evolution girls showing their support!




Race 9 South Mole Island Race

After a tricky start in light air, a great recovery by Loki after a bad start and an even trickier work around the Western side, Limit was the first boat to make the 'Leap of Faith' early across the open water separating the Mole Islands and Dent passage and the finish line. Being first to cross over paid dividends and led to Limit fighting it out with Black Jack and Wild Jow for line honours. Althogh the gains were big, it again wasn't enough under IRC against the 50's as has been the pattern of the regatta. The line honours win was thrilling and well deserved, but unfortunately Evolution Racing, Living Doll, Scarlet Runner and Wot Now all snuck in to the IRC placings. None the less, Alan was pleased with the line honours win, being the only boat to take line honours away from the two Canting Keel boats all regatta. "To finish 4th overall, and with the points so close is a great result for is, and even more pleasing is doing so in a predominantly small boat favoured ragatta" said Alan.

On behalf of the team Alan - thanks for a great reagatta and we look forward to next year!


IRC Grand Prix Div 1

Hosted By Hamilton Island Yacht Club

PROVISIONAL RESULTS

Updated: 29/08/2009 16:35:06

Series Results [IRC Div1] up to Race 9 (Drops = 1) Place Ties Sail No Boat Name Skipper Sers Score Race 9 Race 8 Race 7 Race 6 Race 5 Race 4 Race 3 Race 2 Race 1
1 R55 LIVING DOLL Michael Hiatt 19.0 2.0 2.0 1.0 3.0 2.0 1.0 7.0 [8.0] 1.0
2 8899 EVOLUTION RACING Ray Roberts 25.0 1.0 4.0 6.0 1.0 4.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 [7.0]
3 6952 WOT NOW Graeme Wood 31.0 3.0 5.0 2.0 5.0 1.0 [8.0] 5.0 7.0A 3.0
4 98888 LIMIT Alan Brierty 33.0 5.0 1.0 4.0 7.0 3.0 9.0 1.0 3.0 [9.0]
5 SM11 SCARLET RUNNER Robert Date 35.0 4.0 8.0 7.0 4.0 5.0 [10.0] 4.0 1.0 2.0
6 AUS7002 WILD JOE Steven David 48.0 6.0 7.0 [10.0] 8.0 6.0 5.0 6.0 5.0 5.0
7 2.0S R50 SHOGUN Robert Hanna 50.0 10.0 6.0 3.0 2.0 8.0 3.0 9.0 9.0 [10.0]
8 AUS6000 LOKI Stephen Ainsworth 50.0 8.0 3.0 [9.0] 6.0 7.0 6.0 8.0 6.0 6.0
9 52566 BLACK JACK Peter Harburg 54.0 7.0 9.0 5.0 10.0 10.0 7.0 2.0 [10.0] 4.0
10 AUS7001 WILD OATS X Bob Oatley 59.0 9.0 10.0 8.0 9.0 9.0 4.0 [10.0] 2.0 8.0





Race 5 – Baynham Island Race.
Again after a delay to proceedings due to a lack of wind, we got off to a start which was predominantly a one leg beat. Good height and speed saw us roll over Loki by rounding the headland and going straight to Code Zero and wiggling through the hole around Baynham, then peeling to A2 for the run to Pentecost. A fantastic downwind leg saw us gave huge gains and pull away from Loki and Wind Joe, whist closing in on Oats and Blackjack. By the time we were at Dent Island we were almost even with the two big boats. A sail changing issue cost us some time when the Zero wouldn’t furl and we needed to be on a jib in preparing to sail into Dent Passage. This cost us a few minutes, but all in all a good day in again very tricky conditions. 3rd. Not many points separating the fleet so 3 windward/ leewards today will really start to sort the final placings.

Races 6, 7, 8 Windward / Leeward
The AP came down again after a short delay and we were off! Race 1 was tough for us as we struggled to find clear lanes. Every time we had a gain we seemed to lose it again in dirty air. Not good when you know the pack of 50 footers behind are just far enough back to sail their own race. 7th
Race 2 we started stronger and managed to clear starboard tackers on the 1st beat. This helped, but hindered at the same time as again we were a little too close to the 66 Canters, and often struggled to find clear lanes upwind. Some great downwind sailing saw us gain every time – but there was no stopping the Living Doll who seemed to have it all going her way. 4th
Race 3 had Gavin nail the pin and we extended all the way left, backing judgement on wind and tide. Most of the fleet broke right. The left won, and we rounded the windward mark in the lead. What a difference clear air makes! With this jump we controlled the favoured left with all the lanes we wanted , on went on for a line honours and IRC win. 1st
At this point the Living Doll cannot be beaten. They have sailed a great regatta and it is clearly a very good boat. Today Wot Now, Scarlet Runner, Evolution Racing and ourselves go into the South Mole Island Race all with a shot at second.


Race 1 Lindeman Island Race

What a tricky race! Off the start line, Scarlet Runner, Evolution Racing and Wild Joe and ourselves charged off to the Western side of the race course and looked to be making huge gains over Oats, Blackjack, Loki, Wot Now and others, who seemed to be stuck in a hole. How quickly things change! An hour later and the breeze on the western side all but vaporized leaving us floundering and watching the Eastern boats unfurl code zeros in a new filling breeze. The frustration didn’t end there! Approaching Spitfire Rock, the breeze again shut down and with the breeze holding in back at Lindeman Island, the fleet compressed and flip flopped around (or aground in Ginger's case) and was frustrating as hell. By the time we wiggled around the race was well and truly run for us, as hard as we tried any small breaks eluded us all day - that's boat racing! 9th
Race 2 & 3 Windward / Leeward
A great start and boat speed saw us extend off the line and hit the left hand shift in good shape, hanging with the bigger canters. In an unbelievable twist, on the final run Black Jack hit the wall, quickly followed by us…. we crash gybed and managed to squeeze into a tiny puff which allowed us to extend into the last band of pressure on the track and get through the finish line. Tough for Black Jack and - Good for us – 3rd
Gavin stuck the boat in at the pin in a really ballsy start which worked out really nice for us, bouncing Loki off to the un-favored right side and allowing us to extend again to the left, and tack on the shift again putting us in good shape. Careful of the potential shut down a in the previous race we sailed the downwind legs a little more conservative, staying in visible lanes and making allowance for the current which was significant. Other than snagging the pin during pre start ‘pinging’ of the line (great work Twirler for your underwater prowess) the race was a good one for us. 1st
Race 4 Short Passage (Long Race Cancelled – Lack of Wind)
Fickle conditions and frustration the order of the day. Forecasts called for oscillations of 50 – 180 degrees! Yep – the forecast was correct! After paying for being too far to the right on the upwind we had a very good leg through the channel and over to Spitfire rock. From here the race took it familiar twist. The bigger boats, committed the the right side by the breeze on them at the rounding extended. The 50 footers had very different breeze on rounding and many gybed, sailing in the new filling pressure - which would prevail? Boats were separated by about 2 miles on opposite gybe, same heading! In the end, the living Doll snagged a localized thermal and tide assist on the change to have a blinder of a run and win the race. We languished in between the two breezes and eventually got into the same breeze Living Doll had, but it was a case of bad timing. A Northerly breeze filled shortly after and compressed the mid fleet, making our day frustrating to say he least. If nothing else, the regatta is really tight on points and it’s anyones game right now. 9th

Over the past three days we have been training and changing rig settings, along with testing new sails and sail combinations. This has been made a little difficult as the wind has been fickle to say the least, but none the less it has given us a great opportunity to test many different setings with adjustment to mast pressure, forestay length, mast heel position and rake...all of which make a big difference to the boats performance.

Alan has been very accomodating and along with our special guest and freind Jim Mitchell who joins the team for this week, have hosted some fantastic crew BBQ's and made sure the team have been kept in high spirits.

With the first 3 days of the regatta looking light and shifty it is shaping up to be a tricky beginning to Race Week. We have confidence in reknown navigator Nick White and his vast experience to place the boat in advantageous positions (theres pressure for you Nick!), so as long as we keep the boat rumbling and our sail selection is sound we give ourselves the best chance of being competitive.

More from race 1 - the Lindeman Island Race tomorrow


Testing new Code 2 Jib


Alan enjoying the day training

www.hamiltonislandraceweek.com.au



A message from AB and some of the team, en-route to Mackay for final preparations to the boat...

Hi All,


The weather in Mackay is very pleasant!!!

The Captain and AB left Sydney in the Limit Van at 5.10am Saturday morning after a heavy night. The new Limit Tom Tom managed to get us out of Sydney without too much drama. The Tom Tom was so good until we hit the new highway, it got a little paranoid that we were bush bashing. Arrived Gold Coast 10hrs later, safely with a cold beer waiting. Stayed at chalet in Burley Heads, early morning swim that had to be between the flags in hope that a handsome, blond lifesaver is required, followed by long lazy lunch at Southport Yacht Club with Ryan and Lena & picked up Matt VK fresh from licking windows. We should all commend the crutch biter for the unpaid time he provides to Sailors with Disabilities.

So the three of us departed Gold Coast 5.30am Monday morning with 1046kms showing on the Tom Tom, 12hrs later with three x ten min stops we safely reached Mackay to find the mighty Limit towering over the Mackay marina just as we left 2 weeks ago. Brad and Tori had also recently arrived on the Ginger and were keen for a beer with us at the marina tavern.

Dan, Matt VK & myself are living it up staying in the Country something plaza motor inn, it’s a glamour??????????????? Had to go budget accommodation to fit in with the luxury accommodation you all require in hammo.

Work in progress:

The three of us are in the process of wet rubbing the hull, that’s right the old boy included! As smooth as a lube tube!!!

Brad is in the middle of the refitting the pulpit that he disfigured on route to Noumea.

After a huge battle with Navionics, Brooks & Shithouse (B&G), Guy and Simon from Olectric will arrive on Monday to rectify the problems. Just a tip for you all: if ever going to use B&G, check your warranty. Mine is good for F’all. To have the work done on the system I have had to fly and accommodate these people at my cost.

Extensive work list ahead to satisfy all your needs in a couple of weeks including an addition to the current sail wardrobe of a Evolution medium jib.

Expected departure of Mackay marina, Sunday August 16 bound for Hamilton Island.

Very much looking forward to seeing you all in two weeks for a load of fun spelt WIN!!!!



Regards

AB