Audi Victoria Week: Roger That takes stranglehold on sports boat series

We have extended our lead - Roger That! Image copyright Teri Dodds/Audi Victoria Week.

by Vanessa Dudley

A margin of nine points separates the leading two boats in the Bundaberg Rum National Sports Boat Series at Audi Victoria Week after a tricky day’s racing on Corio Bay today.

James Mayjor and John Bacon’s Melges 24, Roger That, extended its lead with a 3-1-1 scorecard in the shifty south-easterly breeze. Helmed by Cameron Miles, the Melges 24 now holds a comfortable lead over second-placed Laminar Capital, Cameron Rae’s Thompson 8 from the host, Royal Geelong Yacht Club, and the third placed Thompson 7 Foam Fast (Paul Heyes, Vic).

“It was a tricky day; very shifty,” said James Mayjor. “We didn’t get it right all the time, but we recovered well and scrapped our way back when we had to.”

The Roger That crew has spent the series hiking extremely hard upwind and James Mayjor explained, “We’re trying to work the boat as hard as we can; it makes a big difference and it helps when we are racing against boats with bigger rigs and big mainsails.”

The crew is hoping for good wind for the final two races scheduled for tomorrow, starting from 9.30am. “We enjoy sailing in pressure, especially off the breeze,” said Mayjor.

Today’s first race was won by Laminar Capital, which dropped back to seventh and fifth in the following races, while Foam Fast recorded a 5-5-3 scorecard.

Peter Barter’s Elliott 7 Bundy Bear had a good day, adding a second and third to its scorecard to climb to fourth overall, ahead of the new Melges 20 Scooter Central (Heath Walters, NSW).

Audi Victoria Week