Three way tie after Day One Women's Match Racing Regatta

1:22 AM Mon 6 Apr 2009 GMT

'Katie Spithill and crew in Harken Women’s International Match Racing Regatta' Andrea Francolini &copy Click Here to view large photo

The Harken Women's International Match Racing Regatta got underway at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia yesterday. A perfect Sydney day greeted the sailors as they gathered for breakfast and briefing on the deck but unfortunately with a big program scheduled and the harbour looking like a millpond; it was not the start competitors had hoped for.

Competitors left the dock hoping for the breeze to fill in but after floating around for about an hour, the Elliotts were sent ashore to wait for the breeze to come in. As the nor'easterly filled in, the crews were out on the water again by 11am and racing started soon after.

The opening flight set the standard for the Regatta with some impressive tactics on display. Match 5 saw a tactical battle between Osborne and Spithill, with Osborne trailing on the first downwind leg. Osborne forced Spithill into a starboard trap, gybing inside to take the lead heading into the second leg.

On the final downwind run to the finish it was a case of 'Anything you can do I can do better' for Spithill, who got inside Osborne, forcing Osborne onto to starboard tack close to the line allowing Spithill to gybe inside and head for the finish - taking the match by 5 seconds.

In flight three Lee and Hazard provided the match of the flight. Heading into the pre-start, looking to 'dial-up' and go 'head to wind', both skipper's trying to force the other into an early penalty. Lee managed to break away from her NZ opponent and got off to a great start, which forced Hazard to out-tack her opponent on the first upwind run. Hazard succeeded, taking the lead and holding on for her second win of the regatta.

As the breeze picked up to a steady 12 - 15 knots and the crews settled into the racing, with strong calls across the race track and the 'Y' flags getting plenty of use.

Some very close racing produced exciting finishes from many competitors, eventually seeing three teams finish with 7 wins - 1 loss, Katie Spithill, Amanda Scrivenor and Lucinda Whitty, all sailing for the Australian Sailing & Development Squad and all tied for first place.

They were closely followed by Nicky Souter, ASDS and Samantha Osborne, Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron on 5 wins - 3 losses.

Denis Thompson, the Race Officer, pushed through the racing to complete eight flights (40 races), a great achievement for the day after a delayed start. The final flight of Round Robin One will be conducted on Monday morning prior to the commencement of Round Robin Two.

The weather for the second day of racing is forecast to be stronger than Day One and the race committee hopes to get through the second round robin of the competition.

Places at the end of day one:

Katie Spithill (ASDS) 7-1

Amanda Scrivenor (ASDS/CYCA) 7-1

Lucinda Whitty (ASDS) 7-1

Nicky Souter (ASDS) 5-3

Samantha Osborne (RNZYS) 5-3

Stephanie Hazard (RNSYS) 3-5

Juliana Senfft (Brazil) 2-6

Amy Lee (RPAYC) 2-6

Catherine Trew (CYCA) 2-6

Kim Stuart (USA) 0-8

by Jennifer Crooks

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Three way tie after Day One Women's Match Racing Regatta

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