Tight at the top halfway through Sydney Ports Mirror Nationals

8:12 AM Thu 1 Jan 2009 GMT
The Sydney Ports 43rd Australian Mirror Championships, hosted by Balmoral Sailing Club, reached the half way stage on New Year's Eve.

After five of the regatta's ten scheduled races complete, two regular competitors from Sydney's Hunters Hills Sailing Club are locked in a tight battle for top of the table standings.

In first place with 11 points is Greg and Ben Field in Jukebox, having recorded a fourth place in race 1, a first in race 2, then a string of three consecutive second places in races 3, 4 and 5.

In second place, just 1 point behind with a total of 12 points is Lachlan and Finn Gilbert in Stanley Crocodile. The twice former Mirror Australian Champion won both the opening race and race 4, scored a second place in race 2, but has two fourth placed finishes. Lachlan is sailing a brand new Mark 3 Mirror imported from England before the regatta. The new design fiberglass boat has proved to be fast from the outset.

In third and fourth place on the points table are two Tasmanian boats. In third place, with a win under their belts is current Australian Champion Jessie Atherton and Katherine Maher in Kamikaze, with 19 points.

Also with a single first place is Mark Barrington and Molly Hutton in Kamikaze II, just two points in arrears of the third placed boat.

The regatta is being sailed in the sound area between Sydney's North, South and Middle heads at the entrance to Sydney Harbour.

Race 1 was sailed in a light southerly breeze, before light prevailing East and North East sea breezes powered the fleet on days two or three.

With five races left, the top four or five boats are all able to secure championship victory.

Rank Points Boat Helm Crew
1 11 Jukebox Greg Field Ben Field
2 12 Stanley Crocodile Lachlan Gilbert Finn Gilbert
3 19 Kamikaze Jessie Atherton Katherine Maher
4 21 Kamikaze II Mark Barrington Molly Hutton
5 27 Predator Paddy Gilbert Daniel Barnett

by Stuart Poignand

Newsfeed supplied by

#News #Sailing #North

Tight at the top halfway through Sydney Ports Mirror Nationals

Sports/News

Weather Forecasts & Live Reports

Buy & Sell/Classifieds