Transfusion takes the lead at Farr 40 regatta

'Transfusion leaders after day two at Peppers Anchorage F40 regatta' Sam Crichton &copy

Day two of racing at the Peppers Anchorage Farr 40 regatta and the eight boats racing had a delayed start to the day when they waited for an hour and half for the Nor' East breeze to fill in.

Race five of the regatta and it was a battle between Lang Walker's Kokomo and Guido Belgiorno Nettis's Transfusion with the two boats both keen to start the day with a win. It was Kokomo who got the gun from Transfusion with the rest of the fleet crossing the line in quick succession.

Transfusion went on for race six and seven to do one better winning both races and with a scorecard of 2,1,1 for the day moved into the lead.

'We've lifted up another level today and always had Kokomo and Hooligan threatening for every race today. We are aiming to improve on our 2007 Port Stephens second place. This will be the crew we go through this season in Australia and onto the 2009 Rolex F40 Worlds in Italy with Tom Slingsby back from the Australian Sailing Team as tactician', commented Belgiorno Nettis.

Class newcomers Chris Way and Ian Burns's Easy Tiger II have their best result so far today with a third in race five. ' It's been fantastic racing and excellent competition out there. We couldn't ask for a better start to our campaign', remarked Way.

Hooligan, with Marcus Blackmore back at the helm, finished on the podium in two of today's races and maintained their third overall from day one. Hooligan are on equal points in second place overall with Lisa and Martin Hill's Estate Master.

Racing finishes tomorrow and the forecast is for a North, Nor' West breeze of 10 knots at first tending North, Nor' East at 15 knots in the afternoon.

Sponsoring the Port Stephens event are host resort Peppers Anchorage, Club Marine Insurance and Two Furlongs Wine from Mudgee.

Provisional Results Day 2:

1st Transfusion G Belgiorno Nettis MHYC 14

2nd Estate Master L&M Hill MHYC 24

3rd Hooligan M Blackmore RPAYC 24

4th Kokomo L Walker YCCS/NYYC 26

5th White Cloud B Neill RNZYS 31

6th Sputnik I Wheen RSYS 36

7th Easy Tiger II C Way/I Burns RPAYC 43

8th Edake J Carter MHYC 54

For more information please go to www.farr40.org