Sandrine (IRL 1700) scored two seconds to be overall winner.
Camera IconSandrine (IRL 1700) scored two seconds to be overall winner. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Sailing: just seconds between finishers in Hillarys Yacht Club’s Mindarie Races

John BirdJoondalup Times

HILLARYS Yacht Club’s Mindarie Races came down to seconds yesterday with close ocean racing.

A south-easterly that waxed and waned sent the yachts on their way north with spinnakers flying for a quick run to and from Mindarie.

In division 1 Lamotrek (J Akers) picked the shifts best and was first, with Sandrine (I Conboy) second and Mulberry (C Pitt), although setting fastest time was third, only two seconds in arrears.

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Covert Operation (B Brouwer and G Atkinson) set fastest time in division 2 and was third behind Helga (M Taylor) and the winner Tony Brooke skippering Tropical Itch.

In division 3 Rob Giraudo on Pandora was first with Sheer Magic (T Waymouth) second and Sensei (B and L Bailey) third. Comfortably Numb (S O’Keefe) was fastest.

During lunch the wind shifted to the south-west and picked up to 13 knots making it a long beat back to Hillarys.

The start for division 2 and 3.
Camera IconThe start for division 2 and 3. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

All yachts had a good look at the stern of Seachange (H Burton, D Shirdon, M Castalanelli and J Gregory) as they cleared out to record a first and fastest in division 1.

Second was Sandrine with Hard Evidence (D Riley and M Fox) third.

In division 2 Alan Peacham was feeling good after a win in Feelin Free with Tropical Itch second and Panache (G and R James) third just one second ahead of Covert Operation, who was fastest again.

Comfortably Numb excelled in the stronger breeze to record a first and fastest in division three only one second ahead of Sensei and twelve seconds ahead of Pandora.

Over the day’s racing nine places were decided by margins of 12 seconds or less, in some ways a compliment to handicapper Gary Illing.

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