Race report - Range #2
RACE REPORT: SYC BOATS STRONG IN RANGE #2 SYC boats continued strong form in the 2nd heat of the Club Marine Range Series on the weekend. The fleet faced challenging conditions with the West-South-Westerly breeze varying between 15kn and 25kn, with a squirt of over 30kn coming through late in the race that caught many by surprise and ensured that the sail makers are kept busy over the coming weeks.
Division 0 again had 2 races on the west course, with the first starting at 11:30 and the strong breeze kept these speed-machines at full throttle around the course. In the first race, Alan Whiteley's Cougar II continued its dominant form, winning IRC despite having to return after a premature start. Over a course that was shifted several times by the Race Officer as the wind shifted, SYC went 1-2-3 with Phil Coombs' Dekadence taking 2nd and Kate Mitchell / Peter Blake's Goldfinger 3rd. SYC also took all podium places on Performance handicap with Goldfinger winning from Dekadence and Chris Dare's Audi Centre Melbourne Flirt. In the afternoon race, the strong winds took their toll on Georgia and XLR8, who both retired with gear breakages. RYCV's Chutzpah sailed a strong race to win IRC, with Dekadence 2nd and Cougar II 3rd. Goldfinger took out Performance handicap from Chutzpah and Dekadence.
Division 1 joined the Division 0 boats over on the west course in the afternoon, and the Mollison's Sierra Chainsaw sailed a brilliant race to win the IRC division and placed 3rd on AMS. Lou Abraham's Challenge backed-up his dominant Race 1 performance by placing 2nd on IRC, whilst Frank & Lisa Hammond's Horizon Sprint also revelled in the conditions, winning AMS and placing 3rd on Performance.
Over on the East course, in Division 2 Ash Trebilcock & Jenny Vickery's Frequent Flyer had a day-out, winning both AMS and Performance, and just missing the trifecta with Line Honours by 15 secs. Mike Manson's Young Lion continued their good form with a 3rd on IRC, whilst Theo Krobel's Lebrok also sailed well for a 3rd on AMS and Peter Jackson's Stitched up picked up 2nd on Performance. Dave Ellis' Surprise from RYCV continued their winning ways, winning IRC and 2nd on AMS.
In Division 3, Tim Say's Assailant sailed a surperb race, winning IRC and 2nd on AMS, whilst John Robertson's Good Question placed 2nd on Performance.
Mark Welsh
