Audi IRC Series at Skandia Geelong Week - Day 3
by Di Pearson 25 Jan 2009 10:18 GMT
Wot Now stays ahead of the competition in Audi IRC Series
Graeme Wood and his Wot Now (NSW) crew stayed ahead of the competition in Division 1 of the Audi IRC Series this afternoon in what was a difficult day on the course with two races sailed in completely different breezes - in strength and direction.
Wood, with his team of ‘youngsters’ or perhaps ‘youngstars’ is the
better description, then pulled off a win in Race 5 to go into the final
race tomorrow with a five point lead over nearest rival Living Doll
(Vic) and a largish 17.5 lead over pre-regatta favourite Loki (Stephen
Ainsworth, NSW) in third place, their letdown a 13th place in Race 4.
“The sea breeze tipped the scales slightly in our favour and we took
advantage of it. We held our position relative to the rest of the fleet
and there weren’t too many shifts or holes in the course, so we were
able to make the best of the situation,” said owner Wood, who said he
would leave the worrying of what tactics they would employ in tomorrow’s
final race to tactician Michael Dunstan.
“I’ll sleep easy tonight and let Michael worry about tomorrow. I’m sure
he’ll have a few scenarios planned,” Wood quipped.
A real mixed bag of sailing conditions on the race track gave
competitors a real work out today; Race 4 was sailed in a light land
breeze, a left-hand shift after the start catching a few people out.
A solid building sea breeze kicked in just in time for officials to move
the course for Race 5 and competitors enjoyed 15-20 winds.
The more noticeable changes in results occurred in Race 4, with the 66ft
Reichel/Pugh Black Jack (Peter Harburg, Qld), beating the super maxi
Skandia (Grant Wharington, Vic), for line honours and Exile, Nick
George’s DK46 from South Australia notching up their first win of the
Series in Race 4.
This after both Black Jack and Limit broke the start. Starting at the
pin end, both were called over early, and while Harburg’s maxi recovered
quickly, Limit appeared to hesitate, Brierty and his crew perhaps not
realising their error, which cost them dearly with a 19th place, as they
had to duck and weave their way back around a few boats to re-round the
start.
Despite having to re-start, Black Jack, skippered by America’s Cup
afterguard Mark Bradford, with round the world speed record holder
Adrienne Cahalan navigating; weaved their magic and fought their way
back through the tricky shifts to take line honours.
Brierty and his crew on Limit did not let their 19th result influence
their next race though. As in previous days, Limit, with Roger Hickman
at the helm and Gavin Brady calling tactics, and Stephen Ainsworth’s
Loki scintillated onlookers again, this time sailing on opposite sides
of the course.
Limit powered up both windward beats to round before Loki and came home
for second place in Race 5. Loki, with Cameron Miles at the helm and
Chris Links calling the shots, finished equal fourth with Shogun (Rob
Hanna, Vic). Unfortunately, with only one race remaining, to be sailed
tomorrow, Limit is not in reach of a podium finish, due to her
disqualification from Race 1 and the 19th place.
The event, hosted by the Royal Geelong Yacht Club, concludes with one
windward/leeward race on Corio Bay tomorrow.
Audi IRC Australian champions fight for Division 2 at Audi IRC Series
In an ironic twist of fate, the 2007 and 2008 Audi IRC Australian
champions and winners of Audi cars are challenging for the Division 2
win and are in the running to win the first round of 2009 Audi
Championship at Skandia Geelong Week today.
Rod Jones (Alegria, Qld) who won the inaugural Audi IRC Championship,
currently leads Peter Hill’s Ruth Magic, steered by 2008 Championship
winner, Peter Sorensen.
There is only three points difference in the scores and as Jones pointed
out this afternoon, “when a race-drop comes into play tomorrow with our
final race, it could tip the balance either way.”
Under pressure from Ruth Magic, whose crew includes Nathan Wilmot,
Australian gold medallist at the Beijing Olympics, Alegria racked up a
pair of second places, while her nemesis scored a fifth and a win and
are only three points of the lead.
Jones knows he and his crew on their Archambault 40 have to beat the
Beneteau 45 tomorrow to win Division 2. “It will be an interesting day.
The weather reports say it will be fairly light winds, so if that’s the
case, we’ll have a good chance.
“We will obviously have to stay close to them, stay attached, so they
don’t get away from us. If the breeze is soft, we should be able to beat
them. They’re a bit heavier (in the hull) and they are set up more for
heavier winds,” he said.
Jones went on the remark: “It’s been a really exciting series – there’s
a bit more depth in the division this year that has made for great
racing.”
Ruth Magic was always expected to be a strong rival and she has been.
Third placed Reverie (Alan Woodward) has managed to hold onto third
place overall from yesterday with a seventh and a third place.
In Division 3, due to some changes of sail numbers and other confusion,
the tables have been turned and the yacht Surprise (David Ellis) with
two wins today is in the lead ahead of Peter Jackson’s Stitched Up (Vic)
and Grant Hailes’ Arabelle (MYC).
A glitch in the scoring system which had Upbeat leading the series until
today, has moved Peter Dunne’s boat down into fifth place.
Provisional Results after Day 3:
Division 1 (top five after three races)
1 WOT NOW, Graeme Wood (CYCA) 11pts
2 LIVING DOLL, Michael Hiatt (RYCV) 16pts
3 LOKI, Cameron Miles (CYCA) 28.5pts
4 SHOGUN, Robert Hanna (RGYC) 39.5pts
5 DEKADENCE, Philip Coombs (SYC) 41pts
Division 2 (top five after three races)
1 ALEGRIA, Rod Jones (RQYS) 13pts
2 RUTH MAGIC, Peter Hill (MHYC) 16pts
3 REVERIE, Alan Woodward (RBYC) 20pts
4 TRUE NORTH, Andrew Saies (CYCSA) 24pts
5 JUST A MINOR HICKUP, Peter Coleman (RBYC) 31pts
Division 3 (top five after three races)
1 SURPRISE, David Ellis (RYCV) 7pts
2 STITCHED UP, Peter Jackson (SYC) 17pts
3 ARABELLE, Grant Hailes (MYC) 20pts
4 DR UNC, John Lindholm (SYC) 23pts
5 UPBEAT, Peter Dunne (SYC) 30pts
Further information including results and more photos at www.geelongweek.com.au