What a way to end a great trip! It was wonderful to be in Sydney to help launch the First Farr 400 in Australia. During the week I was asked to join the Kokomo crew as a fill in Tactician for Michael Coxon, who blew his back out in the Etchell worlds the week before. The driver was going to be Neville Crichton, but while trying to lose some weight to get me in, blew his back out too. So the back of the boat was set only 2 days before the regatta. Ivan Wheen took over the helm just a few days after he was a member of the winning Etchell crew.
I didn’t know what to expect and had no real expectations. Sydney Harbor is pretty tricky and all the races were inside. There were some pretty good boats in the fleet, including the last World’s winner, Transfusion (Guido Belgiorno-Nettis) with world 49er & Moth champ, Nathan Outtteridge doing tactics.
The first day was raced with good breeze, 12-23 knots in a passing front. Which meant rain and very large shifts. 10-40 degrees in fact, keep us all on our toes. We managed to win the first race, which was very nice. followed by 2 fourths put us close in third place behind Transfusion with 4,1,1 and Easy Tiger posting a 2,3,2. Farr 40 sailing is close and anything can happen on the second day with another 3 races.
Sunday was a picture perfect day on the harbor. 14-24 knots, saving the most for the last race. Transfusion came out very strong with two firsts. We did our best and followed with 2 seconds. The last race, it was possible to beat Transfusion but pretty hard, and we did have enough points to keep our second no matter what happen.
Then the wheels fell off. In the big breeze the 40’s can get up on the step and we were first to do so and made big gains on the run. only problem was as we headed back into the fleet, it was a risky cross so we elected to gybe back and proceeded to give the rest of the fleet an entertaining wipe-out. two boats did well to keep clear and that left us back in last or 8th place. we recover to get a 7th and left Transfusion with their 4th to win easily.
We were happy to finish second with a group just put together. We were fast and sailed well in the tricky Sydney Harbor. What a way to finish a great trip down under…
My two rides in Sydney docked at the CYCA
Next stop Chile for a Soto 40 Regatta.
Dee
