Savills Short Ocean Racing Championship - Day 1
by Louise Bashford 25 Nov 2006 08:45 GMT
25-26 November 2006
Loki sets the pace
While all eyes watching the Savills Short Ocean Racing Championship off Sydney today were fixed on the performance of the Sydney to Hobart race yachts that were competing, it was an outsider that was mixing it with the favourites.
With the first two of the weekend’s four IRC class races complete Leslie Green’s Swan 60, Ginger, was tied for first place on the points table with Stephen Ainsworth’s, Loki, one of the handicap favourites for the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race. Another Hobart race contender Ray Robert’s Cookson 50, Quantum Racing finished third.
This trio will fight for outright first place in the IRC Division of the Savills Championship tomorrow.
In the PHS Division Tony Bates’ Viva La Vita took first place in Race 1 from Fincorp More Witchcraft and Sailors with Disabilities finishing 3rd. Viva La Vita slipped to 3rd place in race two with Fincorp More Witchcraft snatching 1st place and Merlin coming back from an 8th place in race 1 to finish 3rd.
In the Farr 40’s Lang Walker’s Kokomo showed superior form finishing in 1st place in all 3 races. Brett Neills Whitecloud took 2nd place in race 1 and 2 and then slipped to 5th place in the final race for the day. Michael Milnes’ Blacksnake sailed consistently all day finishing 3rd in all three races.
In the Sydney 32’s IF took both Race 1 and Race 2 proving they are keen to retain their Savills 2005 Championship title.
The Sydney 38’s Class is still out racing opting to finish the day with four races completed.
Click here for full race results.