3 Buoys Challenge – Race 4 Mick Scully Memorial Trophy

18ft Skiffs
AEG 3-Buoys Challenge, Race 4
Sunday, 4 November 2012
Sydney Harbour
(sponsored by AEG)

Giltinan champion Skipper Seve Jarvin and his Gotta Love It 7 crew Scott Babbage and Peter Harris were in superb form today to take out Race 4 of the AEG 3-Buoys Challenge in a 15-knot North East wind on Sydney Harbour.

The Gotta Love It 7 team grabbed the lead at the final bottom mark of the four-lap course then edged away to defeat Appliancesonline.com.au (Micah Lane, Paul Montague and Tom Anderson) by 56s with Thurlow Fisher Lawyers, skippered by five times Giltinan champion Trevor Barnabas, a further 29s back in third place.

Andrew Chapman’s Fisher & Paykel was a further 38s back in fourth place, followed by Mojo Wine (James Dorron) and De’Longhi-Rabbitohs (Simon Nearn).

Thurlow Fisher Lawyers’ third placing today was enough for the team to retain the series on 18 points, with Gotta Love It 7 next on 21, Fisher & Paykel 22, Mojo Wine 23, Rabbitohs-Kenwood (Brett Van Munster) 29 and Asko Appliances (Marcus Ashley-Jones) on 30.

The series is now at the halfway point and there will be a one week break (for race 1 of the NSW Championship) before the 3-Buoys Challenge resumes on 18 November.

Most of the fleet elected to use their smaller #2 rigs today with only The Kitchen Maker, skippered by Olympic Gold Medalist Malcolm Page, and Coopers-Rag & Famish Hotel (Jack Macartney) electing to go with their bigger #1 gear.

Malcolm Page was quickly into form in his first race back in the skiffs as The Kitchen Maker led the fleet from Thurlow Fisher Lawyers as spinnakers were set for the first run back to the bottom mark.

Appliancesonline.com.au was in third place ahead of Asko Appliances, Lumix (Euan McNicol), Gotta Love It 7, Mojo Wine and Coopers-Rag & Famish Hotel.

Thurlow Fisher grabbed the lead at the bottom mark and continued to lead on the next windward leg but Asko took over with the advantage of the nearer ‘red’ buoy rounding.

The racing was close and positions at the head of the fleet were continually changing over the next lap of the course.

Sporting their brand new #2 rig, Appliancesonline was showing excellent pace and holding out Gotta Love It 7 before a slow mark rounding at the end of the third lap enabled the champion ‘7’ crew through for a well deserved victory.

Five photos, as well as today’s Race Report are attached.

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 1 of the NSW Championship will be sailed next Sunday with the Spectator Ferry leaving Double Bay Public Wharf at 2.15pm.

Frank Quealey
Australian 18 Footers League