John Keelty’s Cole 43 Electra scored a convincing handicap win in Friday night’s Grant Thornton Short Haul pointscore race.
After sailing just a few races this season, Electra enjoyed the 15 to 20 knot northerly winds which saw the fleet complete the course in just over 2 hours – in stark contrast to the often windless Friday night races competitors have become conditioned to expect!
The stronger winds convinced the race committee to lay a longer “harbour island” style course, with the fleet heading up to the heads, back down to Fort Denison via Shark and Clark Islands before running back up to Junction Bell and finishing in Rushcutters Bay.
Peter Lewis’ Lu Lu Belle had the best of the start but was soon headed by Paul Billingham & Peter McGee’s Elusive which led the fleet as it tacked up the harbour. An excellent decision however by Sean Rahilly on the Sydney 36CR Crosshaven to stay on the north shore saw him benefit from the strong outgoing tide and slip ahead at the first mark. From there, despite Elusive’s best efforts to run her down, Crosshaven was never headed and eventually took line honours by over 2 minutes from Elusive.
The second group of boats comprising Baltic Lady, Holy Cow and MRX had their own private battle for much of the race with Neil Burling’s hugely improved Baltic Lady taking fifth place to move into what looks to be an unassailable lead of more than 10 points in the overall Grant Thornton Shorthaul Pointscore. Only Alex Brandon and James Connell’s Zephyr and Jon Short & Miles Bastick’s MRX have an outside chance of upsetting Baltic Lady with just 4 races to go.
Next weekend the fleet heads up to Pittwater. The Saturday race counts as race 11 of the Overall pointscore, race 3 of the Autumn pointscore and race 4 of the Passage race series.
The return Sunday race will decide the Passage Race series currently led by Zephyr on both PHS and IRC. Casual entrants are invited to register with the sailing office and welcome to join the fleet as it heads north and overnight either at the traditional raft up in Refuge Bay or enjoy the creature comforts at the RPAYC.
Grant Thornton Short Haul Overall Pointscore (at the conclusion on Race 11 with 3 drops having been applied)
PHS Division
- Baltic Lady (Niel Burling) 20 points
- Zephyr (Alex Brandon/James Connell) 34 points
- MRX (Jon Short & Miles Bastick) 40 points
IRC Division
- Zephyr (Alex Brandon/James Connell) 17 points
- MRX (Jon Short & Miles Bastick) 19 points
- Lady Ann (John & Ann Kirkjian) 20 points
Grant Thornton Short Haul Autumn Pointscore
PHS Division
- Elusive (Paul Billingham & Pete McGee) 7 points
- Attitude (Robert Hunt) 9 points ; tied with MRX (Jon Short & Miles Bastick
IRC Division
- MRX (Jon Short & Miles Bastick) 3 points
- Cmist (Troy & Scott Dillon) 7 points; tied with Zephyr (Alex Brandon/James Connell)
– Paul Billingham & Jennifer Crooks
