Overcast skies and driving squalls were the order of the day for Saturday’s Ocean Pointscore Port Hacking Race.
The usual 35-plus competitor register was whittled down to just 21 teams ready to take on the cold, windy and rainy conditions. The 15-20 knot southerly set the scene for some close battles on the upwind leg to Port Hacking though and then of course a fast sled ride home.
Upfront, the five TP52s enjoyed some tight racing with Matt Donald & Chris Townsend’s Gweilo crossing the line less than 30 seconds ahead of Gordon Ketelbey’s Zen after the approximately 40-nautical-mile course. Seb Bohm’s Smuggler and Craig Neil’s Quest then crossed just two and a half minutes apart with Andy Kearnan & Peter Wrigley’s KOA not far behind.
Close racing was also had between Michael Smith’s Kernan 44 Tempo and Andy Offord’s Farr 400 Borderline, with both teams also crossing the line just 30 seconds apart. At the back of the fleet, Charles Parry-Okeden’s Beneteau First 40.7 Crystal Cutter III and Kevin Whelan’s Beneteau 45F5 Reve were also on each other’s tails finishing just a minute apart.
In the end, it was Zen who made the most of the day’s racing, clean-sweeping the top prize in the overall and Division 1 IRC, ORCi and PHS handicaps. Div1 IRC second place went to Gweilo and third was Smuggler. ORCi and PHS Div1 second place went to Smuggler while third ORCi was won by KOA and third PHS was won by Gweilo.
Once again, Carl Crafoord’s Cookson 12 Sail Exchange dominated Division 2 taking IRC & ORCi. Steve Watson’s J 130 Ragtime was second IRC and PHS Div2 while Brett Eagle’s Farr 43 Wild Oats filled the podium with third IRC and second ORCi. Ted Tooher’s Beneteau First 47.7 Chancellor took out PHS Div2 and Crystal Cutter III was third ORCi.
Congratulations to Gordon and the entire Zen crew, congratulations also to all placegetters and of course every team who braved the conditions!
The Ocean Pointscore will continue with Race 8, the Lion Island Race, 1000hrs Saturday 15 February 2021.
