Sway Swings to the Top

Written by Nic Douglass Saturday, 03 January 2009 08:26

Shane Guanaria and Mel Rippe on Sway AUS2847 have won the Unibilt 36th Tasar Nationals with a day to spare. Sailing exceptionally well in the conditions today, they also took the gun in heat 9 to secure their win. Congratulations on their first Nationals victory.

Coollit AUS2848 sailed by Rob Douglass and Peter Isaacs were the only other boat that could have taken the title this morning. Finishing behind Shane & Mel in both races, they still performed well enough to be unbeatable for second place going into the last day of racing.

Heat 10 will be the decider for the final podium placing with a number of boats able to take the bronze. I was back out on the water today where the races were sailed in 8 to 22 knots at 180 – 225 degrees – so up and down as well as shifty. The pressure was on for those who wanted a podium.

Click below to read on...

Race 8

The first race of the day was honking and the race committee once again were right on time.

Dave and Doris Bretherton Edge Off AUS2851 were lightning fast in the up pressure race, leading around every mark. Second around the top mark were locals Mike and Kim Paynter – Purple Patch AUS2862. Jon Ross and Jackie Bange on Sheepstations AUS2853 were third. Rob Douglass and Pete Isaacs on Coollit AUS2848 covered Shane Guanaria and Mel Rippe – Sway AUS2847 into the top mark. Mel and Craig Davidson on Placebo Effect AUS2846 were fighting hard to just miss out on the top five round the top mark.

By the first bottom mark Dave and Doris were miles in front - a lead of 30 seconds in 22 knots. All competitors again were talking about the reaches and great courses at McCrae.

There were big splits up work two, and holes started to pop up on the course. The left hand side seemed to be the way to go, especially late. Dave and Doris Edge Off AUS2851 maintained their lead around the top mark. The Paynters held on from Shane and Mel on Sway AUS2847 who worked through the pack to round third with Sheepstations and Coollit in fourth and fifth. Dave and Doris took the win, with Sway second, the Paynters third. Luke Owen and Sam Clarke on Rustafarian Rocket AUS2776 got up to fourth passing Coollit AUS2848 on the last work.

Race 9

Around the top mark the order was as follows: Sway AUS2847, Edge Off AUS2851, Sheepstations AUS2853, Coollit AUS2848 and Oki Doki AUS2823 in the top five.

Shane and Mel were out of sight around the bottom mark. Rob and Pete tried to work their way through the fleet to stay within four places of Shane and an undefeatable win. Oki Doki managed to sail through the fleet on work two to get to third behind Sway and Edge Off. Jon Ross and Jackie Bange on Sheepstations slipped back to fourth with Coollit in fifth.

Dave and Doris on Edge Off AUS2851 continued their great day on the water, sailing a super fast run to take the lead from Shane and Mel – Sway AUS2847 around the bottom mark.

Sway was too dominant, taking back the lead – getting the gun from Oki Doki who sailed a slick work on the left hand side to also pass Dave and Doris of Edge Off up the work. Coollit crossed the line in fourth, and Jon Ross and Jackie Bange on Sheepstations AUS2853 finished fifth.

More news tomorrow of the final results. To see the full placings go to the results tab up the top under McCrae Nationals or CLICK HERE.

Congratulations again to Shane and Mel on their Nationals win, and Rob and Pete on their second.

This is Nic Douglass in McCrae with the Tasar Nationals News...

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Sway Swings to the Top

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