Farr 30 Australian Championship at Queensland - Day 1
by Suellen Hurling 3 Apr 2011 07:34 BST
1-3 April 2011
Synergy at the Farr 30 Australian Championship © Suellen Hurling
Synergy edges out GOA/Nova 106.9
Leon Thomas and his Guilty Pleasures III crew brought the rain and wind with from them from Townsville with racing for the first day of the Farr 30 Australian Championship conducted in overcast, windy and rainy conditions.
Although it was raining the breeze was in from the south east with plenty of thrills and spills for the first race of the regatta. GOA/Nova 106.9 (Chris Tyquin) had a great start in race one however Synergy (Alex Douglas) with two time Farr 30 World Champion Darren Jones on board slipped into the winning position after rounding the gate marks for the final time.
Psychologically Synergy had the upper hand going into the second race, however GOA/Nova 106.9 put the first race behind them and held their own to secure the win with Synergy finishing 22 seconds behind.
GOA/Nova 106.9 also won race three but only by a whisker with Guilty Pleasures III bringing it up the inside and providing the leading crew with some nail biting action on the finish line. Italian Job (Lew Perrin) was a thumb nail behind Guilty Pleasures III finishing just 3 seconds from their stern.
The fleet of seven Farr 30's was happy to see the sun set on day one after close and intense scuffles. No breakages were reported however many did complain of bruises to their battered bodies.
Day two racing is currently on standby with the complete opposite conditions on the race track. Blue skies, humidity and just 3-4 knots of oscillating breeze are hindering successful course setting. The crews are waiting patiently for the sea breeze to come in before calling it quits with just two races completed.
Synergy is back in the game after winning both races so far today with GOA/Nova 106.9 now sitting in second place on the leader board. Just one point separates these two competing Farr 30's with Guilty Pleasures III and Italian Job on 21 points a piece and 11 points behind GOA/Nova 106.9.
Tomorrow is the last day of racing for the championship with results still wide open for anyone to take out the title.
The 2011 Farr 30 Australian Championship is being hosted by Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron which today was the location for the launch of the Queensland Season of Sailing. Young Australian of the Year, Jessica Watson, was here to ring the bell signifying the launch of the Tourism Queensland campaign. The Hon Wayne Swan MP Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and The Hon Anna Bligh MP Queensland Premier were also present to announce the joint purchase of the S&S (Sparkman and Stephens) 34 Ella's Pink Lady which Jessica sailed around the world. The yacht will be on permanent display at the Queensland Maritime Museum at South Bank and will become a part of Queensland and Australian maritime history.
Fore more information visit sailing.rqys.com.au