AEG 3-Buoys Challenge, Race 3
Sunday, 28 October 2012
Sydney Harbour
(sponsored by AEG)
Former Australian 16 Footer champion James Dorron scored his first 18ft Skiff victory when he steered Mojo Wine home an easy 3m15s winner of Race 3 in the AEG 3-Buoys Challenge on Sydney Harbour today.
Dorron, Mike McKensey and Matt Searle were always well in contention over the four-lap course, sailed in a light North East breeze, and were never in danger of defeat once they took the lead on the third lap.
Pedro Vozone, Sam Ellis and James Slee continued to show improvement in Haier Appliances to finish in second place, just 2s ahead of the early race leader Pure Blonde (Tom Clout, Rob Bell and Stewart Wells).
Fisher & Paykel (Andrew Chapman) finished fourth ahead of Thurlow Fisher Lawyers (Michael Coxon) and Rag & Famish Hotel, skippered by David Witt, who replaced The Rag’s regular skipper Jack Macartney.
Thurlow Fisher Lawyers fifth place today was enough to give the Australian champion skipper Michael Coxon and his team the overall points lead in the series.
Thurlow Fisher has a total of 15 points, three ahead of equal second placed Fisher & Paykel and today’s winner Mojo Wine.
Kenwood-Rabbitohs (Brett Van Munster) is next on 19, followed By Gotta Love It 7 (Seve Jarvin) on 20 and Asko Appliances (Marcus Ashley-Jones) on 21.
Tom Clout and his crew had Pure Blonde in the lead over the first lap of the course and began the second windward leg with a 20s lead over Mojo Wine.
Rag & Famish Hotel was third in a tightly bunched group which included Appliancesonline.com.au (Micah Lane), Asko Appliances and Thurlow Fisher Lawyers.
The southern/right hand was the favoured side of the course with almost every team electing to tack off Steel Point.
Mojo took a temporary lead under the three buoys system but lost out downwind when the crew elected to sail down the north shore.
Rag & Famish took over from Pure Blonde on the south side and led at the bottom mark with Asko Appliances third and Mojo relecated back to fourth.
The racing amongst the leading group was close and unpredictable as positions changed throughout.
Mojo was back in front at the third windward mark (this time permanently) by a mere 3s from Pure Blonde as both went to the blue marker buoy.
Rag & Famish lost her place in a light patch of breeze going to the white buoy and Haier Appliances gained as a red marker.
The Mojo crew gambled on the third spinnaker run when they again went to the northern shore while their challengers all went to the south.
This time their move won the day as they opened up their race winning lead as the fleet set out on the final lap of the course.
More photos will be published later on www.18footers.com.au and www.flying18s.com. A video coverage of the race can be seen on www.18footerstv.com
Spectator Ferry photos will also be published on www.18footers.com.au and www.flying18s.com during the coming week.
‘Pick the Podium’ is back again this season with prizes to be won by just making some selections on which teams you think will fill the placings in Sunday’s race. For full details go to http://www.18footerstv.com/18-promo
Race 4 of the AEG 3-Buoys Challenge will be sailed next Sunday with the Spectator Ferry leaving Double Bay Public Wharf at 2.15pm.
Frank Quealey
Australian 18 Footers League