Octogenarian Lou Abrahams leads Sydney 38's at Skandia Geelong Week

11:31 AM Fri 23 Jan 2009 GMT

'Lou Abrahams Challenge - 2009 Skandia Geelong Week' Sail-World.com /AUS &copy Click Here to view large photo

Octogenarian yachting legend Lou Abrahams (Vic) issued a challenge to his eight rivals in the Morris Finance Sydney 38 Australian Championship which started today at Skandia Geelong Week.

Although Abrahams' Challenge crew had a glitch with a spinnaker in Race 1, they fought back to finish second - just 16 seconds behind Sierra Chainsaw. Abrahams then went on to take out Race 2, putting his competition on notice.

At 81, Abrahams is no novice to winning - in multiple classes - and has won the Sydney 38 Nationals previously. He and his strong crew from Sandringham Yacht Club in Victoria revelled in the conditions on Port Phillip and overcome challenges from the current top five.

Second overall to Challenge after day one is Race 1 winner, Sierra Chainsaw (Mel Mollison). The Victorian crew is on the pace with a third place finish in Race 2, and is just one point adrift of the leader.

Ian Murray and his Cinquante crew, also from Victoria, enjoyed today's near-perfect conditions; 4-2 results putting them in third place overall in what is shaping up to be a close series.

The fleet enjoyed a shifty 8 knot breeze that built to 10 knots throughout the earlier Race 1. By Race 2, winds had increased to 15 knots, but towards the end of the race, dwindled away again to 10 knots.

The Morris Finance Sydney 38 Australian Championship continues tomorrow with the 34.2 nautical mile Passage Race from Williamstown in Melbourne to Geelong - a race that Challenge has always enjoyed stretching her legs in.

The Championship, hosted by the Royal Geelong Yacht Club, will continue with windward/leeward races on Corio Bay over the Australia Day weekend.

Provisional top five following two races:
1 CHALLENGE SYC Lou Abrahams 2 1 3
3 SIERRA CHAINSAW SYC Mel Mollison 1 3 4
2 CINQUANTE RGYC Ian Murray 4 2 6
5 AUDACIOUS RBYC Greg Clinnick 3 5 8
4 SCARLET RUNNER SYC Rob Date 6 4 10

***Elapsed Time results Start : 14:40:00***
Place	Sail No	Boat Name	From	Elapsd	Skipper	Score
1	SM2	CHALLENGE	SYC	01:10:44	Lou Abrahams	1.0
2	G5038	CINQUANTE	RGYC	01:11:30	Ian Murray	2.0
3	SM6115	SIERRA CHAINSAW	SYC	01:11:48	Mel Mollison	3.0
4	SM6083	SCARLET RUNNER	SYC	01:12:03	Rob Date	4.0
5	B331	AUDACIOUS	RBYC	01:12:08	Greg Clinnick	5.0
6	G2004	ANOTHER CHALLENGE	RGYC	01:12:29	Chris Lewin	6.0
7	SM3838	CLOCKWORK	SYC	01:13:18	G.Mather F.Mcdermott	7.0
8	SM3800	38 DEGREES SOUTH	SYC	01:14:30	John Chatham	8.0
9	M2	HASTA LA VISTA	MYC	01:15:16	Ray Sweeney	9.0

***Elapsed Time results Start : 13:05:00***
Place	Sail No	Boat Name	From	Elapsd	Skipper	Score
1	SM6115	SIERRA CHAINSAW	SYC	59:48	Mel Mollison	1.0
2	SM2	CHALLENGE	SYC	01:00:04	Lou Abrahams	2.0
3	B331	AUDACIOUS	RBYC	01:00:56	Greg Clinnick	3.0
4	G5038	CINQUANTE	RGYC	01:01:25	Ian Murray	4.0
5	SM3838	CLOCKWORK	SYC	01:03:31	G.Mather F.Mcdermott	5.0
6	SM6083	SCARLET RUNNER	SYC	01:03:35	Rob Date	6.0
7	G2004	ANOTHER CHALLENGE	RGYC	01:03:37	Chris Lewin	7.0
8	SM3800	38 DEGREES SOUTH	SYC	01:04:17	John Chatham	8.0
9	M2	HASTA LA VISTA	MYC	01:05:15	Ray Sweeney	9.0

by Di Pearson - Skandia media

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Octogenarian Lou Abrahams leads Sydney 38's at Skandia Geelong Week

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