Guido Belgiorno Nettis’s Transfusion has taken the double by winning both the 2009 Hamilton Island Farr 40 Australian Championship and the 2008-09 Australian Farr 40 Circuit after racing wrapped up today.
“The competition element of the Farr 40 class is extraordinary and the talent is the Australian fleet is up there with the best. I hope the Australian boats will have a good showing at the upcoming Rolex Farr 40 World Championship in Sardinia.”
“I am particularly grateful for the encouragement and support of Lang Walker and Lisa and Martin Hill and I am pleased my fellow Middle Harbour Yacht Club member can join me on the podium of the 2008-09 Australian Farr 40 Circuit”, commented Belgiorno Nettis.
He continued “I must also mention our coach Andrew “Dog” Palfrey who has galvanised our crew and brought out the best in the team and our tactician Tom Slingsby who is an exceptional athlete and tactician. I had huge confidence in his capacity during this regatta and in the future”.
Frustrating would be one word that comes to mind when describing the final day of racing in the Island Farr 40 Australian Championship as the nine teams sailed in a very light six knot breeze from a east north east direction in a large rolling swell.
Lang Walker’s Kokomo went into day three with a four point lead over Transfusion which was narrowed after race seven of the series to two points when Transfusion won, Lisa and Martin Hill’s Estate Master was second and Kokomo finished third.
The next race of the day got underway after a two hour postponement as the race committee waited for the fickle light breeze to build enough to start a race. Graeme Wood’s Wot For crew displayed fantastic light air racing skills leading the fleet around the course to take the gun for the second last race of the series. Transfusion finished third and Kokomo crossed the line in eighth place which moved Transfusion into the lead.
The race committee managed to get the final race of the series started within one minute of the cut off time for a start sequence and this race ultimately decided who would take the final place on the podium.
New Zealander Brett Neill and his team on White Cloud managed to pick the shifts and cross the line in front of the eight of boats and this secured third place overall for them for the 2009 Hamilton Island Farr 40 Australian Championship.
“We’ve spent three years chipping away and I am sure Brett is very pleased to finish up this event in third”, said White Cloud crew member Phil Douglas.
2009 Hamilton Island Farr 40 Australian Championship Final Results:
1 Transfusion,Guido Belgiorno Nettis (MHYC) 21 points
2 Kokomo, Lang Walker (RSYS/CYCA) 30 points
3 White Cloud, Brett Neill (RNZYS) 40 points
4 Estate Master, Lisa & Martin Hill (MHYC) 41 points
5 Sputnik, Ivan Wheen (RSYS) 42 points
6 Wot For, Graeme Wood (CYCA) 46 points
7 Easy Tiger II, Chris Way/Ian Burns (RPAYC) 52 points
8 Edake, Jeff Carter (MHYC) 61 points
9 VooDoo Chile, Lloyd Clark/Andrew Hunn (RYCT) 72 points
2008-09 Australian Farr 40 Circuit:
1 Guido Belgiorno Nettis – Transfusion
2 Lisa and Martin Hill – Estate Master
3 Lang Walker – Kokomo
– Sam Crichton
