Fantasea F18 Australian Championships day 2 - Tough and testing

by Sealink Magnetic Island Race Week media on 4 Sep 2011 Day 2 of the Fantasea F18 Australian Championships, being sailed as part of Sealink Magnetic Island Race Week 2011, was another tough day out on Cleveland Bay with the windy and gusty conditions testing sailors skills.

Shortly before 11.00am, just off Nelly Bay harbour, the F18s lined up ready for racing. RO Stewart 'Jock' Ross initially delayed the start of race 3 of the Series to allow the regular scheduled passenger ferry service to clear the area. It was only a short delay and at the gun 15 F18s cleared the line and headed to the first mark. Most of the fleet went right then tacked.

At the top mark for the first time Adam Beattie (Nacra No 1) led the fleet from Dale Mitchell (Ullman Sails). Most of the fleet went left. James Ogilvie (Durepox Paints) overlaid the mark, while Katie Spithill (Team Harken) rounded in 15th, seriously underweight in the heavy conditions.

At the bottom mark for the first time, Beattie led Mick Guinea (Nacra NQ), followed by brother Warren (Team Magic Marine).

Beattie held his lead to the finish and was the clear winner, well ahead of the fast finishing Dale Mitchell who may have overtaken Mick Guinea and Warren Guinea for second. Indeed it was Mitchell who finished second with Mick Guinea third and Jason Waterhouse (Team Wildcat Australasia) fourth, just edging out Warren Guinea.

During the race there were several capsizes on each of the runs and one retirement, Grant Rogers Bent & Twisted.

Conditions began to deteriorate. The wind was 20-22 knots, gusting to 25. As the 25 knot squirts increased, RO Ross announced to the fleet that Race 4 would be the last race of the day due to the strengthening conditions.

14 boats lined up for the second race of the day, the second of the double lap windward leewards.

It was a clear start. James Ogilvie was on the pin, next up was Dale Mitchell, then Brett White (Feral Cat). Mid line and having got the best of the start, was last race winner Adam Beattie, then Mick Guinea.

Mark Leitner (Uptown Girl) was last after capsizing just two minutes before the start.

Most of the fleet literally leapt left in the gusting breeze and at the top mark Adam Beattie was in the lead.

Beattie was first around the mark followed by Jason Waterhouse, Dale Mitchell and James Ogilvie.

Beattie capsized down the run to the bottom mark allowing Waterhouse to round first ahead of Mick Guinea, Mitchell, Ogilvie and Luke McMullen (Overdrive).

Beattie eventually rounded 13th of the 14 boat fleet and will be hoping the drop comes into play sooner rather than later.

As the last boat rounded the mark it capsized and drifted in the one metre swell.

Jason Waterhouse held his lead to finish Race 4 of the Series ahead of Mick Guinea, Dale Mitchell and Luke McMullen. Adam Beattie finished 10th after his swim.

Once back on the beach Jason Waterhouse explained his day. ‘In the first race it was pretty bumpy. We were back a bit at the top mark but closed up around the course, while we were still sailing conservatively.

‘In the second race we had a more aggressive approach and we were pushing harder. We were trying hard when Adam (Beattie) cart wheeled up ahead of us and that gave us the race.

‘At 155 kg we are one of the lighter crews, lots of the others have a bit more gut than us, so if the conditions ease as expected we will be well placed.’

Michael Guinea said ‘My crew Viv Hayden and I must have tagged. He fell off the boat yesterday coming into the second race finish, swallowed a lot of water and was a bit seedy for a while but was right by last night.

‘Then I got food poisoning and was hugging the bowl for hours. Once I got on the water the adrenalin kicked in and I was OK.

‘In the first race we were in the top five at the top mark. Adam cleared out and we climbed into second place at the bottom mark but he passed us on the second work.

‘In the second race we had a better start, we were pushing hard and were up there with our second place.

‘This Series is wide open… if we get 10 races completed a second drop comes into play.’

Adam Beattie commented ‘A tough sailing day. The waves were really short but we had good boat speed.

‘We won the first race and were leading nicely in the second when we just sailed into the back of a wave and cart wheeled. It would have been spectacular to watch.

‘The rudder unclipped so it took a while to get back on track. So that was, I hope, our drop.’

The Overall Series leader (after one drop) is Jason Waterhouse (Team Wildcat Australasia) two points ahead of Adam Beattie (Nacra No 1). Dale Mitchell (Ullman Sails) is one point futher back in third.

Dockside Race Officer Jock Ross said 'The seas were better than yesterday, but once again trying conditions for every one, close to the limit so we ran just two races.

'We are expecting easier conditions around 10-15's for the next two days, so we are starting an hour earlier tomorrow because we are keen to get another eight races in.'

F18 Australian Championships

Hosted By Townsville Cruising Yacht Club

Series Results [F18] up to Race 4 (Drops = 1)

Place Ties Sail No Boat Name Skipper From Sers Score Race 4 Race 3 Race 2 Race 1
1 211 Team Wildcat Austral Jason Waterhouse RPAYC 4.0 1.0 [4.0] 1.0 2.0
2 AUS9 Nacra No1 Adam Beattie 6.0 [10.0] 1.0 4.0 1.0
3 1484 Ullman Sails Dale Mitchell WSC 7.0 3.0 2.0 2.0 [7.0]
4 AUS26 Nacra NQ Mick Guinea TSC 8.0 2.0 3.0 3.0 [3.0]
5 1470 OVERDRIVE Luke McMullen DSC 13.0 4.0 [6.0] 5.0 4.0
6 1459 Team Magic Marine Warren Guinea DSC 19.0 6.0 5.0 [24.0F] 8.0
7 1021 Goose Marine Gary Gornall 21.0 8.0 [10.0] 8.0 5.0
8 276F Feral Cat Brett White SPASC 22.0 7.0 [13.0] 6.0 9.0
9 AUS10 Durepox Paints James Ogilvie KCC 26.0 12.0 8.0 [24.0S] 6.0
10 7.0S 1082 High roller Grant Bow 32.0 11.0 14.0 7.0 [15.0]
11 183 Team Harken Katie Spithill Pelle RPAYC 32.0 9.0 12.0 [24.0F] 11.0
12 AUS1 Edge2Edge Gordon Beath 34.0 13.0 11.0 [24.0F] 10.0
13 826 Gash Rob Lattimore CYC 36.0 5.0 7.0 24.0S [24.0F]
14 1430 sneak'n'around Leigh McNally CYC 51.0 24.0C 15.0 [24.0S] 12.0
15 1244 Uptown Girl Mark Leitner CYC 57.0 24.0F 9.0 24.0C [24.0C]
16 AUS619 Cruel and Heartless Ian Simpson 61.0 24.0S 24.0F [24.0F] 13.0
17 7 Bent & Twisted Grant Rodgers YBSC 62.0 24.0S 24.0F [24.0S] 14.0
18 751 Magical Kyle Amadio PBSC 72.0 24.0C 24.0C 24.0C [24.0C]
18 AUS96 Wet Stuff Paul Whyte KCC 72.0 24.0C 24.0C 24.0S [24.0F]
18 207 Silver Fox Peter Lane KCC 72.0 24.0C 24.0C 24.0C [24.0C]
18 1023 Flying Fish Leanne Gould 72.0 24.0C 24.0C 24.0C [24.0C]
18 1483 Bogan Entry Martin Webb 72.0 24.0S 24.0F 24.0S [24.0F]
18 1491 Allbroke William Lucas TSC 72.0 24.0C 24.0C 24.0C [24.0C]

(Ties: S=Score R=Race B= Bettered. Penalties: A=ARB B=BFD C=DNC D=DNE E=ESP F=DNF G=RDG L=Late Entrant M=DGM N=ENP O=OCS P=Protest Q=DSQ R=RAF S=DNS T=TLE U=DUT V=AVG X=EXC Z=ZFP Y=SCP #=NoData [x.y]=Discarded)

Full F18 results are available at http://www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au/index.cfm?eid=1859