The next WHWS race is the coming Sunday July 3. Hopefully the weather gods will smile on the fleet!
A couple of GFS yachts were awarded honourable mentions in the race manager’s report.
Race 3 of the West Harbour Winter Series saw a depleted fleet of 29 competitors brave miserable wet conditions to complete the race.
In Division 1, Ray Parrott’s X332, Xray, sailed impressively leading division 1 for two-thirds of the race to place first on handicap (ORC and PHS) and second over the line ahead of Simon Oliver’s MD35 Matag’. Second place on PHS went to Bill Ure on his Hick 35 Hick Up and in third place was Conrad Johnston on his Fareast28r Wildling 2.
In Division 1 ORC, first place went to Xray ahead of Matagi and Steve Piper’s Adams 10 Coconut Telegraph.
In Division 2 (PHS) Peter Horne’s Diamond Red October placed first just 32 seconds ahead on corrected time from Craig Armour’s Hick 30 Delirium. Third place went to last years division winner Denis Speyer’s Swarbrick 945 Between Partners. In Division 2 ORC, Mal Thompson’s Young 88 Pistol Dawn placed 1st well ahead on corrected time of Adam Baggett’s Farr 1020, Tenspeed, which was in turn ahead of David Edminston’s Jeanneau 37, Passion. Passion finally received their ORC Club certificate and their back-dated results under ORC places them in equal first place for the series in division 2 ORC.
In Division 3 (PHS) Peter Francis’ Hanse 325 Wind Charmer won the daily double of first over the line and first on handicap after a closely fought battle with the slightly larger Hanse 350, Les Girls II owned by Susan Geary who crossed the line just 8 seconds after Wind Charmer. Third place went to Doug Allan’s Peterson 30 Silhouette. In Division 3 (ORC) the difference in corrected time of the first three yachts was less than 1 minute with Silhouette ahead of Les Girls II and Wind Charmer.
In Division 4 – PHS, Michael Bleakley’s modified Crossfire 20 Loose Change also was first over the line and first on handicap. In second place was Jeff Finnegan’s Endeavour 26 Witchways II a minute ahead on corrected time of third placed Hughie II Karen Abel’s Northshore 27.
At the half-way mark of the series there remain many competitors vying for podium finishes. Fingers crossed for favourable (or evan pleasant) conditions.
Race 4 of the West Harbour Winter Series is this Sunday the 3rd of July and competitors are invited back to the Balmain Sailing Club for the post-race prize-giving and sausage sizzle.
David Stenhouse, Race Manager
