Trimming the kite to a win on Cinquante. Image copyright Teri Dodds/Audi Victoria Week.
by Lisa Ratcliff
On the penultimate day of Audi Victoria Week, the Sydney 38s contesting the Morris Finance Series completed their two races, with Ian Murray’s well sailed Cinquante climbing to the top of the leaderboard with one race remaining.
On an outer harbour course, the first race for the fleet of 10 was postponed until the race committee could set up a fair course. In a light sou’easterly sea breeze that dialled around to the south later in the day and steadily built to 10 knots, the fleet lined up for their start.
Chris Lewin’s Another Challenge, sailing for Royal Brighton Yacht Club (Vic), couldn’t afford a mistake, given the young skipper openly admitted yesterday that Ian Murray’s Cinquante has the edge when it comes to boat speed, but that’s what happened to the clubhouse leader.
Another Challenge was pinged by the start boat for being On Course Side at the start of first race of the day, race four of the series, a mistake that cost Lewin plenty of pride and places. He ended up seventh in that race, but managed to recover to finish third in race two. This puts him three points adrift of Cinquante on the series pointscore with one race to go.
“Tomorrow is a harbour course and I’m hoping local knowledge will help, although Lou (Abrahams with Challenge) and Chris both know these waters also,” said Murray, the series sponsor through his company Morris Finance and defending champion, this afternoon.
Murray’s tactician Tim Davis is leaving tonight for Malaysia, but the owner is confident his replacement will also do a fine job and that the late switch won’t unsettle the crew.
“We know what we have to do to hold on to the trophy. We’ve got a big day ahead and we’ll be biting our fingernails and trying to stay out of trouble,” Murray added.
There was some doubt hanging over Cinquante getting to the start line today, but the overnight delivery of a replacement D4 stay that was “cannibalised” from another Sydney 38 which is for sale in Melbourne, saved the day.
Murray completed yesterday’s two races with the broken D4 lashed down for support, thereby preventing the mast from toppling over, but wasn’t prepared to take the same chance today.
Lou Abrahams’ Challenge, helmed by Scott Walton and flying the Sandringham Yacht Club burgee, was boat of the day, winning the first and second races. These results have moved the 82 year old Abrahams, who has been coming to Geelong to compete for 20 plus years, to third on progressive results after five races, but it’s not likely to be enough to put him in the running for the overall win.
“The tactics came together for us today,” said Abrahams while relaxing back at the host club, Royal Geelong Yacht Club.
“The breeze was shifty, swinging through 50 degrees, and inconsistent. We had to concentrate all day,” he added
Abrahams’ tactician Peter Milne, who played a huge role in today’s two bullets, has this afternoon gone off for physio after tearing a calf muscle. His crew is confident he’ll be back tomorrow; otherwise they have threatened to roll him on board and strap him down so he can finish the job!
Challenge is preparing for the class nationals, which will be sailed on Pittwater in Sydney in February, and are using this regatta as part of their training program as well as trying for a podium finish at the 166th edition of Audi Victoria Week.
The final race of the six-race Morris Finance Sydney 38 Class series is scheduled to start at 11.00am tomorrow, Australia Day. All races will be counted when the final points are tallied.
Audi Victoria Week
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