Wolverines howl in Whitsundays
The foreshores of Meridien Marinas Abel Point resounds each evening to pop bands entertaining the 800 or so crew members and their friends enjoying a drink or two in the competitors' marquee after each day of racing in the 19th Airlie Beach Race Week.
'Holy Cow. Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week Day 5 Racing'
Peter Campbell ©
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Clear favourites are the toe-tapping, country and western band Wolverines, who were in great voice on Tuesday evening with John Clinton on drums, vocals and harmonies, Darcy LeYear on lead vocals, lead guitar and harmonies, and Chris Doyle on keyboards, vocals and harmonies.
Famed for their albums such as 'Occasional Coarse Language', the Wolverines are noted for songs that are not always politically correct and last night their 'Airlie Beach tunes
Today, Clinton, his long beard flowing in the tradewinds, was back on the helm of his Beneteau Oceanis 523 yacht Holy Cow!, his voice a little more subdued as he instructed his crew how to trim the sails for the fresh conditions and joggly seas.
And again he was a winner, with Holy Cow! placing third on corrected time in the17-boat Cruising with Spinnakers division to move to the top of the leader board with one race to sail tomorrow.
Holy Cow!, one of the bestknown yachts at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, has reveled in the fresh to strong winds of the Whitsundays this past week, scoring two wins and a third today to be on 15 points after discarding her worst race, a 15th in race one.
Second overall, but on 21 points, is White Pearl, Tracey Johnstone's SImonis Voogd sloop from Mooloolaba which placed 14th after losing, and unable to retrieve, a spinnaker halyard at the start of the long downwind run. Tracey is well known as the event manager for the Etchells Mid-Winter Championship at Mooloolaba.
Third in overall standings is Sarabande, Basil Dietholm's Swan cruiser/racer, which is on 22 points.
Today's race for the Cruising with Spinnakers division 1 saw victory go to Still Dangerous, skippered by Ivor Burgess from the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, from French Bee, Robert Greasley's Beneteau 42s7 from Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, with Holy Cow! taking third place.
Victorian Pauline Cleaver and her crew of TAFE students from Frankston, Victoria, continues to lead Sailing with Spinnakers division 2 after placing 4th today. Winner of today's race was Casper (Wayne Hoey) from Amadeus (Peter Johnson) and Breakaway (Arthur King).
by Peter Campbell 
sunrise beach, QLD
