Yendys, Ichi Ban notch up wins in sloppy seas

• NEWS
• 14 Dec, 2003 01:46:00 PM

Yendys, Ichi Ban notch up wins in sloppy seas

Yendys won her third race in a row in the IMS Division, Ichi Ban her second out of four races in Race 4 of the Rolex Trophy Seas sailed in light winds and very sloppy seas off Sydney Heads today.

Yendys won her third race in a row in the IMS Division, Ichi Ban her second  out of four races in Race 4 of the Rolex Trophy Seas sailed in light winds and very sloppy seas off Sydney Heads today.

Yendys,  Geoff Ross’ new, green-hulled Judel/Vrolijk 52 extended her pointscore lead with an impressive handicap win in the IMS division, scoring by a comfortable margin from Syd Fischer’s recently optimised Farr 50, Ragamuffin.

Third place went to Bounder, the former Sydney Hobart Race winner Sting chartered by Chris Little, Commodore of England’s Royal Ocean Racing Club, with Victorian Bruce Taylor turning in his present race of the regatta so far with his Sydney 38, Chutzpah, in placing fourth.

Ichi Ban, Matt Allen’s Farr 52, again sailed an impressive race and although only fifth under her IMS rating,  she sailed right up to her IRC rating in that division,  winning from another duel entrant Ragamuffin  and the consistent Swan 45 Joe skippered by Steven David.

Skandia, Grant Wharington’s super maxi from Melbourne, designed by fellow Victorian Don Jones,  again took line honours but she struggled to hit her straps early in the race,  having to dip astern of Ichi Ban on the first beat to windward.

However, Skandia was in front at the first windmark mark and stayed there,  George Snow’s Jutson 79 Brindabella eventually overtaking Ichi Ban to finish second in fleet, but 7 minutes 44 seconds astern of Skandia at the finish.

Skandia placed fourth on corrected time in the IRC division but is still provisionally second overall behind Skandia, with Ragamuffin and Joe just one point back.