With four wins out of five races so far sailed, the Tasmanian crew led by Colleen Darcey, look set to win the IRC division of the Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta.
Sailing Absolut, an Archambault 35, the Tasmanians crew of mainly SB20 sports boat sailors today were in top form, winning both the IRC and AMS handicaps of race four.
In race 5 they won the IRC division and placed second on correct time in AMS scoring.
One race remains to be sailed tomorrow on Melbourne’s Port Phillip to complete the regatta, contested by 24 all-women crews from States and Territory.
Absolut, sailing under the burgee of the Derwent Sailing Squadron, has a three-point lead from local yacht Jungle Juice (Monica James) in IRC Division 1, with a scorecard of four firsts and a second.
Spinnaker silhouette on a chilly winter's day on Port Phillip.
In AMS Division 1, the Tasmanians are three points behind the fast Melges 32 Envys (EK Wotherspoon) representing Sydney’s Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.
Darcey and her talented crew have shown great light weather sailing expertise over the weekend during which the winds on Port Phillip have ranged in direction from north to south and 6-10 knots in windspeed with one brief burst of 12 knots.
Highlight was Absolut’s IRC and AMS handicap wins in today’s race four after a two-hour delay. This was the Tasmanian’s third win under IRC scoring, their first under AMS.
The breeze swung from south to south-east during the afternoon, ranging from 6 knots to 3 knots and Envys got a winning break on the fleet crossing the line 19 minutes and 24 seconds ahead of Absolut in the race of one and a half hours duration.
On corrected time Envys won by 4 minutes and 42 seconds.
Townsville-based Tasmanians Judi Marshall and Sandy McManus, sailing with three Townsville Yacht Club members, continued to have mixed fortunes with the borrowed S80, Recycled Reputation.
The Bellerive Yacht Club members won race 5 of IRC Division 2 today to be second overall, but under AMS scoring Recycled Reputation is sixth overall. Racing for the S80 Cup, Recycled Reputation is seventh overall.
Words: Peter Campbell
Photos: Bruno Cocossa
11 June 2017
