10:34 PM Sun 17 Jan 2010 GMT
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'Pioneer bay'
Daryl Krasu
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There has been nothing secretive or mysterious surrounding the strategy which has allowed Col Forster's Esoteric to set up a commanding lead in the Airlie Sails Rum Bucket series on Pioneer Bay. In Fact skipper Forster and crew have openly displayed their light wind sailing skills by cleverly mastering the Whitsunday Sailing Club twilight sprint race course to hold a 3-1 score and a three point lead after two races.
The Esoteric crew pressed by the challenge to keep the sloop sailing to and beyond her .734 handicap correction factor have become the new pacesetters overcoming the sweltering tropical temperatures to make temporary arrangements to enjoy a celebratory 'cold sip' from the Airlie Sails Rum Bucket later this month.
Meanwhile both skipper and crew will have to protect their sailing space as the battle between the minor place stake-holders continues to heat up.
Leading the challengers is John Galloway who steered Queensland Marine Services to and impressive line honours win only to fail in a determined bid to claim the important first and fastest double by 17 seconds when Esoteric finished 1 minute 45 seconds later to register the faster corrected course time.
Queensland Marine Services (5-2) progressively holds second overall with a two point (two place) advantage over Sandpiper (Colin Pruden) 2-7 , Idle Time (Kevin Fogarty) 6-3 and Surefoot (Rod Sawyer) 4-5 who are poised to break their three way tie for third when the sails are tensioned for the important third race this week.
All three crews also have the proven experience and tactical 'clout' to turn a friendly fleet race into a 'dog-fight' which promises to present both crews on the deck of Esoteric and Queensland Marine Services with the added task to protect their sea space and access to clear wind when the battle lines are drawn on Pioneer Bay to decide the important honours in race three.
Fast lane sailor Peter Millar clearly showed it was possible to outpace a high 1.085 time correction factor when he steered the power sailing catamaran Cynophobe to win the line and handicap double in multihull class race over the same course.
The Tony Grainger designed sprint machine Cynophobe generated unmatched speed in the surprisingly soft 10 knot breeze to successfully race against the clock winning line honours by a mammoth 9 minutes 24 seconds over Wild Thing.
Her 9.31 seconds per minute speed advantage over the fleet ultimately allowed skipper Millar and tactician Dave Chittleborough to place the race result out of reach for their rivals when they sped away on all legs of the course to eventually claim the first and fastest double with a deserved 1 minute 24 second corrected handicap win over Wild Thing with Brandy Creek Ferry another 50 seconds astern.
by Ian Grant
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Manly, QLD
