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Sunday, 30 November 2008Â
Sydney Harbour
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After last Sunday's aborted attempt to sail Race 3 of the NSW 18ft Skiff Championship, the regatta continued today when Race 4 was staged in a 10-12knot ENE breeze on Sydney Harbour.Â
 A four lap windward-return course was set for the day when the starter couldn't decide on either the regular NE or East courses. Â
Former Giltinan champion John Harris was at his best in Rag & Famish Hotel and, along with his brother Peter Harris and Scott Babbage, brought the green hulled skiff home an easy winner.Â
 The victory also gives the team the lead in the championship pointscore.
 There was a welcome return to form for former Australian champion Micah Lane who led his Macquarie Real Estate team into second place, 2mins49secs behind The Rag.
 John Winning Junior's new appliancesonline.com.au skiff showed plenty of light weather speed to finish third, another 31secs further back.
 The Rag's total after three races is 4.5 points (allowing for an average points in Race 2), followed by Yandoo (John Winning) on 9, Gotta Love It 7 (Seve Jarvin) on 13.5, Pure Blonde (James Francis) 14, Active Air-2UE (Matthew Searle) 24 and Omega Smeg (Daniel Phillips) on 28.5.
 Macquarie Real Estate and Rag & Famish Hotel were always close to the lead on the first windward leg in a fleet which was spread across the harbour.
 At the mark Macquarie led by 10secs from Rag with Club Marine (Cameron Mc Donald) third, followed by appliancesonline, Panasonic (Jonathan Whitty), Omega Smeg, Pure Blonde and Project Racing (Andy Budgen).
 Macquarie retained the lead after the spinnaker run to end lap one but Rag & Famish was starting the make her move on the second windward leg.
 Rag elected to go to the left hand side of the course while Macquarie went to the right and Rag led by 20secs as spinnakers were set for the second time.
 A 20secs lead quickly went to 1min at the halfway mark and from then to the finish it was always Rag & Famish Hotel.
 While the two leaders were never in danger of losing their positions the race, the battle behind them saw several changes throughout.
 Euan Mc Nicol's Southern Cross Constructions worked her way through the fleet to take fourth place, ahead of Yandoo, Pure Blonde, Omega Smeg and Gotta Love It 7.
 Video coverage can be seen on www.sailcam.tv.
 Race 5 of the championship will be sailed next Sunday, 7 December and a re-sail of last week's postponed Race 3 will take place on Sunday, 14 December.
 Frank Quealey
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Australian 18 Footers LeagueÂ
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