Fifteen knots of warm sea breeze and flat Whitsunday water delivered ideal conditions for Day 3 at Airlie Beach Race Week, with competition across the cruising fleet tightening ahead of tomorrow's lay day.
Five points separate the top five across three Performance Cruising divisions and two Non-Spinnaker divisions at Whitsunday Sailing Club's 38th running of the regatta.
Julian Bell's Beneteau First 50, 51st Project from NSW, topped Performance Cruising Division 1. Bell was in good spirits. "I think the handicapper was nice to us! Actually, we had a very good start. We got away cleanly, which played a big part and that gave us some clean air. The team did a good job. They all sailed well. It was champagne conditions out there, which is what Airlie Beach is all about."
Bell, a Novocastrian last here two years ago, sits seventh overall. Ian Frankhanel's Solaris 50 Salt from Victoria holds the overall lead, with just five points separating the top five.
"Yes, it's a very narrow lead, it's us, just," Frankhanel said. "It's very competitive in our division. We're happy with light breeze and flat water, but the boat's performed very well the last three days." He bought Salt in June 2021 and this is his first time at Airlie Beach Race Week.
Division 2 went to local Charles Wallis aboard his MBD41 Reignition, winning by eight minutes over Sean Gartner's Seremisa from NSW and Stuart Richardson's Solera from Victoria. Division 3 was claimed by another local, Sam Woodward, sailing the Robertson 950 Corrobboree. She was originally owned by yachtsman Robert 'Robbo' Robertson. Phil Bennett's wooden boat King Billy from NSW was second, with Andrew McConaghy's local boat Dragonfly third.
"For the whole day we were tussling with King Billy," Woodward said. "It was fun tacking with them coming home to the finish. We were a good match with them." He and his fiancée Sarah have lived aboard Corrobboree for six years.
Paul Commins won Non-Spinnaker Division 1 aboard Carpe Diem, finishing ahead of Remco Pen's Bigger Day Out from Victoria, which leads the series, and Tony Hennessy's Joan Ellen, also from Victoria. "Perfect sailing, that's why we come to Whitsundays, flat water, blue water, we saw a whale, sun was out, we won," Commins said.
Non-Spinnaker Division 2 went to Grant Ford's Ford Play from Tasmania, with Melanie Curry's local boat Alwyn holding a one-point series lead going into the remainder of the week.
In Trailables and Sports Boats Division 1, David Davenport and Ken Stevenson's Bethwaite 89er Don't Panic! from WA has won all three races. Greg Hammon's Rossgo from the host club leads Division 2 on countback after winning today, with Burke Melia's No Mercy from NSW second and Alan Grant's Loose Cannon from NSW third.
"We were mostly in 12 knots all day, perfect conditions for Rossgo," Hammon said, adding that the lighter conditions forecast for the rest of the week suit his displacement hull.
Racing resumes on Tuesday.
