Please select your home edition
Edition
GP Watercraft

Mandurah Race: Perfect one day, better the next

by Bernie Kaaks 15 Mar 2018 15:35 GMT
Mike Giles' Endorfin being monstered by Argo and Weapon of Choice in the return race © Bernie Kaaks

It was a bittersweet occasion for offshore sailors last weekend, returning to a spot barely ten miles from where their popular colleagues Rob Thomas and Paul Owens died two weeks earlier in a capsize during the Bunbury and return ocean race.

There were no problems this time. South easterly and easterly conditions made for an easy race in both directions. In the race from Fremantle on Saturday, Garth Curran's Walk on the Wild Side set the pace, the Inglis 58 carving out the distance 14 minutes ahead of Alan Stein's GP42 Dirty Deeds to finish first in YAH handicap. Dirty Deeds however, took first place on IRC and backed that up with another win in the return race on Sunday. The use of a staysail gave the boat superb reaching performance. In the return race Dirty Deeds was recalled but sailed past all boats except Walk on the Wild Side before reaching the Peelhurst rounding mark. She caught and passed Wild Side on the next leg of the race, a square run from Peelhurst to Horseshoe Reef.

The square run caught several skippers unawares. The breeze was typically in the 15 knot range, but as often happens in this weather pattern, there were some big bullets as well. Anthony Kirke and Andrew Nuttman's Enterprise was first to go, losing her grip and falling into a Chinese gybe. They recovered quickly, but narrowly behind them, Paul Arns' Obsession, worried about the close proximity of Enterprise on one side and Chris Higham's Argo on the other, followed suit with a spectacular Chinese gybe of their own. It took some time to regain control, by which time Argo gleefully flew past both yachts with her big white kite in perfect trim. Argo continued her good form to finish second on IRC, a repeat of her Saturday performance.

At the other end of the fleet, Ryan Binedell combined with Reuben Rosolin in the S97 Low Flying Duck. Competing in the double handed division, the little boat outpaced Bruce Beattie's Radford 47 Lizard to the top mark on both days and set an IRC time on the return which gave the boat first place overall.

The Beneteau 34.7's Dynamic and Wyuna enjoyed close competition on both days, finishing second and third on IRC on Saturday and improving to first and second on Sunday's return. Phil Somerville's S&S34 Huckleberry knocked the pair out of first place on Saturday and finished third n the return race.

After the tragedy of the last ocean race on the West Coast, this was a cathartic return to ocean racing for many and there were emotional moments at the Mandurah Offshore Fishing and Sailing Club on Saturday evening as sailors paid their respects.

Related Articles

Vendée Globe Monday Morning Update
Who will claim the Cape Horn record? Yoann Richomme on Paprec Arkéa and Charlie Dalin on MACIF Santé Prévoyance are set to round the legendary Cape Horn at around 2300 UTC today, but it is far from clear as to which of them will get their first. Posted today at 9:21 am
WASZP & SAILGP launch new competition format
To introduce a WASZP Grand Final Event and Global Qualification Series WASZP, the innovative one-design foiling class, and SailGP, the global racing championship, have announced a strategic restructuring of their original partnership to introduce a WASZP Grand Final Event and Global Qualification Series. Posted today at 5:15 am
Rolex Sydney Hobart first timers say 'bring it on'
Olivia Gates, 30, will compete in her first Sydney Hobart on December 26 Olivia Gates, 30, will compete in her first Sydney Hobart on December 26 - and it is interesting to consider that when the nurse from Newcastle moved to Sydney four years ago, sailing was not on her radar. Posted today at 12:57 am
48th Palamós Christmas Race overall
Polish crews are the big winners The 48th Palamós Christmas Race crowned its winners after four days of intense competition in the waters of the bay of Palamós (Girona), with a very high international participation with teams from 16 countries represented. Posted on 22 Dec
Cape Horn records set to tumble
Fatigue is the constant, gnawing, universal presence in the Vendée Globe At six weeks into the Vendée Globe, with the leading duo Yoann Richomme (PAPREC ARKÉA) and Charlie Dalin (MACIF Santé Prévoyance) set to round Cape Horn late tomorrow, fatigue is the constant, gnawing, universal presence. Posted on 22 Dec
2025 AEGEAN 600 now open for entry
Fifth edition to start on 6th July Organizers at the Hellenic Offshore Racing Club (HORC) are pleased to announce that the entry process is now open for the fifth edition of the AEGEAN 600. Posted on 22 Dec
Publicise your open event to thousands of readers
Get your class/club fixture list into the YachtsandYachting.com calendar As Winter draws to a close, the beauty sleep of event coordinators everywhere becomes more and more disturbed. For fixtures lists will soon be published on club and class websites up and down the country. Posted on 22 Dec
Sailing Grand Slam announces 2025 event dates
Along with a new website and the initial Notice of Race The new Sailing Slam (SGS) continues to take shape, with a new website launched and the initial Notice of Race published for 2025, the first year of the series. Posted on 22 Dec
Another Chapter enters its exciting chapter yet
Set for the epic 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Tommy Dickens might have turned down some offers in his young life, but when the 23-year-old from the UK was given the chance to sail in the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, he grabbed it with both hands. Posted on 22 Dec
Vendée Globe Sunday Morning Update
Close Cross in the Pacific! Yoann Richomme on Paprec Arkéa took the lead in the Vendée Globe on Saturday, and continues his charge towards Cape Horn, but Charlie Dalin on MACIF Santé Prévoyance seems unfazed, biding his time for when the Atlantic conditions may suit him better. Posted on 22 Dec