NSW Championship, Race 2

18ft Skiffs
NSW Championship, Race 2
Sunday, 15 November 2009
Sydney Harbour

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Michael Coxon, Aaron Links and Trent Barnabas produced another brilliant performance in Thurlow Fisher-City to score their second consecutive victory in Race 2 of the NSW 18ft Skiff Championship on Sydney Harbour today.

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The trio had to produce their very best to outlast the strong challenges of Gotta Love It 7 (Seve Jarvin, Sam Newton, Tom Clout), Yandoo (John Winning, David Gibson, Andrew Hay) and Rag & Famish Hotel (John Harris, Peter Harris, Scott Babbage).

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The four teams had staged a race long battle with only a few secs. separating them at several rounding marks.

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Thurlow Fisher-City's winning margin over Gotta Love It 7 was 45secs. Rag & Famish Hotel was a further 20secs. back in third place, 11secs ahead of Yandoo.

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It was also a great result for the sponsor as Thurlow Fisher-City had only come on board this week to support the team which previously raced as Sponsor Wanted.

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The leading point scores after the two races sailed to date:Â Thurlow Fisher-City on 2 points, Gotta Love It 7 on 4, Rag & Famish Hotel 7, De'Longhi (Simon Nearn) and Smeg (Nick Press) equal on 11 and Pure Blonde (James Francis) sixth on 15 points.

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Yandoo narrowly won the race from the start in Taylor Bay to the windward mark in Rose Bay, to lead Gotta Love It 7, Project Racing (Andy Budgen), Thurlow Fisher-City and Asko Appliances (Archie Massey), which had sailed to the western side of Shark Island.

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De'Longhi, Rag & Famish, Thurlow Fisher-Bankstown (Bruce Savage), Gill (Dave Alexander), Pure Blonde and Smeg were in close pursuit.

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The Yandoo team extended their lead to 10secs. over Gotta Love It 7at the bottom mark off Robertson Point with Thurlow Fisher - City in third place.

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Yandoo extended it to 20secs at Clark Island but it was now Thurlow Fisher-City in second place and beginning to make a serious challenge.

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Rag & Famish Hotel was now third with Gotta Love It 7 falling back to fourth place.

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The three leaders decided to 2-sail reach across the harbour while Jarvin and his team elected to set their spinnaker on Gotta Love It 7 soon after rounding the Clark Island mark.

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Thurlow Fisher-City sailed a slightly better course to the Chowder Bay mark and grabbed a narrow lead from Yandoo while Rag & Famish and Gotta Love It 7 retained their positions.

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There was less than 10secs separating the foursome at the mark.

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From that point, Coxon and his team were never headed despite the pressure from the Gotta Love It 7 team.

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Thurlow Fisher-City turned for home with a 25secs lead over Gotta Love It 7.

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On the work to the finish, Coxon covered Jarvin's every move in a classic match race style and eased further away for a great win.

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Today's result sheet, together with three photos, are attached.

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More photos, videos and stories will be published on www.18footers.com.au and www.flying18s.com.

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Frank Quealey

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Australian 18 Footers league

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