Where bragging rights are everything!

The eighth RTYF Pacer Racer Challenge (PRC) attracted 70 sailors this year including Olympic double Gold medallist Matt Wearn, and fellow Olympians, Nia Jerwood and Conor Nicholas.

With sailors coming from many different local yacht clubs including Fremantle Sailing Club, Perth Dinghy Sailing Club, Royal Perth Yacht Club, Mounts Bay Sailing Club, South of Perth Yacht Club, Shelley Sailing Club, Nedlands Sailing Club, Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club, East Fremantle Yacht Club and Esperance Bay Yacht Club, the regatta got off to an ‘interesting’ start due to a minor mishap and some confusion over what flags were flying.

So abandoning race one – the fleet assembled on the start line again and this time after a clear start there was a race to the first mark. 

A tussle emerged between Conor Nicholas with crew Hudson Armstrong in boat 5 and Nia Jerwood and Pia Hooper in boat 4.  Yes- our Olympians were battling it out to see who would reach the top mark first – Conor and Hudson got round first.  Both boats were chasing each other through the course, and I guess after spending so much time together prior to and for the Olympics, Conor and Nia probably just wanted to let some steam off.

The final results for the ‘official’ race 1 were   Conor & Hudson 1^st closely followed by Nia and Pia, then Jamie Randall & Alice Travlos (13) Michael Compton & Harry Cooper (10) and Stefan Elliott – Shircore & Murray Duthie (10).

Race two was a black flag start. With boats 16,25 & 3 being allowed to continue sailing the race was filled with drama when boat 27 skippered by Caitlin Shaw and crew Harry Kornweibel capsized. Shortly after that incident, boat 4 Nia and Pia experienced gear failure and had to change boats. Boat 29 with Imogen Bates and Billie McCracken also got into trouble. 

First round the mark in Race two was boat 7 Ethan McAullay and Orlando Ligovich, closely followed by boat 12 Axel Fleet and Klara Travlos and boat 3 Elise Ainsworth and Lia Raffart.  First through the finish line was Axel Fleet & Klara Travlos (12), then Matt Wearne & Celina Trinh (1), Stefan Elliott-Shircore & Murray Duthie (8) followed by Pol Raffart & Leo Stay (26), Lily McAullay & Olive Hooper (11) and Ethan McAullay & Orlando Ligovich (7).   

Race three started with a black flag start for boats 30, 4 and 6 and a general recall. The boats resumed their positions on the start line and after the race officer declared a clear start they raced to the top mark.  The good news too was that Nia and Pia had successfully changed boats so had rejoined the fleet.

First around the mark was 7 Ethan and Orlando, closely followed by Axel and Klara (12) then Elyse and Lia (3).

The second leg provided spectators with some great sailing as the lead changed and competition was fierce. Stefan and Murray (8) were now in the lead and were being hunted down by Axle and Klara (12) and Nia and Pia (4).  Racing was getting serious now.

The first over the finish line was Stefan and Murray, very close behind was Luke Elliott and Charlie Purt (2) with Axel and Klara coming in third, followed by Nia and Pia, Elsye and Lia and Conor and Hudson.  Nia and Pia had recovered really well from the earlier race incident.

Another black flag could be seen flying at the start of Race 4 affecting boats, 1,6,12 and 3.  A clear start was then announced, and the race was on. Heading to the top mark Luke Elliott and Charlie Purt (2) for the first round then Stefan and Murray, Ethan and Orlando, and Axel and Klara.  The lead changed several times so by the time the boats came round the top mark for the second leg Zac Littlewood and Alexander Eyles (6) were in the lead with Axel and Klara hot on their tail. Luke and Charlie came around the mark next.  It was a race to the finish line…  first over was Zac and Alexander (6), then Luke and Charlie (2) Michael Compton & Harry Cooper crossed the line in third place while Lawson McAullay & Isabelle Hobson (9) and Axel and Klara (12) crossed seconds later. 

Race Five is the double points round.  This where the competition ‘ramps up’.  Crews can nominate to drop a race and usually it’s the race that the team has not done well in.  

So, race five – the last for the day, and with the course being shortened due to wind changes and the breeze dropping we had a clear start.  Everything was at stake here – so the race to the top mark was on.  First to reach it was Matt and Celine (1) then Ethan and Orlando (7), Axel and Klara (12), followed by Elyse and Lia, Lawson and Isabelle, and Michael and Harry.

Rounding the top mark for the second leg Matt and Celine were still leading, hot on their tail though was   Axel and Klara and Michael and Harry.

First over the line was Matt and Celine with Axel and Klara behind.  Sadly, though our double Gold medallist and crew finished the race only to find out they had been disqualified.   So, the points went to Axel and Klara, in second place was Stefan and Murray, Conor and Hudson in third. Nia and Pia took out 4^th place with Elyse and Lia in 5^th.    

Results

2nd – Stefan Elliott-Shircore / Murray Duthie on 23 points – Boat 8
3rd – Conor Nicholas / Hudson Armstrong on 25 points – Boat 5
4th – Nia Jerwood / Pia Hooper on 26.3 points – Boat 4
5th – Michael Compton / Harry Cooper on 27 points – Boat 10
6th – Elyse Ainsworth / Lia Rafart on 28 points – Boat 3

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