(Sydney, Australia)- The Sydney Harbour J/70 fleet has been racing since
September thanks to the support of the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron.
The Squadron’s mini-regatta series follows a two-lap windward-leeward
format with 3 races each day.The fleet is sailing every three weeks for the Squadron’s mini-regatta series, the greater Sydney area has about 10 J/70s. It has definitely been a thrill sailing on the magnificent Sydney Harbour regularly in one of the most exciting one-design classes around.
The 3 weeks so far have been sailed in light and generally shifty spring conditions, with the last race completed on Saturday being a drifter. All crews are looking forward to the arrival of the traditional summer northeasterly breezes that tend to hit hard as the weather warms up.
After the completion of the first three regattas, the most experienced crew on the harbour, JAMES skippered by Tim Ryan, has taken 8 bullets out of nine races, but not without being pushed hard by the other boats in each race.
Stephen Brady in YKNOT scored a win in the 9th race after some brilliant light air sailing. YKNOT led for much of the first leg before being becalmed, then recovered to sail around the fleet and score a comfortable win. Paul Wood, racing his brand new boat JAVA for only the second time, led around the top mark only to be becalmed and unfortunately finished at the back.
Murray, guest-skippering JUNO for Reg Lord, outsailed JAMES downwind on the last spinnaker run to record a second. The Series results after nine races have JAMES leading followed by JUNO, YKNOT and JAVA.
|
