Kokomo shines in heavy weather racing
Rolex
Trophy One Design Series - News Update
Article By the Rolex Media Team
Photos by Sam Crichton.
Photos by Sam Crichton.
17:17 AEDT Friday December 12, 2008.
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| Day one of the Rolex Trophy
One Design Series delivered tough conditions for the Farr 40 fleet.
With gale force winds predicted offshore Principle Race Officer Denis
Thompson made the call early to bring racing into the Harbour. Race one began in a 12 knot nor’easter with the start line just off Taylors Bay. Chris Way and Ian Burns’ Easy Tiger II led for the first two legs of the three-lap race, only to have Lang Walker’s Kokomo beat them to the finish line by a two boat length margin. The remaining four boats finished within two seconds of each other. "In race one, we had boats overlapping and sometimes it was very hard to tell who was in the lead - even 100 metres out from the finish line. The tight racing continued into the second race," Thompson said. Race two brought shifty nor’easterly breezes averaging 20 knots and peaking to 24 knots in the rain squalls. Racing was again close with New Zealander Brett Neill’s White Cloud jumping the start. By the time they rounded the second mark, White Cloud had clawed its way back to second in the fleet and eventually finished third behind Kokomo and Guido Belgiorno Nettis’ Transfusion. |
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| As the breeze continued
to clock left and strengthen to over 30 knots, Thompson made the decision
to conclude racing for the day. "It was a good day to be ashore," added Thompson. Boat of the Day went to Kokomo after she scored back to back wins today. Kokomo will line up for the first race tomorrow with a two point cushion over her class mates. "It was fun but very wet on the helm of Kokomo today. Our two first places have put us in a good position going into tomorrow," commented Matt Allen, who is helming Kokomo in owner Lang Walker’s absence. Tomorrow the Sydney 38 class will join the Farr 40s. With a 20-30 knot W/SW breeze forecast for the afternoon, Thompson will again have to decide whether to send the fleet offshore or keep them within the confines of Sydney Harbour. Provisional results after day one: 1. Kokomo - Lang Walker - 2 points 2. Transfusion - Guido Belgiorno Nettis - 4 points 3. Estate Master - Lisa & Martin Hill - 7 points 4. White Cloud - Brett Neill - 7 points 5. Easy Tiger II - C Way & I Burns - 10 points 6. Edake - Jeff Carter - 12 points 7. Sputnik - Ivan Wheen - 16 points |
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