SYC Boats Fire in Range Race Series Opener - 11th October 2008
Sandringham Yacht Club boats Cougar II and Challenge dominated racing in Saturday's Range Series event.
In the new-style Range Series racing introduced this year, the large fleet was split across two courses with Divisions 0 and 1 sailed on the west side of the channel, and Divisions 2 and 3 on the east side. Division 0 also sailed an extra race starting at 11:30.
In Division 0's first race Cougar II made the most of the tricky, shifting 8-10kn conditions to take the win on IRC from Shogun (previously Living Doll) with SYC's Goldfinger in 3rd. Cougar II's win follows its recent winning performance at Hamilton Island Race Week, and demonstrates that they are again the boat-to-beat this season. In Performance handicap Goldfinger won from Audi Centre Melbourne (previously Flirt) and Cougar II.
In the afternoon race, SYC boats filled the top 5 places in Division 0 IRC, showing the strength of the SYC fleet in this division. Cougar II again took first place from Georgia and Audi Centre Melbourne (previously Flirt). In Performance handicap Georgia took the honours from Audi Centre Melbourne and Cougar II.
In Division 1, Lou Abrahams' Challenge showed the success of recent modifications to add a masthead spinnaker by winning all three handicap divisions (IRC, AMS and Performance) as well as taking Line Honours. In IRC, the new Beneteau First 45 Reverie from RBYC was 2nd with another modified Sydney 38 from SYC - Scarlet Runner - in 3rd. In AMS, new SYC OTB Club Captain Rob Davis was 2nd in Cleopatra.
Over on the East course, Surprise from RYCV had a great day in Division 2, winning IRC and AMS, with SYC's Young Lion 2nd, also in both IRC and AMS. In Division 2 Performance handicap, Where's Wal from RBYC was 1st with SYC's Stitched Up in 2nd.
In Division 3, SYC's Rhiannon placed 3rd in AMS which was won by Spellbound from RMYS. Div 3 IRC was won by Serious Yahoo II from RYCV, and Avandale from RMYS won Division 3 Performance.
