring Pointscore is Zephyr, skippered by Alex Brandon and James Connell.

The forecast for Saturday’s race was a 20 knot Southerly, but the predicted arrival time moved later as the event came closer. Once we were on the water PRO John Hurley postponed the start of the race by approximately 50 minutes, waiting for a consistent breeze to fill in from somewhere.

The fleet started from Nielsen Park on an inside the harbour course which took us to Manly in 5 to 15 knots from the NW, and then, as we got to Bradleys Head on the way to Clarke Island the promised southerly arrived. We came around the island with 20 knots from the S-SE and set off up the harbour toward the leading boats still waiting for the new wind to reach them.

It is no surprise that PHS positions 1st through 4th came from boats in the middle of the fleet who pretty much carried the wind up harbour with them. By the time we were around the mark at Flagstaff we had a solid 20 knots and the best part of the race, at least for Caprice of Huon, was the work to the finish at Watson Bay.

Another interesting race in what has been the most varied of seasons. – David Champtaloup

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