Pittwater to Coffs

Monday 5^th January 2009

Report by Damian Devine

It was all Perpetual Mocean in today's Solitary Island Race for Bruce Hogan's Marten 49 by repeating her line honours victory in the 2009 Pittwater to Coffs race with another line honours victory in today's Solitary Islands Race. Bill Ebsary's Le Billet took out the IRC handicap spoils in conditions that suited the Beneteau with Ray Hudson's Next Moment winning the PHS Division. The protest lodged by the Sydney 38, Swish has been dismissed a short time ago by the Protest Committee at Coffs Harbour Yacht Club. Results stand.

Today's race, the 19.2nm race around South Solitary Island and return was held in  perfect Coffs Harbour conditions with a 10 -12 knot Nor' Easter under cobalt blue skies for the start. The fleet got away to a clean starboard start with them spread evenly down the line. Pretty Woman, Perpetual Mocean and Preddytor getting the best of the starts at the pin end, Le Billet in the middle with About Time toward the boat end of the line getting away to flyers.

 
The start line of the Solitary Island race held today in Coffs Harbour - photo by Damian Devine

Race Office Ted Anderson said," The breeze was stronger than we expected and all boats cleared the line in a perfect start close to the line, with only a couple of boats back from the line. I think it's going to be a drag race between Perpetual Mocean and Pretty Woman."

Anderson's prediction rang true with Perpetual Mocean, the Marten 49 the first to round South Solitary Island 90 minutes after the start followed by Pretty Woman and Ausmaid. With the fleet behind it was a spectacular, colourful parade as their collective chutes were flown as they turned for home for a downhill drag race to the finish.

First across the line was Perpetual Mocean who crossed the finish line in spectacular fashion under spinnaker in a time of 2hrs 21mins 13secs with Pretty Woman in 2^nd 4 minutes behind and Ausmaid in 3^rd tearing her kite as she entered the Harbour. The line honours results were a carbon copy of the long ocean race some 48 hours ago.

Perpetual Mocean takes another line honours victory in today's race - photo by Damian Devine

On corrected time, it was podium honours for RPAYC's Bill Ebsary's Le Billet in conditions that suited his boat today, the Beneteau 44.7 in a time of 2hrs 54mins 48 secs.  It was 2007 revisited with friendly rival Julian Farren-Price's About Time, the Cookson 12 in 2nd 2 minutes behind with Perpetual Mocean in 3rd a further 12 seconds behind About TIme.

In IRC Division 2, it was RPAYC's John Bacon aboard the Sydney 39 Hussy sailing to victory  from the Sydney  38 Risk with Swish in 3rd place.

Bill Ebsary's Le Billet, IRC handicap winner today - photo by Damian Devine

In PHS, on corrected time it was victory for another RPAYC competitor, Ray Hudson in his X 442 Next Moment in a corrected time of 3hrs 12secs. In 2nd place was Coffs Harbour's Overdrive, a Northshore 380 sports owned and skippered by Andrew Johnson, with the SES Inch by Winch, Peterson 44 under the helm of Boatbuoys David Burt,  in 3rd position.

By Division, in PHS 1 it was Next Moment 1st, Garry Holder's ID 35 The Real Thing 2nd and Paul D'Oliers Sydney 41 B52, another Coffs Harbour competitor in 3rd. In PHS Div 2 it was Overdrive 1st, SES Inch by Winch 2nd with Middle Harbour's Tony Bates Viva La Vita, a Northshore 370 in 3rd.

So with the 28th Pittwater and Coffs Harbour Offshore series now over, all that's left is the prize giving to begin at 7pm tonight at the CHYC, meanwhile everyone is back in dock and enjoying another great afternoon at the Coffs Harbour Yacht Club.