Newbie winner

As series leader is pranged by a yacht in the latest heat of the Computer Associates 18ft skiff championship

Euan McNicol won his first 18ft Skiff championship race when he piloted Club Marine to victory in Heat 4 of the Computer Associates 18ft Skiff Championship on Sydney Harbour.

McNicol and his crew defeated John Winning's Ssangyong by 20secs with AAPT (Sean Langman) a further 21secs back in third place.

Although unplaced in this race the joint leaders in the championship are Asko Appliances (Hugh Stodart) and Omega Smeg (Daniel Phillips) on 16 points, closely followed by AAPT on 17, and Ssangyong Yandoo on 23.

Heat 4 was sailed over a new style windward-leeward course in a 5-8 knot ENE breeze.

The lead changed several times throughout and the 'new course' (brought about because of the traffic on the harbour for the Australia Day regatta) seemed to be a winner with all concerned. A major casualty from the race was defending champion Michael Coxon, whose skiff Casio Seapathfinder was forced to retire with structural damage caused when hit by a yacht.

Heat 5 of the series will be sailed on Sunday with the final heat on February 6.

Results:

Pos	Boat	Elapsed Time	Handicap Place	Aust Points
1	Club Marine	01:27.4	1st	34
2	Ssangyong Yandoo	01:28:04	2nd	23
3	AAPT	01:28:25	4th	17.0 (3rd)
4	Asko Appliances		6th	16.0 (1st=)
5	Panasonic		3rd	43
6	Fisher & Paykel		5th	33
7	Maytag		8th	25
8	Omega Smeg		12th	16.0 (1st=)
9	Rag & Famish Hotel		9th	33
10	Belle Property		11th	48
11	Computer Associates		17th	25
12	Adtec Communications		7th	57
13	CST Composites		13th	62
14	Team Morrison		14th	50
15	Churchills Sports Bar		15th	64
16	Rosemount		16th	71
17	Team Pomfret		10th	64
18	Aristocrat		18th	78
19	Casio Seapathfinder	Non-finisher		38
20	SX Projects	Non-finisher		62