Lou Abrahams at back of boat with Amy 'Jean' Van Heumen next to him. Image copyright Teri Dodds/Audi.
by Lisa Ratcliff
Being a one-design boat there is very little separating the 10 Sydney 38s contesting Audi Victoria Week, just the crew work and whatever tactics it takes to get an edge on the rest of the division.
In today’s Passage Race from Melbourne to Geelong, the opening race of the Morris Finance Sydney 38 Class Series, Ian Murray’s Victorian Sydney 38 Cinquante found that edge, finishing four minutes clear of Chris Lewin’s Another Challenge in the southerly that built from 10 knots at the start to a fresh 25 knots by the finish off the host club, Royal Geelong Yacht Club.
The Sydney 38s will really come into their own once they commence their windward/leeward racing, the first race scheduled to kick off at 1230hrs tomorrow on Geelong’s Corio Bay.
This is when the hot fleet, including the grandfather of ocean racing and more recently Sydney 38 one design racing, 82 year old Lou Abrahams, will add plenty to the colour and excitement of Audi Victoria Week as they and the many other divisions competing take to the waters for their short course racing component.
Six of the Sydney 38s, including Abrahams, had aboard a special passenger for today’s 34.3 nautical mile Passage Race. The Rotary Youth program’s six successful nominees from regional Victoria joined the Sydney 38 owners for their first ocean passage race.
Amy ‘Jean’ Van Heumen, nominated by the Bendigo Strathdale Rotary Club was fortunate enough to join Abrahams on the sail to Geelong and thoroughly enjoyed the experience “It was really good, so much fun.
“It was a little bit choppy to start with, but fantastic. Being from Bendigo there’s no beach, no yacht club, so it was a great opportunity.
“I’ll definitely have a good night’s sleep tonight,” she said.
Audi Victoria Week
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