Murphy & Nye 2010 Etchells Australian Championship Race 7

3:56 AM Fri 15 Jan 2010 GMT

'Ian Johnston and crew (Bananas in Pyjamas) - Murphy & Nye 2010 Etchells Australian Championship' Sail-World.com /AUS &copy Click Here to view large photo

A little overcast again for the Murphy & Nye 2010 International Etchells Australian Championship, being sailed from the Lake Macquarie Yacht Club, NSW.

Races 7 and 8 of the nine race series are scheduled for today.

Race 7 finally got away in breeze of about eight knots, with the sun threatening to break throught the cloud cover.

As in previous days, many competitors suffered a rush of blood resulting in a general recall.

The fleet settled and at the eventual start Damien King (Barry) five from the pin, had a bad start and was squeezed out. He eventually found a clear lane and went right, crossing the right hand group of the fleet.

Ian Johnston (Bananas in Pyjamas) was well advanced, as was Julian Plante (North Star). John Bertrand (Triad) came from the right of the left hand group while yesterday's winner Adam Beashel (Steam Packet 7) was well to the right.

At the top mark for the first time it was Ian Johnston (Banana in Pyjamas) who led the fleet, with Bill Steele (Dragon Lady) second. King recovered from the bad start to be third, with John Bertrand (Triad) fourth. Nick Knezic (Count Boris Secret Rendezvous) was next, then Plante (North Star), Steve Gunther (Magic Buzz), Mark Thornburrow (Dream On (Racer x)), Glen Nattrass (Ganesh) and Tom Woods (Echo Beach). Graeme Taylor (Magpie) was back in eleventh.

Approaching the mark Taylor was fifth and coming in on the port lay line but could not find a hole and had to go round again and dropped back to eleventh. Beashel was 42nd around the top mark

On the first run down and on the beat John Bertrand (Triad) made some smart decisions, coming back up the middle of the course to take the lead. Julian Plante (North Star) took the same line and did equally well. Damien King (Barry) went further to the right up the beat and dropped from third down to seventh.

At the top mark once again Graeme Taylor came in on port and this time managed to find a space but hardly advanced in the fleet.

Conditions dropped to five-six knots, with the sun shining, as the fleet approached the finish.

John Bertrand (Triad) retained his lead to win Race 7 from Ian Johnston (Bananas in Pyjamas) with the fast finishing Tom King (Iron Lotus) third. Julian Plante (North Star) was fourth, Bill Steele (Dragon Lady) fifth, then Brendan Garner (The Moe Szyslak Experience), Todd Wybom (Seven 50), Tom Woods (Echo Beach) and Mark Bulka (Perfect Balance).

Race 7 winner John Bertrand said 'It's all or nothing on the right. We played the shifts up the middle.'

The 'mover' in this race was certainly Mark Bulka (Perfect Balance) who was 45th at the top mark behind Beashel. He made up 15 places on the last beat, picked up a shift down the last run and moved up from 20th to tenth.

Bulka was quite pleased to be in the top ten finishers. 'It's a new boat, we didn't have the rig quite right' he said.

More to follow

by Al Constable

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