Rain squalls and conditions general tested a few on Day 3 of Ocean Dynamics and Mount Gay Airlie Beach Race Week 2024 and not everyone escaped unscathed, Michael Unwin's Fuzzy Logic from Townsville was dismasted and others suffered too.
Fuzzy Logic, racing in the Trailable and Sports Boat Division 2, was not alone, as Division 1 boat, Zippier, (Timothy Donnellan, Vic), lost its rudder. All crew are safe. In Multihull Racing Division O, a crew member's broken ankle and two overboard were reported from Simon Delzoppo's GC32, Film Racing (Qld).
Dollar bills have been ripped up with gear breakages occurring over the three days of racing. Tomorrow's lay day will be 'fix' time for some and a forecast for lighter winds for the next days will be a relief.
The 36th running of Whitsunday Sailing Club's (WSC) has so far provided medium to high winds, big gusts and tides to master if you are not used to this unsettling cocktail. It has proved hardest on the smaller and more modern light weight designs that are built for pure speed. However, most of the fleet is holding strong.
James Permezel, leader of Performance Cruising Division 1 is feeling no pain. His Hanse 445, 'Charm Offensive' is living up to her moniker. "It was wet but very enjoyable. We had a fantastic kite run. It was a perfect sailing day, variable with shifts. We had 20 knots early and down to 10 as we came to the finish.
"We've got a crew that give it 100 percent on the water and 110 ashore. And we enjoy it a lot," Permezel said, laughing.
Knowing the weather is due to lighten when the fleet returns to the course on Tuesday, the Victorian yachtie, who now calls Northern Queensland home, is eyeing the rest of his division for likely challengers.
"Banter (Scott Robertson's Beneteau First 45 from NSW) is the one to watch," he said.
Currently, it's Mal Robertson's Eureka II (Qld) and Julian Bell's 51st Project, a Beneteau First 50 from Newcastle that are second and third, four and seven points respectively in arrears of Charm Offensive.
Al Harrison's Lisdillon, a Sequest RP36, came out on top in Cruising Division 2's Race 3 today, but it's Peter Cook's Hick 39, GCCM Arctic Blonde that leads the pointscore, thanks to a win in Race 1 and placing second in Race 2. Both are Queensland entries.
BJ Davison's Ruthless won Race 3 in Division 3, but the Queenslander trails the overall leader, True Colours (John Strahan) by three points and Solutions, Philip Cormie by one point.
Strahan, from Victoria, commented on his overall lead: "It's going to be lighter from now on and the old girl (a Bavaria 44) is heavy, so likes the heavier weather. Solutions (a Dehler 41 from NSW) will be hard to beat. They've only had the boat two weeks and they're doing really well. They're our biggest threat."
On today's race, he said, "We had a great start and as we headed to Grimston, the rollers were starting to come in, which made us rock and roll a bit under kite. As we passed Grassy the heavens opened. It was so heavy I put the sunnies back on and then I couldn't see anything at all!
"By the time we came to the finish, the winds in Pioneer Bay had started to get really fluky – knocks, lulls, everything. We came second by just over two minutes, so for a four hour race, that was pretty good."
Troy Forrest has sailed Mint consistently well in the Multihull Passage Series to take the lead with 3-2-1 results.
"We were here in 2020 and we're back. I've got my son on board and mates that have sailed together in beach cats a few years ago. Mint's a cruising Grainger catamaran. It's going well and enjoying the flat water. I think the boat will do as well in the expected light air – we won the multihull regatta at Manly this year and it was light air and I've come here with the same crew, so…"
However, the Queensland yachtie said, "We broke the reefing line the first day and then ripped the spinnaker in Race 2. It was repaired by Ullman Sails last night and returned this morning." Mint still managed great results. The handicapper will be watching…
Craig Molloy's Avalanche is just two points away in second and he'd rather be first, while Sean Nichols' Room With a View is a further point away in their tight series.
Tomorrow is lay day. Racing will resume on Tuesday from 10am.
Ocean Dynamics and Mount Gay Airlie Beach Race Week 2024 is held from place from 8-15 August and enjoys continued support from Tourism and Events Queensland, including as a feature on the It's Live! Queensland events calendar. The event also enjoys support from Coral Sea Marina Resort and d'Albora Port of Airlie Marina.
