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SKANDIA GEELONG WEEK

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OCEAN RACING

PRESS RELEASE:

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PRESS RELEASE: JAN, 23, 2005

First National continues winning streak at Geelong

Michael Spies sailing First National Real Estate has continued his assault at Skandia Geelong Week, with three wins from four races of the premier Scotchmans Hill Series to lead the event by seven points.

Spies, from Sydney, launched his Beneteau 44.7 in October last year and has been the standout boat over a number of events.

While Spies won Race 3 today, he was not so lucky in Race 4, scoring his worst result, an eighth, which he has used as his race drop, which came into place after Race 4.

While Sean Langman's Open 66, AAPT, has stolen the show winning every race on line honours, continually pipping Grant Wharington's 'rent a Skandia' Volvo 60, the real story in the Royal Geelong Yacht Club conducted series is the handicap results, which produce a winner at the end of their seven race series.

The IRC fleet contested two windward/leeward courses on Corio Bay today, sailed in 10-15 knot breezes on fairly flat seas with the sun beaming - fairly perfect in anyone's terms.

Dekadence, owned by the Commodore of Sandringham Yacht Club, Phil Coombs, is currently placed second overall after winning Race 4 this afternoon. Coombs purchased his DK46 late last year and is having some great results here in Geelong.

Another Sandringham member, Alan Whiteley, is equal third overall after a second place in Race 4, sailing Cougar, another of the successful Beneteau yachts.

In third place with him is yet another Beneteau, Dick Fidock's Beneteau 40.7, As Good As It Gets from South Australia, dropping down slightly in his results today, scoring fourth and 13th places. He will need a good day tomorrow if he is stay in a podium place.

Skandia Contribution, the other DK46 in the series, owned by Sydneysider Ray Roberts, is sitting in fifth place, just one point behind Cougar and As Good As It Gets. Roberts finished second in Race 3, but was seventh in Race 4. He launched his yacht just in time to contest Skandia Geelong Week and is still learning about his new yacht.

Racing continues on Corio Bay tomorrow with a further two windward/leeward courses.

Skandia Geelong Week Media Team.

Tight racing in Sydney 38 Nationals

The Sydney 38 Nationals fleet sailed on Geelong's Outer Harbour, in blazing sunshine, flat water and a 12 knot southeasterly - perfect sailing conditions for the Grand Prix fleet.

It was a tight startline, with Cameron Miles' Team Lexus on the pin, yesterday's race winner Steve Kulmar's Shining Sea on her hip and in turn, Martin Hill's Estate Master on her hip.

The fleet split, with these boats going left along with the pre-event favourite Cydon and a group of several other yachts. The boats on the left hand side lifted and when the two groups met, Estate Master just had her bow in front and rounded first, ahead of Acuity and Team Lexus.

Down the first run, Australian Olympic Bronze medallist Michael Blackburn stood with his arms folded on the cabin top of Estate Master watching the puffs coming down the course and the following fleet.

Gybing on every shift, with faultless crew-work she extended her lead away from Acuity and repeated the dose on the next beat and again on the final run to win the points. Leon Christianakis' Cydon climbed into third place. Fast finishing Shining Sea and London Tavern came in behind this group.

In the second race today, Blackburn was in perfect synchronisation with the shifts. As the wind built up to 16 knots, Estate Master surfed to another win ahead of Cydon and Team Lexus. Dual Australian Sydney 38 Champion Lou Abraham's was over the line at the start and was recalled, but managed to fight back up into the top third of the fleet.

In the third race the sea breeze had lifted again to a glorious 18 knots. Estate Master started near the committee boat and was fastest away. However for the first time they were on the wrong side of the course and fell back in the fleet. John Savage's 38 Degrees South had the best of the run and led from Acuity and Team Lexus, with Estate Master in heavy traffic and back in sixth place. 38 Degrees South held on to win from Acuity with Shining Sea third, ahead of Cydon.

On Day One Estate Master finished well back in the fleet at ninth, so while her results have lifted her up the rankings, the series leader is yesterday's winner Shining Sea, on a count back to Cydon, with Acuity third and Estate Master fourth.

After racing today, Course Race Officer Denis Thompson reported, 'Excellent sailing conditions, clear breeze and smiles all round!'

Regatta Chairman Graeme Ritchie concluded, 'This was the first day's racing ever on the Outer Harbour in all the history of this regatta. With the rapidly growing fleet at Skandia Geelong Week, we have plenty of space for bigger fleets in years to come.'

by Rob Kothe

Skandia Geelong Week Media Team.

Geelong Regatta