Asko in Race 14 of the Club Championship, 14th March 2010. Image copyright Frank Quealey.
by Frank Quealey
The Thurlow Fisher Lawyers crew of Michael Coxon, Aaron Links and Trent Barnabas took out Race 14 of the Australian 18 Footers League Club Championship in a light Easterly wind on Sydney Harbour Sunday.
Thurlow Fisher Lawyers had to overcome a race long ‘match race’ with Rag & Famish Hotel (John Harris, Euan Mc Nicol and Peter Harris) before going on to a 1m1s victory.
Thurlow Fisher Lawyers and Rag & Famish match racing within the main race. Image copyright Frank Quealey.
Their win also puts the team into the overall championship lead, three points ahead of Gotta Love It 7 (Seve Jarvin, Sam Newton and Tom Clout).
Yandoo (John Winning, Andrew Hay and David Gibson) finished third, just 9s behind Rag & Famish Hotel.
The fleet split soon after the start near Robertson Point with Thurlow Fisher Lawyers leading the group on the RHS of the course and Rag & Famish Hotel leading the group on the left.
The Thurlow Fisher Lawyers crew of Michael Coxon, Aaron Links and Trent Barnabas took out Race 14 of the Australian 18 Footers League Club Championship. Image copyright Frank Quealey.
Thurlow Fisher Lawyers led narrowly when the two met and still held a 15s margin at the windward mark in Rose Bay.
Club Marine (Marcus Ashley-Jones) was nearly one minute further back in third place, ahead of Yandoo and Appliancesonline.com.au, being sailed by replacement skipper Micah Lane.
Thurlow’s margin was down to 4s at the wing mark, then in the shifting breeze ‘The Rag’ grabbed a 20s break at the bottom mark.
Rag & Famish Hotel and Yandoo. Image copyright Frank Quealey.
With the two leaders holding a clear margin over the third placed Yandoo, a match race developed on the following windward beat back to Rose Bay.
The pair were side by side nearing Shark Island before Thurlow Fisher Lawyers raced to an incredible 1m15s lead at the mark.
Red Claw and Gill. Image copyright Frank Quealey.
Once again the pair were together after the long spinnaker run back to Robertson Point where Thurlow Fisher Lawyers led by just one boat length.
The pair split tacks on the last windward leg but the margin remained close as the lead changed several times.
Thurlow Fisher Lawyers was again superior in the Rose Bay section of the course and led clearly as she rounded the final mark and headed for home.
Pure Blonde. Image copyright Frank Quealey.
Next weekend is the annual Queen of the Harbour race in which every crew will have an additional crew member – a female, their queen for the day.
The last race of the Club Championship will be sailed on Sunday 28 March, which is also the last race of the club’s 2009-2010 season.
Aussie 18 Footers League
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