| |
Darren "Twirler" Jones
"Limit" Rolex Trophy Rating Series.
RP 63 "Limit" Rolex Trophy IRC.
| |
Farr 40 World Champion - Mumm 30 World
Champion - Swan 45 World Champion - M30 World Champion Etchells 22 National Champion - Farr 40 European Champion - Farr 40 National Champion Farr
30 National Champion - M30 National Champion - Jr
Moth World Champion - Magic 25 National Champion
Sydney/Hobart Race
- Newport/Bermuda Race - Chicago/Mackinac Race Transpac Race - Americas Cup
|
Davidson 60 - After
Shock Etchells 22 - Racer xy
Transpac 52 - Pegasus, Samba Pa Ti, Stay
CalmFarr 40 - Barking
Mad, Estate Master, Evolution, Heartbreaker, Ichi Ban, Plenty, Sputnik, Struntje Light
Mumm 30 - Foreign Affair, Optimum Melges
24 - Pegasus Murray 75 - Bumblebee 5 RP55 - Yendys RP 60 -
Wild Joe RP 63 - Limit Swan 45 - Joe, Plenty
Thompson 35
- Rumours Volvo 70 - Ichi Ban Melges 32 - Pegasus |
Event Schedule
News
Limit wins Rolex Trophy Rating Series They judged the Shark Island start perfectly, were the third yacht heading out of Sydney Harbour and then Alan
Brierty and his Limit crew mowed down the JV 72 RÁN, gybing inside her under spinnaker, with the finish line in sight,
catching a nice puff to beat RÁN, and more importantly, Loki, their main adversary for the series.
Although Limit
(CYCA) finished Race 6 second overall behind Michael Hiatt’s Living Doll, it was enough to give Brierty’s yacht
the Series by one point from near-sistership and major rival, Loki, Stephen Ainsworth’s RP 63, which finished today’s
19 nautical mile Passage Race third overall after the two went into the decider on equal points.
Brierty was once again
wearing the trademark grin, which was not in evidence yesterday after Limit’s fourth place finish which briefly cost
them the lead of the four-day Rolex Trophy Rating Series.
Limit’s helmsman, Ian ‘Barney’ Walker, said
a rope twisted on their furler while rolling up their Code Zero and cost them the race and the series lead yesterday. 'Alan
had a dummy spit and made us go out early this morning and do some training so there’d be no problems today,' said Walker
with Brierty nodding his head in agreement.
Walker said today was a lot smoother: 'We timed our start well; we were
four lengths from the Committee Boat and got clear air and everything went well after that.
As confirmed by others in
the fleet, Walker said: 'We had to work hard in the shifty pressure and it was a difficult seaway.
'We opened up a good
lead on Loki working the southern side of the course coming home, there was less current there. In the last 15 minutes of
the race we took more out of Loki.'
It was a difficult day, with light 5-8 knot east-south-easterly breezes that were
patchy at best. The race started at Shark Island and took the fleet to an offshore mark 9.5 nautical miles seaward from North
Head and return under spinnaker to the finish in Watsons Bay.
Of the ongoing battle between Limit and Loki, Walker confirmed:
'There’s little between us. While we’re both very competitive, we show each other respect. When two boats are
so close it’s all good, it works to your advantage, as long as you respect each other.'
Both Barney Walker and
Hiatt agreed that the yachts in the 50 to 60 feet range would be the most difficult to beat come the Rolex Sydney Hobart,
citing Loki, Yendys (Geoff Ross’ RP 55), Quest and Ragamuffin among them.
Commenting on Rolex Fastnet Race overall
winner, RÁN, Niklas Zennstrom’s JV 72, Walker said: 'We know it’s fast in breeze, but it struggles in light
air as we all saw today. It seemed faster upwind, but we were definitely faster downwind today.
'If Hobart is a completely
upwind race in moderate conditions, I’ll put a wager on her, as it will make its time on the other yachts.'
A
well-sailed Shogun finished the Series a good third overall. Victorian yachtsman Rob Hanna only purchased the former Wot Now,
a JV 52, in November and adding a few new crew to his solid core of Melbourne sailors, sailed his first race series on the
boat at the Rolex Trophy Rating Series. He says he and the crew are ready to tackle the Rolex Sydney Hobart which starts in
six days time.
In the light airs of today’s race, the current Farr 30 world champion Guy Stening and his Farr
30 Optimum revelled in the light breezes to steal the Division 2 win from Paul Clitheroe’s Balance, with Chris Dare’s
Audi Centre Melbourne third. 'A fantastic regatta, really well organised,' enthused Stening. 'It’s terrific to come
away with the win after a great tussle with Balance and The Philosopher’s Club.
'Friday really was the glamour
day on the water, the boat relished in the conditions. The light conditions today also suited the boat, which showed in our
performance. We had great teamwork aboard for all four days.
'I’m very happy to add another title to the ever-growing
list (apart from his Worlds win, Stening also won the Farr 30 Nationals and finished second in the in the 2008 Rolex Trophy).
'I was very happy to go one better this year,' Stening said.
'If I had to be beaten, I’m glad it was by a world
champion; we’ll get him next time,' quipped Clitheroe, a fellow CYCA member.
Place Sail No Boat Name Skipper
Score Race 6 Race 5 Race 4 Race 3
Race 2 Race 1
1 98888
Limit Alan Brierty
RP63 9.0 2.0 [4.0]
2.0 2.0 2.0
1.0
2 AUS60000 Loki
Stephen Ainsworth RP62 10.0 3.0
1.0 3.0 1.0
[9.0F] 2.0
3 6952
Shogun Rob Hanna
TP52 14.0 5.0 2.0
1.0 5.0 1.0
[5.0]
4 52566 Black
Jack Peter Harburg RP66 18.0
4.0 3.0 4.0
4.0 3.0 [4.0]
5
R55 Living Doll Michael Hiatt
Farr 55 21.0 1.0 5.0
9.0F 3.0 [9.0F] 3.0
6
GBR7236R Ran
Niklas Zennstrom JV72 45.0 9.0C
9.0C 9.0C 9.0C 9.0C
[9.0C]
6 NZL80
Alfa Romeo Neville Crichton RP100 45.0
9.0C 9.0C 9.0C 9.0C
9.0C [9.0C]
6 AUS1836
Yendys Geoff Ross
RP55 45.0 9.0C 9.0C
9.0R 9.0R 9.0R [9.0R]
Limit Match Races Loki for Rolex Trophy Rating Series
Lead After heavy rain that left a millpond, delaying racing by nearly two hours
today, the two Divisions contesting Day 2 of the Rolex Trophy Series finally started with breeze just before 1.00pm on the
Macquarie Circle off Sydney Heads. Denis Thompson, the Principal Race Officer for the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia
series, sent the fleet off on a two-lap windward/leeward course in both Races 3 and 4. Following a general recall, the
earlier race was sailed in a heavy 20-25 southerly wind on lumpy and confused seas, the wind monotonously increasing and decreasing
in pressure, making it hard for everyone to judge. By Race 4, the wind had swung further to the right into more of a
south-easterly. 'By the end of the race, winds had dropped to around 14 knots,' Denis Thompson said. The wet day did
not dampen the spirits of Limit’s owner, Alan Brierty, who was wearing a Colgate smile back at the CYCA after racing.
'I’ll let the boys tell you about our day,' said the West Australian who knew he and the crew had consolidated on yesterday’s
lead, even though they did not win a race today, instead scoring second and third places. With a race drop now in place,
Brierty’s RP 62 leads Rob Hanna’s newly purchased JV 52 Shogun and Stephen Ainsworth’s RP 63 Loki by two
points each, the Victorian owned Shogun second on a countback. Limit (CYCA) and near-sistership Loki (CYCA) put on a
show in today’s two races, match racing around the course. Limit’s helmsman, Ian ‘Barney’ Walker
said: 'due to the crappy helmsman, we had a bad start in the earlier race – I stalled the boat! We had a great race
with Loki in Race 4 – we passed each other all throughout the race.' Walker conceded: 'It was a tough day - hard
to steer the boat – the waves were more predictable yesterday, which made it easier, even though the seas were worse
yesterday. We’re looking forward to the passage race tomorrow and the lighter predicted conditions. It will be good
to test the boat. If we have a good race, I think we’ll be impossible to beat for the Rolex Trophy,' he said Loki’s
sailing master, Gordon Maguire commenting 'They only beat us across the line by 14 seconds in the last race, it was exciting,
only a bowsprit in it at times.' Maguire and the crew know they were lucky to be racing at all, after their shaft drive
dropped in the yacht yesterday, the reason still unknown. 'We’ve done a temporary repair, but the boat will have to
go back to McConaghy’s for a major repair when the series is over. Fortunately, just the shaft drive was damaged, though
it is fairly major in itself,' added Maguire. McConaghy’s, on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, will also come
to the rescue of Melbourne entry Living Doll, a Farr 55 owned by Michael Hiatt. 'We had to pull out of Race 4, we had a problem
with a rudder bearing which McConaghy’s will fix for us tonight,' Hiatt said. Back aboard Loki, Maguire, an international
yachtsman of repute, told: 'We’re learning heaps, so it’s important for us to finish the series. We don’t
often get to race against our near sistership (Limit) and this is important.' The Irishman went on to say: 'We were
looking forward to racing against RÁN today. They’re the overseas challenger and we wanted to see how good they
are. Hopefully they’ll be racing tomorrow. They started today, but peeled off at the end of the first leg of the first
race.' RÁN’s crew elected not to finish the race, instead preferring to attend to the long work list on
the agenda to be race-ready for the Rolex Sydney Hobart start on December 26. Second placed Rob Hanna is pleased with
the newly purchased Shogun’s performance and that of his crew, who had not sailed as a team before yesterday. A
win in Race 4 gave Hanna confidence in his new boat. 'Yesterday was our first race on the boat and this is our first time
together as a crew. I have a few of my regulars and I’ve topped up with others like Steve McConaghy (calling tactics)
and Sean Kirkjian. Racing has been fabulous,' the Victorian owner said. 'The boat went really well yesterday and today.
Looking back, I’m glad we had these tough two days, because they put us under the pump and I feel more confident in
the boat now,' said Hanna who was disappointed they had blown up a No. 4 headsail in Race 3, which he says, 'cost us a win.'
Instead, they finished sixth. 'The boat’s fantastic and this has been a great learning curve so far,' Hanna enthused.
Stephen Ainsworth’s Loki got a ‘quick fix’ overnight and was back on the race course today in fine
form, turning the tables on yesterday’s Race 1 winner, Limit, Alan Brierty’s RP 62, to take out Race 3, Limit
this time taking second place. Since their inception, the two CYCA entries have been closely matched at the Australian regattas
they have contested. 
Limit leads on day of drama at Rolex Trophy Rating Series Two of the major players did not make the start line and two other highly
fancied entries did enough damage to warrant pulling out of Race 2 of the Rolex Trophy Rating Series which started today on
the Manly Circle just north of Sydney Heads.
A touch of start day nerves, some crew changes and lumpy seas all added
to an interesting day of windward/leeward racing in the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia organised series.
Listed as
starters, Alfa Romeo and RÁN did not turn up at the race course area. Neville Crichton, the owner of the New Zealand
line honours challenger, instead decided to undertake crew training. The 100ft maxi was seen sharing Sydney Harbour with her
main adversary for the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, Bob Oatley’s Wild Oats XI, prior to racing this morning
RÁN’s
late Sydney arrival in the early hours of this morning after being off-loaded at Port Kembla following transportation
from the UK by ship, meant there was too little time to prepare the 2009 Rolex Fastnet Race overall winner for racing
today. The good news is, fellow competitors and spectators can expect to see Niklas Zennstrom’s JV 72 in action for
the remaining three days of racing.
Meanwhile, out on the course area, the 12 remaining yachts sailed in two divisions
on a lumpy sea that got rougher throughout the day in a 10-20 knot north to nor-easterly wind that gusted to 25 knots at times
with the odd shift thrown in.
Rolex Sydney Hobart pre-race favourites Stephen Ainsworth’s
RP 63 Loki (CYCA) and Michael Hiatt’s Farr 55 Living Doll from Victoria, were casualties of Race 2.
Loki, which
finished Race 1 in second, was looking well placed when disaster struck. According to crew member Adam Barnes, they were at
the top mark when they heard a loud bang. “We went below to check and found the shaft drive system had dropped –
we don’t know how it happened yet.”
The yacht was taken immediately to Sydney City Marine where it will be
hauled out of the water to reveal just how much damage has been done to the engine, propeller, gear box and bearings in the
hull of the yacht. At this stage it is not known if the yacht will be race-ready for tomorrow’s two windward/leewards.
On Living Doll, owner/skipper Michael Hiatt told of their own spinnaker woes. “We had a mishap with the kite. It got
a bit messy and we lost some time. It wasn’t worth continuing on in the race.”
However, Hiatt was at pains
to point out that although it was a hard day’s sailing with big lumpy seas, “We’re very happy with the boat’s
performance – the boat is going really well.”
The businessman, who owns the Living Doll clothing label, said
he had brought in four young guys from Australia and New Zealand and renowned ocean racing navigator, Andrew Cape, to compliment
an already solid crew that includes tactician Ross Lloyd.
Leading the series following Races 1 and 2, Alan Brierty’s
RP 62 Limit was not without dramas either.
Winning Race 1, things were not so simple in Race 2; losing control of their
heavy spinnaker at the first leeward gate, forcing the Limit crew to cut it away from the boat. It was rescued by Principal
Race Officer Denis Thompson and his on-water race management crew. Limit still managed to finish third in the diminished fleet.
Limit’s Kiwi tactician Chris Main told how: “We were left with the lighter kite and in the big breeze and the
seas up, it was out-ranged and blew up.”
Owner, Alan Brierty, was thrilled to be the leader on Day 1. “Considering
we have a pretty new crew from all over the world, I think we did a great job.” Like Hiatt, Brierty has some of his
regulars, such as Keenan, but others, including Gavin Brady, could not make it this year for various reasons.
“We’ve
got guys from Spain, England, New Zealand, America and Australia; it’s a boat of all nations,” said Limit’s
eccentric owner who is currently sporting dreadlocks.
Rob Hanna’s Shogun, the JV 52 formerly known as Wot Now,
is second overall in the series. Now based in Victoria, Hanna has also added some world champions in various classes to his
crew of local sailors, in the shape of Steve McConaghy and Sean Kirkjian. “Yep, we’re pretty happy with our day,”
McConaghy said.
Geoff Ross’ RP 55 Yendys (CYCA) was third overall. “Today was a good workout and reminds
us what to expect in the race to Hobart,” was his synopsis of the day.
Rolex Trophy Series to Estate Master Martin
and Lisa Hill and their Estate Master team won the Farr 40 class in the Rolex Trophy One Design series’ sailed over
the last three days.
Sailing in south easterly winds that varied between 14 and 18 knots throughout the day, Principal
Race Officer of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia organised event, Denis Thompson sent the two classes on three windward/leeward
races each on the Macquarie Circle.
Estate Master led the Farr 40 three day series from Day 1, but as Martin Hill
said today, it wasn’t as easy as it sounds. “We had to fight every inch of the way, especially today. Kokomo (Lang
Walker) won the first two races and we knew we had to keep him behind us in the last race to win the Trophy,” Hill conceded.
Hill said the last was a thriller – and Denis Thompson agreed. “Kokomo tacked to port straight after the start
and Estate Master slammed straight on top of him. It was full on match racing, they just kept going boat-for-boat, it was
exciting to watch,” Thompson told.
"I got tied up with the Sydney 38s and when I turned around again, Estate
Master was in second place and Kokomo was back in fourth. She would have won Boat of the Day, but Easy Tiger II caught a wave
and surfed home for fourth, leaving Kokomo in fifth.”
Hill takes up the story: “We split on the last windward/leeward
and we picked up a nice left hand shift and got away. Transfusion got first and we got second,” Hill enthused.
“It’s
all coming together nicely for the Farr 40 Worlds – I’m getting a step closer to winning a Rolex watch,”
Hill, the Commodore of the Middle Harbour Yacht Club laughed.
His wife Lisa was just as thrilled with their win. “We
worked hard for hit – I had my head down the whole three days. It was a bit bumpy out there but it was great racing.”
The same top three yachts that led the nine-race series on Day 1 finished the series that way: Estate Master, Kokomo, representing
the CYCA and Guido Belgiorno-Nettis’ Transfusion (MHYC). 1 AUS615
Estate Master Martin/Lisa Hill 15.0 2.0
2.0 2.0 1.0 1.0 1.0
2.0 1.0 3.0
2 8883
Kokomo Lang Walker
20.0 5.0 1.0 1.0 3.0
2.0 2.0 3.0 2.0 1.0
3
6422 Transfusion G Belgiorno Nettis
24.0 1.0 3.0 3.0 2.0
3.0 3.0 1.0 3.0 5.0
4
5585 Easy Tiger II Chris Way
37.0 4.0 4.0 4.0
4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 5.0
4.0
5 51408 Edake
Jeff Carter 39.0 3.0
5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0
4.0 2.0 
Estate Master stars in Rolex Trophy Martin
& Lisa Hill (Estate Master) scored three wins from three races in the Farr 40 class this afternoon. Estate
Master stayed one step ahead of their adversaries on the Manly Circle today and will take some beating, with tomorrow being
the final day and only three more races to be sailed. Estate Master’s win gives them a handy four point
lead of the Farr 40 class, with just three races to be sailed tomorrow to decide the winner. Although he broke
the start in Race 3, Lang Walker and his Kokomo crew pulled together to make a stunning recovery and finish third. Guido Belgiorno-Nettis and the Transfusion crew have held on to third place overall, but were not able to overcome
Estate Master to advance up the board. “What a great day, but we had to fight every inch of the way,” Hill
said. “The lead changed between the three top boats – it was very tight – you couldn’t let your
guard down,” he added.
Hill said the Rolex Trophy was training for Farr 40 Worlds to be held in Sydney in
14 months time – and so far, so good. He is hoping to emulate the result of Sydneysider Richard Perini,
who won the Worlds when they were sailed in Sydney in 2004.
To that end, the Middle Harbour YC Commodore and Farr
40 Class President and his wife Lisa have co-opted some of Perini’s winning crew: New Zealand sailor Hamish Pepper (tactics),
Darren ‘Twirler‘ Jones (mainsheet), Tristam Eldershaw and Chris Cook. Add to that already impressive line-up 49er
Olympian and double world champion Nathan Outteridge as strategist and you have a gun crew.
"Already Hamish
and Nathan are a close-knit team; whispering away together,” Hill says of the crew he will have aboard for the Worlds.
"We’ve just been in Miami competing and the competition here is just as good. We’re in countdown
mode for the Worlds,” he said.
Estate Master gets early jump in Rolex Trophy One-Design series In
some close racing on The Sound at the entrance to Sydney Heads, Martin and Lisa Hill and their Estate Master crew from Middle
Harbour Yacht Club have come out on top after three races on Day 1 of the Rolex Trophy One-Design series.
Sailing on
windward/leeward courses, five of Australia's top Farr 40s are contesting the series organised by the Cruising Yacht Club
of Australia (CYCA). Estate Master's crew by no means had it all their own way today; the top three results across the board
were mixed.
Hill and his crew notched up 3-1-2 results to lead on countback from Lang Walker's Kokomo, from the CYCA
and to be named 'Boat of the Day'. Walker and his crew were the equal of Hill, scoring 1-2-3. Guido Belgiorno-Nettis (MHYC)
and his Transfusion crew are third overall after finishing their day with a fifth, third and a win.
'The wind was from
every which way and up and down in pressure, just to add spice to an already spicy day, Martin Hill said this afternoon.
'It was a tough day, you had to grind for your money's worth. Although the breeze was going left throughout the day, there
were plenty of right hand shifts,' he said.
Hill agreed the regatta is not over yet, with two days and six races remaining.
'We'll have to stay very focused,' he said.
Principal Race Officer Denis Thompson described today's racing as 'really
good - the racing was mostly quite close - especially Race 3, as the yachts kept crossing each other and there was a great
gybing duel going on throughout the race.'
Racing started in a south-easterly with big variations in strength - from
5-20 knots, in fact, but mostly in the 12-15 knot range.
'The breeze kept going left all day, and by the time we waited
for a ship to pass us going into the Harbour, the breeze had gone to the east, so we moved the marks to reflect that,' Thompson
said.
Race 3 and the breeze was more north of east in the 15-18 knot range. 'It was a weird day breeze-wise,' said Thompson
who plans to race the yachts offshore tomorrow in what is expected to be a typical summer north-easterly breeze.
Racing
resumes tomorrow morning from 11.00am, weather permitting. The Farr 40s will be joined by the Sydney 38 One Designs which
will be contesting the first races of their two day series.
Nine races will decide the Farr 40 series, while the Sydney
38 One Design series will consist of six races.
Flash Gordon 5 Wins 2009 Rolex Farr 40 North American Championship from
Heartbreaker and Convexity
Chicago, Illinois, USA (September 29, 2009) – Flash Gordon
5, the Farr 40 owned by Helmut Jahn won the 2009 Rolex Farr 40 North American Championship, held September 24-27 in Chicago,
Ill. Nine teams representing the best in North American one-design racing battled on Lake Michigan beneath the skyline that
Jahn’s architecture firm Murphy/Jahn has helped to define over the past three decades. Racing was hosted at the
Chicago Yacht Club (CYC), which provided race committee assistance under the leadership of Principal Race Officer Sue Reilly.
At the awards ceremony held at the CYC, Jahn was presented with a specially engraved Rolex timepiece by Farr 40 Class Secretary
Bunny Wayt.
“This title means a lot to the team because it is the culmination of a lot of hard work,”
said Evan Jahn, Helmut Jahn’s son and co-helm of Flash Gordon 5. “With the achievement there now is the
added responsibility of defending it and that requires continued effort so that we can stay at the front of the fleet.
This victory solidifies us as one of the top Farr 40 teams in the country, and world, and we will use the upcoming winter
events to prepare for the 2010 Rolex Farr 40 Worlds at Casa de Campo.” The younger Jahn, who is pursuing a Masters Degree
in environmental management and sustainability, alternates helm responsibilities with his father, driving the boat at the
race start, upwind to the mark and then trading off for the downwind legs.
Personally, Evan Jahn was thrilled
with the victory. “This is my first National and North American championship,” he said. “I know Helmut and
a couple of the other crew members have won some world championships in other classes, but for me this is a big achievement.
It is really reinvigorating to win something big, finally, as a testament to how much time, hard work, and energy our team
has put in over the past three years towards not only this class, but the sport as well.
Conditions ranged
from light to moderate wind over the four days of racing. Amazingly consistent, Flash Gordon 5 won five races in the 10-race
series. “On day 2, in the first race, it became apparent that the ability to go to the left was very powerful, and in
the first race Heartbreaker proved that by winning the pin end and eventually winning the race,” explained Evan Jahn.
“We told ourselves that we needed the pin after that, and succeed in executing that plan in the following two races.
Also that day was the first time during the regatta that the RC decided to put in a gate and identifying that allowed us to
gain a slight advantage as it seemed we were one of the few boats to recognize that. The other races that we won were
not due to great starts, but they were not bad starts either. Day 3 was really light and shifty so those victories came
down to (tactician) Bill Hardesty's patience and our boat speed. Our starts were not decisive that day, but we ducked
some boats when we had to and were able to get in phase and arrive at the windward mark in contention, and then used good
downwind speed and excellent crew work at mark roundings to pick our way to the front.”
Understandably
the second day of competition, on Friday, stands out for the team aboard Flash Gordon 5. “Day 2 was nerve racking!”
continued Jahn. “We put up our heavy, medium, and light (sails, in that order) and the result was a condition that we
were never fully set-up for until the last race when conditions had stabilized. The light air combined with the chop
and little feel with the wheel required a lot of attention from everyone. Weight placement was always changing, as was
constant trimming on both the main and the jib. It was one of those conditions where you could lose a couple of boat
lengths in a minute if you hit a bad set of waves or were not able accelerate out of a tack. After that day was over
the whole team breathed a sigh of relief because they were conditions that anything could have happened with no real fault
of our own, and to come out as well as we did was a big stress relief.”
Crew member David Gerber explained
the feeling on board going into the final day of racing on Sunday. “Honestly, we felt very much in control of the regatta
on Saturday evening,” he said. “I believe we had an 11-point lead. We knew there was wind in the forecast
for Sunday and there would be no light air ‘stress.’”
On Sunday, in honor of the late sailor
Tom Neill (Chicago), who campaigned many race boats including the Farr 40 Nitemare, the Flash Gordon 5 team donned red shirts
with the initials ‘TN’ embroidered on the back.
“The last day of racing was fantastic”
said Gerber. “It was a true Chicago pleasure – sailing in a strong, firm southwest breeze. We knew
when we left the dock we had to sail clean, keep the crew and boat safe. There was no need to run any huge risks.
Our first two starts were very conservative and we kept ourselves clean. I don't think this worked well for us. We never
have sailed from a spot in the lead and Race 9 was our worst race. We didn't sail well and our crew work wasn't polished.
I think the team was too reserved. Fortunately, Helmut wanted to stay out for Race 10 and the crew wanted to go out
with a win. I feel Race 10 was one of our better, if not, best races of the regatta. We were slightly behind,
sailed fast, sailed smart and survived.
Gerber went on to explain that the goal for Flash Gordon 5 was the North
American title. “Not always an easy thing to do -- say you want to win and do it,” he said. “These guys
were awesome. We stayed positive, pushed hard and sailed well. Two other team members that deserve recognition
are Kyle Kandt, the boat captain and Ed Adams, our coach. These two men did everything they could to help us go faster
and sail smarter. Kyle had the boat in fantastic shape, the best boat in the fleet. And, Ed was his usual self
of picking up strengths of the other teams and blending them into our strengths. There is no detail either one of these
two miss. For Helmut and Evan -- the fastest Father/Son tandem in the Farr 40 Class -- I think this is awesome.
For our team, I think this is awesome. For many months the North Americans was our bull’s eye and we hit it.”
Bob Hughes Heartbreaker (Ada, Mich.), with tactician Steve Hunt and Trimmer Darren Jones on board finished in
second place, with Don Wilson’s Convexity (Chicago), in third.
Prior to the North Americans, the fleet
participated in the Windy City Match Race, hosted at the CYC, where Flash Gordon 5 won the two-day match racing regatta after
a tie-break with Heartbreaker.
Title sponsor of the Rolex Farr 40 North American Championship is Rolex Watch
U.S.A.
The Rolex Farr 40 North American Championship joins other prestigious Rolex 2009 events including
the Rolex Miami OCR, Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, Rolex Swan Cup, Rolex Big Boat Series, Rolex Farr 40 World Championship and the
Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.
2009 Rolex Farr 40 North American Championship
Results (9 boats, 10
races)
Position, Farr 40 Name, Owner/ Helmsman, Hometown, Race1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10, Total Points
1. Flash Gordon 5, Helmut Jahn, Chicago, Ill., 2-3-1-1-2-1-1-4-2-1, 18 points
2. Heartbreaker, Bob Hughes, Ada, Mich.,
3-1-3-5-3-5-2-3-3-3, 31
3. Convexity, Don Wilson, Chicago, Ill., 1-2-4-2-5-2-7-6-2-2, 33
4. Defiant, Grant Wood,
Toronto, Ontario, CAN, 4-6-2-6-1-6-3-1-1-10/DNF*, 40
5. Inferno, Phil Dowd, Chicago, Ill., 8-4-7-3-6-3-4-5-5-4, 49
6. Hot Lips, Chris Whitford, Chicago, Ill., 7-5-5-7-4-4-6-8-8-7, 61
7. Spaceman Spiff, Rob Ruhlman, Cleveland, Ohio,
6-7-8-8-7-7-5-4-6-6, 64
8. Virago, Stuart Townsend, Chicago, Ill., 5-8-9-9-8-9-8-7-7-5, 75
9. Pendragon, Brian Jackman,
Chicago, Ill., 9-9-6-4-9-8-9-9-10/DNF, 10/DNC**
"Heartbreaker" 2009 North Amercans - Chicago
Sailors push there skills to the "Limit"
in the Audi Drive Challange
It’s D-Day here at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week; a mixture of nerves, reticence and resolve written on
the faces of the chosen representatives of each yacht as they pit themselves against each other for their biggest test yet
– the Audi Drive Challenge – the opportunity of driving away in an Audi A4 Avant, courtesy of German luxury car
manufacturer Audi on the line.
Brad Jones, the Audi Motorsport ambassador who designed the course at Hamilton
Island airport, explained the Challenge to competitors. “It’s about skill, precision and consistency. The most
consistent driver after two rounds will win,” he said before giving each a test round in the Audi RS 6 sedan. Obviously
speed comes into the picture too.
However, it is not just the Audi Drive Challenge that will deliver the vehicle
to one lucky boat owner. The victor will first have to win his or her division at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week – and
there are 11 divisions.
Jones went on to say: “The great thing about the way we do this exercise is that
we never know who is going to win. It’s an event anyone can win and the lucky person won’t know until the prize
giving at the end of Race Week.” Joerg Hofmann, Audi Australia’s Managing Director, will divulge the lucky winner
at the prize giving on Saturday evening.
A surprise first driver was English adventurer, Ben Southall, famed for
winning the Greatest Job in the World at Hamilton Island, after a world-wide search to find one enterprising individual from
over 34,000 applicants, who was given the ultimate experience of working in the islands surrounding the Barrier Reef for a
six month period just over two months ago.
The gregarious Southall, 34, who lives in a three bedroom beach home
overlooking the Barrier Reef, far from his home in Hampshire, was keen to take the Challenge: “Great. I get to drive
the RS 6 and the TTS. I’m extremely interested in Audis – I’m stoked.
“This was my day
off work, but when I got this invitation, I said ‘no way! I want to drive those Audis.’”
Southall, who is making the most out of his time on Hamilton Island, enthused after his drive: “I’m
getting to do amazing things. This is a real experience; it gets the adrenalin going! Getting to drive the RS 6 around the
course comes close to England winning the Ashes!
One of the early sailors to take the Challenge was yachtsman
of renown, Iain Murray, representing Hamilton Island owner, Bob Oatley and the Wild Oats X crew.
Before taking his chances, Murray, of America’s Cup, Olympic and 18ft skiff sailing fame, admitted:
“I haven’t done this before. I’m just going to watch the guys before me and take it from
there.”
After the drive, Murray conceded: “Everything’s easy until you’ve
got to do it. It was good fun. Pity it was over in 30 seconds, I’d love to do it again…”
Comments were flying thick and fast from the sidelines, with a lot of laughter, as some drove like maniacs,
missed some of the course, burnt up rubber and came to a screeching halt at the finish.
“I
think some of those guys got a big shot of testosterone before they got behind the wheel,” commented Darren Jones who
drove for Limit, owned by Alan Brierty. It sure appeared that way.
Brady Pushes the "Limit" After finishing almost bottom of the pile in yesterday’s opening race, Alan Brierty’s
RP63 Limit displayed some threatening form today, New Zealand America’s Cup import Gavin Brady showing plenty of grit
on the wheel at the start of the second windward/leeward as he shaved the pin end smack bang on the starting signal and backed
it up with the all important handicap win.
However in the pre-start Limit tangled with the pin mark, crewman Darren
‘Twirler’ Jones diving overboard to try and free the mark to the delight of the other race crews who cheered as
they watched the spectacle unfold. Eventually the anchor rope was cut and the boat freed, the crew’s embarrassment left
in the wake of Brady’s sizzling on-water form.
“After hooking the mark it was good to get
off the start line in great shape,” admitted AC sailor Rodney Keenan, who is part of Limit’s impressive
afterguard.
Black Jack’s blistering regatta debut yesterday was a distant memory in this morning’s
first race with the Queensland RP66 finishing second last over the line after being caught short in a local glass-out on approach
to the finish. Skipper Mark Bradford made amends in the second race, finishing ahead of the pack and second on the progressive
pointscore in front of Ray Roberts’ Cookson 50 Evolution Racing.
In the first race this morning Bob Oatley’s
Reichel Pugh 66 Wild Oats X packed its first regatta punch, scoring a runaway line and overall handicap honours win in the
8 knot northerly breeze.
Wild Oats led the fleet around the track to even the line honours tally with Peter Harburg’s
Black Jack then in the second race were again out-classed by Black Jack and Limit from Sydney after their spinnaker tack blew
out.
Second on handicap in the first race was Graeme Wood’s JV52 Wot Now with Rob Date’s new Victorian
RP52 Scarlet Runner, helmed by Graeme ‘GT’ Taylor with Will Oxley navigating, claiming the final podium
place.
These results are provisional as Wild Joe's crew has just lodged a protest against Wot Now for a port/starboard
incident in today's first race.
The IRC grand prix fleets enjoyed fairly consistent breeze with a single
postponement between races while the race committee moved the course further south to the breeze line, and while rendering
the pin start mark Limit-less.
In IRC grand prix division 2 Jim Farmer’s Auckland registered Farr 43 Georgia
One followed the All Blacks’ lead in last night’s Bledisloe Cup, relegating Phil Coombs’ DK46 Dekadence
from Victoria to second in the opening race.
The Aussies fought back in the next race, Andrew Saies’
brand new South Australian Beneteau First 40 Two True Evolution, with Michael Spies calling tactics, scoring its
first win in what was only the owner’s third time on the boat.
The Cruising and Performance Racing
boats weren’t as lucky, wallowing in no breeze in the Southern start area until regatta director Denis Thompson moved
more than 150 boats to the northern end of Dent Passage and sent them on an alternate 15 nautical mile island hopping course
starting at 1330hrs, three hours after their scheduled race start.
Due to the ongoing light air forecast tomorrow’s
Club Marine Classic Long Race will be replaced with a short round-the-islands race with the IRC grand prix divisions first
off at 11am from Southern start line. The long race may be rescheduled later in the week when the breeze is forecast to freshen.
Nice day for a swim as Twirler take a dive to clear the tangled mark.
2009 Hamilton Island Race Week. RP 63 "Limit"
|
|
