Saturday 31 January saw Race 7 of the Grant Thornton Short Ocean Pointscore race, conducted by Middle Harbour Yacht Club with a fleet of 24 yachts representing CYCA, MHYC, and RSYS.

The forecasted NE sea breezes started at 7-8 knots on the start line and continued to build throughout the day which made for some good conditions that suited the larger boats in the fleet.

With the start line just of Shark Island those that chose the eastern channel experienced a more NNE breeze with those yachts starting further right into the western channel experiencing a NE,  which dropped off shortly after the start forcing them to tack back to pick up air. Offshore, the breeze built to 18 knots, with the currents also increasing.

Leslie Green’s Ginger took line honours and IRC Division 1 win, closely followed by Matthew Short’s Shortwave with Julian Farren-Price’s About Time taking third in IRC Division 1.

“We sailed really well and we were very pleased to beat Shortwave. Our teamwork was excellent and we did everything right, so we deserved the win!” said Leslie Green, owner of Ginger.

“It was a fabulous day with the lovely NE breeze. The breeze came in later in the day which meant we had 15 knots of boat speed as we were coming through the heads which helped us finish strongly.”

Winners in IRC Division 3 were Howard & Susan Piggott’s Brilliant, Michael Delaney & John Markos’ Eye Appeal second and Kevin O’Shea’s Stormy Petrel third.

Stephen Thomas’ Blackadder took out PHS Division 1, with Julian Farren-Price’s About Time second and MHYC Brent Lawson’s Crusher third.

Michael Delaney & John Markos’ Eye Appeal won PHS Division 1, RSYS Phil & Elesa Bennett’s King Billy second and Kevin O’Shea’s Stormy Petrel third.

The overall series Pointscore with two drops having been applied stands:

PHS Division 1
1st:  Imagination,  Annette & Robin Hawthorn,  9 points
2nd: About Time, Julian Farren-Price, 17 points
3rd: Ginger, Leslie Green, 18 points

PHS Division 3
1st: Brilliant, Howard & Susan Piggott, 13 points
2nd Morag Bheag, John Maclurcan, 14 points
3rd: Stormy Petrel, Kevin O’Shea, 15 points

IRC Division 1
1st: Shortwave, Matthew Short, 10 points
2nd tied: About Time – Julian Farren-Price; Ginger – Leslie Green on 12 points
4th: Imagination, Annette & Robin Hawthorn, 13 points

IRC Division 3
1st: Brilliant, Howard & Susan Piggott, 5 points
2nd Morag Bheag, John Maclurcan, 10 points
3rd: Stormy Petrel, Kevin O’Shea, 15 points