Hog's Breath Cafe series - Its Questionable Logic

2:20 AM Mon 8 Mar 2010 GMT

'Wobbly Boot (WSC)' Sail-World.com /AUS &copy Click Here to view large photo

Terry Archer again set the pace to take line honours with the Sydney 40 Questionable Logic in the opening race of the Hog's Breath Cafe series on Pioneer Bay last week.

However while skipper and crew who were again expected to dominate were surprisingly held to a less than convincing margin eventually sealed the first to finish honour by the narrow margin of 61 seconds from the Jeff Brown helmed Northshore 38, 007.

The Questionable Logic combination was not alone in producing a below par performance when they failed to set the required boat speed to feature in the corrected handicap honours however they still managed to finish 10 seconds ahead of the Shute Harbour Slipways trophy winner Wobbly Boot.

Both the Questionable Logic and Wobbly Boot crews will need to produce a more consistent performance or miss the chance of matching the first race paces setters led by 007.

Skipper Jeff Brown applied the master's touch when he tracked the faster Questionable Logic to successfully remain as a strong challenger to set the fastest corrected handicap course time.

But he too was kept honest by the lower handicapped Sandpiper as skipper Colin Pruden continued to remain as a threat along with the Rod Sawyer helmed Surefoot.

The prospects for Questionable Logic to finish in the top six with her .883 rating appeared remote when Terry Archer completed the short course style sprint race in 59 minutes 24 seconds.

007 became the provisional leader when Jeff Brown and crew finished 61 seconds later. Jeff Brown naturally remained interested in the fleet positions of his lower handicapped challengers particularly Sandpiper as the seconds on the official race clock ticked away.

However there was no cause for alarm with the 007 crew securing a comfortable win over Sandpiper while Surefoot again sailed consistently to fill third place 2 minutes 14 seconds astern of 007.

This result suggests Jeff Brown and the 007 crew will be the subject of some aggressive tactical attention when the second race of the series is decided over the Whitsunday Sailing Club course on Pioneer Bay this week.

They have the proven boat speed and are more than capable of protecting their sailing space but only time will tell if the 007 crew can back up with another win.

It won't be easy for 007, Sandpiper and Surefoot to find clean sailing space with the crews of Questionable Logic, Wobbly Boot, Queensland Marine Services and Idle Time looking at repairing their reputations and point scores when the sails are tensioned for the important second race of the Hog's Breath Cafe trophy.

Meanwhile skipper Jeff Brown and the 007 crew hold the 'bragging rights' and have the proven boat speed but they will need to repeat that form and avoid any time consuming tactical 'skirmishes' to remain as the provisional leader after this week's important race 2.

by Ian Grant

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Hog's Breath Cafe series - Its Questionable Logic

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