12:25 AM Wed 14 Apr 2010 GMT
The local boats are holding their own at Sail Ports Stephens with Bradley Sewell's South Lake Macquarie Amateur Sailing Club Sydney 32, Mainstay, the current Commodore's Cup division 2 pointscore leader heading into today's third and deciding race.
A SLMASC boat won the Commodore's Cup last year so reputations are on the line.
'One of our club boats won last year and now we are leading going into the final round. It's great for our small club, plus we are Lake sailors so it's terrific being able to take on the guys who ocean race and keep them honest,' said an excited Sewell this morning.
He still can't believe his good fortune - not only that he's leading his division but that he gets to bring his wife and kids, brother and his kids and his mum to Nelson Bay for a holiday, disappear sailing for four hours a day, enjoy a couple of thirst quenching ales post-race and 'still get father of the year points'.
Sewell's plan for today's hit out around the bay is to 'do exactly what we've done for the past two days. If we can stay with Eugenie and Moet we think we can do this'.
Brendan Hunt's Beneteau First 35 Eugenie out of Sydney is menacing Mainstay 2.5 points adrift with today's 14 nautical mile Explore the Bay course the one that will determine the silverware allotment at this evening's Commodore's Cup prizegiving. Keith Masters' Northshore 38 Moet is just half a point off Eugenie in division 2 results so it's pretty crowded at the top of the pointscore.
In division 1, Alyn Ovenden's Adams 15 Let's Go, flying the Royal Motor Yacht Club Toronto's burgee, is hot on the stern of the current leader, Robert Curtis' Sydney based Secret Mens Business 1, only one point separating the pair with one race to go.
For further information go to
www.sailportstephens.com.au
by Lisa Ratcliff
|
Manly, QLD
