![]() |
Photo: Dane Lojek/Farr 40 |
![]() |
Photo: Dane Lojek/Farr 40 |
![]() |
Photo: Dane Lojek/Farr 40 |
![]() |
Photo: Dane Lojek/Farr 40 |
![]() |
Photo: Dane Lojek/Farr 40 |
![]() |
Photo: Dane Lojek/Farr 40 |
![]() |
Photo: Dane Lojek/Farr 40 |
Half of the state title fleet is sailing for Tasmania and host club, the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania. The first Tassie Farr 40 and final podium place at the half-way point belongs to Stephen Boyes’ Wired.
There’s was an incident free day until gear damage cost them heavily in race three. “There were no major problems, we had excellent courses today and notched up a couple of seconds then unfortunately our headsail pre-feeder jammed up and we started the third race without a headsail,” recalled Boyes.
“It slowed us down and the fleet was able to get far away from us. Despite that we had good boat speed and handled the conditions pretty well.”
On the physicality of racing in today’s strong breezes and bumpy chop Boyes added, “The crew has got longer arms and will definitely sleep well tonight”.
Local International Race Officer Nick Hutton is in charge of the race management team as Principal Race Officer, his first time running a Farr 40 event.
“I’m finding it most interesting,” said Hutton. “It’s spectacular watching the top boats. It’s a credit how good they are in quite difficult conditions.
“It was a mixed bag today, a good rain storm when visibility was compromised, overcast conditions then brilliant sunshine and temperatures in the low 20s. I reckon there will be a few bruises tonight,” he figured.
Four races were scheduled but with the breeze consistently over the class’ upper wind limit of 25 knots by the end of race three Hutton and Australian class president Belgiorno-Nettis agreed to call it a day.
Tomorrow’s forecast is for light and variable winds which could mean a slow start before the south-east sea breeze fills in after lunch and what’s left of the state title’s remaining races are run and won.
“Hopefully we’ll get some action in the afternoon and finish with a flourish,” said Boyes, the local skipper who knows the river well.
Tonight crews and class sponsor Aberdeen Asset Management enjoyed a dock party and BBQ at the RYCT. A social get together after racing is a feature of the Australian Farr 40 series that has fostered good comradeship between the sailors and representatives from the global investment management group, now in their second year of sponsorship.
The Tasmanian state title wraps up tomorrow and on Wednesday February 19th the season finale, the John Calvert-Jones Trophy Nationals commences with four days of short course racing to name the 2013-14 Australian Farr 40 champion.
Lisa Ratcliff
No comments:
Post a Comment