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13_Yachtsman 2015.qxp_Yachtsman Magazine 19/08/2015 4:30 pm Page 30

Club Yachting
Farr 40 fleet ‘Pittwaterised’
By Lisa Ratcliff
The light NNE breeze was reasonably consistent for the first two of three races
completed to the north of Scotland Island by Principal Race Officer Steve Merrington.
Then mid-way through a longer final race it shutdown entirely for a stretch, drawing
the course time out to just over an hour whereas the earlier races were around 40
minutes each.
Tropical conditions including severe afternoon thunderstorms and lightning are
hanging around Sydney this week and Merrington was mindful of getting the fleet,
with their carbon masts, ashore reasonably early.
Three of the four season newbies - Bob Bennett and Enigma (RPAYC), Carl Russett
and Windy Too (RPAYC) and Rod Jones and Kindergarten (MHYC/MYC, previously
Sputnik) – made their class debut today.
Etchells sailor Bucky Smith on Kindergarten said “We chose a pretty young crew to
start a fresh program aiming for the Farr 40 worlds in Sydney in two years’ time.
Today was our first race as a new team and being peaceful made it the perfect first
Farr 40 OD start day 1 - Photo Alexandra Earl
outing.” As the gun went for one start a bunch of kayakers from the local youth
hostel paddled unsuspectingly right into the danger zone and Kindergarten politely
Most of the active Australian east coast Farr 40 fleet assembled at Pittwater today
for the opening three races of the class’ One Design Trophy hosted by the Royal Prince tacked off.
Bob Bennett’s Enigma sailing for the home club and with RPAYC youth development
Alfred Yacht Club.
Reigning Australian champion Guido Belgiorno-Nettis’Transfusion sailing for Middle graduate Max Voss calling the shots is the top-scoring Corinthian Farr 40 so far. For
Harbour Yacht Club is this evening the lead boat, despite the crew being “Pittwaterised” them “it’s all about being out there and learning,” said Bennett, adding “we got better
in the opening race. The term came from Transfusion’s long time bowman Mitch with each race.”
White to describe the narrow waterway’s random nature that often strands the Overall, Rod Jones’ one design comeback with his new Farr 40 called Kindergarten
frontrunners and gives those out the back door a conveyer belt ride, and a fighting scuttled the familiar finish order of Transfusion then Kokomo, who are both longchance. Or the reverse can happen just as easily.
standing Farr 40 classmates and pacesetters.
Transfusion’s crew backed up a fourth in race one with two wins to be ahead of Lang Instead it was Transfusion (MHYC) then Kindergarten thanks to a “blinder” on debut by
Walker’s Kokomo (CYCA) by three points at the series’ halfway point. Jeff Carter’s Jones and his mixed NSW and Queensland crew of a third and two firsts in the final
Edake (MHYC), with Evan Walker calling tactics, is third to Kokomo by a point.
three races of the Farr 40 One Design Trophy Pittwater on Sunday December 7, 2014.
Jordan Reece has been part of the Transfusion program for the past two years and Lang Walker’s Kokomo (CYCA) ended up third overall, one point behind the class
today, Saturday December 6, 2014 he admirably filled very large shoes as tactician. newcomer. Kokomo’s fifth in race four allowed Jones, a two-time Audi IRC Australian
The young Aussie is the sailing director for the Chicago Match Racing Centre and is champion with previous boats, to slip into the runner-up position Walker and his
home for Christmas and Farr 40 racing. “At least half the team is new and we are quality crew held at the halfway point.
mixing people around and trying them in different positions,” said Reece. “I got the
call up as Tom Slingsby wasn’t available. It was a good first day, though nerve- Regatta winner by three points, Guido Belgiorno-Nettis, the owner/skipper of
wracking at times. When we sailed our own race we came away with two bullets.” Transfusion, paid tribute to his tactician Jordan Reece and strategist Katie PellewSpithill who teamed up for the first time in their new roles. “The two of them worked
Transfusion’s strategist Katie Spithill brought her handy knowledge of the haphazard so well together. I love sailing these waters, it’s just so tricky with 20 degree wind
section of water to the fore today.
shifts everywhere,” he said.
Transfusion is a borrowed Kokomo as Belgiorno-Nettis’ F40 is still on a ship returning International Farr 40 one design rules dictate an amateur owner must helm their
from the Rolex Farr 40 Worlds in San Francisco. It’s going straight to Melbourne for own boat, to prevent owners spending up big to secure professional drivers.
the next calendar event, the Aberdeen Asset Management Victorian State Title January
Another owner on debut this weekend, Bob Bennett and his Farr 40 Enigma from
30 – 1 February, 2015.
RPAYC took out the Corinthian division which allows teams to race with two ranked
Walker’s regular tactician Mal Page and many of the crew from his MC38 that raced
professional sailors versus the professional category which permits up to four pros
on the same course area last weekend also fell flat in race one, then turned around
among the usual 10-strong crew.
their fortunes. “The boats we are sailing and the weather are totally different to last
weekend,” said the Olympic gold medallist. “It took a while to adjust to sailing the RPAYC Principal Race Officer Steve Merrington had the final say, “We had a great last
Farr to its optimal speed. We felt better as the day