8:26 PM Sun 17 May 2009 GMT
 | | 'The fleet, during Race 3 of the Audi Winter Series on Sydney Harbour.'
Peter Andrews |
Race Three of the CYCA's Audi Winter Series 2009 commenced in 7-8 knots of sou'westerly breeze with a full course being sailed on the Sydney Harbour course A.
One of the largest fleets of the Audi Winter Series 2009 of 139 yachts started racing at 1125hrs for the Sydney 38 One Design Division and 1130 hours for the remaining divisions.
It was a very pleasant Sydney winter's day on the harbour with warm temperatures that saw crews in sailing in t-shirts rather than the wet weather gear of previous races. Some even arrived back at the CYCA with sun and wind burn from the day on water.
PRO John Hurley commented on the day's racing "After yesterday's gale force westerlies, today's winds were lighter. It was a testing day on water for everyone - a typical Sydney winters day with the persistent wind shifts, flat water and brilliant sunshine."
"There were some big winners and big losers in today's conditions. The winners were those that were able to chase the breeze as it shifted and work with the tidal conditions to achieve the maximum results. The breeze shifted left all day from WNW to SW at the start and then kept left all afternoon with boats experiencing sou'easterly breeze of 13 knots at the finish line," concluded John.
 | The red spinnakers of Rod Gibbs’Shere Khan, Neil Hamilton and Brian Wood’s Balmain Tiger, during Race 3 of the Audi Winter Series on Sydney Harbour. - Peter Andrews |
In Division E, Robert Breit's Tigger finished first with David & Olivia Price's Bitter & Twisted second and Vaughan Stibbard's The Business third.
For Olivia Price, one of CYCA Youth Sailing Academy's success stories and a member of the Australian Sailing Development Squad, sailing on a yacht that is not an Elliott 6 gave her a chance to see things differently.
"I had a really interesting day helming today. I was able to see things differently than what I do on an Elliott. I feel that I have learnt a lot from the other crew members and it was nice racing in a larger fleet!
"Our handicap was good and we started well. At one point, we were on the wrong side of the wind shift when we rounded one of the marks, but we quickly recovered from it and continued on sailing smoothly for the rest of the afternoon. The crew called good tactics all day which made my job a little easier," concluded Olivia.
In Division F, Terence and Liz Burke's Brigus finished first, with Greg Maughan's Syonara second and The Rum Consortium's Phillip's Foote Witchdoctor third.
"We did really well in the wind conditions today. There were a lot of wind shifts and luck favoured those who watch the wind," said Terence Burke.
"We were under-crewed today and the crew did an outstanding job working as a team throughout the whole day. We had a pleasant day's sailing in high spirits," concluded Terence.
In the Sydney 38 One Design Division, The SubZero Goat, owned by the Sub Zero Syndicate including co-owner Bruce Foye, placed first on handicapp, with Michael McMahon & Warwick Miller's X3 second and The Tavern third.
CYCA Director Michael Cranitch's Broomstick placed first in Division A, with David Pescud's Sailors with Disabilities second and Past Commodore Geoff Lavis' UBS Wild Thing third.
Other division winners included Tim Casey's St Hillers Quest (Division B), Sean Langman's LBxx (Division C), Ray Stone's Razors Edge (Division D), Kai Jacobsen's Eis (Division G), Andy & David Lukas' Racy Lady (Division H), Ray Entwistle's Jackpot (Division J), and Brian Clayton's Quetzal (Division K).
by Jennifer Crooks
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