Sunday 24 January 2010

Audi Victoria Week: Foilers’ first race confusion



by Vanessa Dudley

Strong winds and confusion over the location of the course area reduced the size of the fleet at the start of the McConaghy – KA Sails International Moth Victorian Championships at Audi Victoria Week today.

In previous years these super-fast foiling craft have often raced on the waters to the east of Royal Geelong Yacht Club, off Limeburners Point, and that’s where several of the single-handers headed for today’s racing. In fact this year’s Moth series is being conducted directly in front of the Club, and at the scheduled start time of 2pm there were only three boats in the vicinity and ready to race.

Lochlin Byrne of Sandringham Yacht Club (Vic) sailing Mach2 Boats (a Mach 2 design) won the first race and went on to record two second placings in the challenging fresh to strong southerly winds to complete the day on five points, at the head of the leaderboard.

Second overall is Greg Wise of Adelaide Sailing Club (SA), who sailed the Bladerider Red Baron to a 3-5-4 scorecard and a progressive total of 12 points.

Third overall is Mach 2 designer Andrew McDougall of Black Rock Yacht Club (Vic), recent winner of the Australian Moth Championship. McDougall did not get off to a good start here at Geelong by missing the first race, but he joined the fleet for the remaining two starts and redeemed himself with a third and a first.

The series continues tomorrow with up to four races scheduled on Corio Bay from 1pm.

Audi Victoria Week

No comments: