Cruising Yacht Club of Australia member David Beak today added the prestigious Gascoigne Cup to an impressive list of results so far in the 2007-2008 ocean racing season with his Beneteau 44.7 Mr Beak’s Ribs.
The victory also adds the yacht’s name to an historic list of yachts that have won the Gascoigne Cup since it was first sailed for with the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron 122 years ago.
The Cup is awarded to the yacht with the lowest corrected time based on PHS handicaps, although IRC results are also declared as part of the short ocean point score.
The Gascoigne Cup was sailed offshore today in a south-easterly breeze and lumpy sea, starting at 18-20 knots but easing during the afternoon to 12 knots, with Mr Beak’s Ribs winning from Julian Farren-Price’s Cookson 12 About Time after a close duel throughout the 20 nautical mile course. Brilliant (Howard and Susan Piggott) placed third in PHS results.
Under IRC handicaps, the results were reversed with About Time winning from Mr Beak’s Ribs and Bob Steel’s TP52 Quest, which also recorded the fastest time.
“Ian Short as tactician was brilliant, picking the right shifts and the correct sail changes necessary as the wind eased away during the afternoon,” a delighted David Beak said after the race.
“We again had another great race against About Time and in the CYCA Short Ocean Pointscore we have each had a first and a second in the last two races.
(After three races, About Time is leading the SOPS spring pointscore on both IRC and PHS as Mr Beak’s Ribs received a non-discard 19 points penalty in race one PHS and a non-discard 13 points in race one IRC. In the subsequent two races, Mr Beaks Ribs has had two first places in PHS and a win and a second in IRC. Thus, with one SOPS race to sail in the spring pointscore and with one discard, Mr Beaks Ribs is 11th overall in PHS and 6th overall in IRC).
Originally from South America, David Beak has lived in Australia for 23 years and operates a meat processing business supplying prominent restaurants and food outlets – hence the yacht’s name. – Peter Campbell
