Casio again

Michel Coxon masters the tough conditions in heat two of the Computer Associates Australian 18ft skiff championship

Defending champion Michael Coxon and his crew of Casio Seapathfinder gave an awesome display of power sailing to take out Heat 2 of the Computer Associates Australian 18ft Skiff Championship on Sydney Harbour on Sunday.

Coxon, Aaron Links and Nathan Ellis were faultless as they mastered the 20-25 knot southerly wind which swept across the course during the race.

Casio Seapathfinder won by 1min 8secs from Asko Appliances (Hugh Stodart) with Computer Associates (Anthony Young) a further 1min 39secs back in third place.

Despite finishing only fifth in this heat, Omega Smeg (Daniel Phillips) heads the pointscore on 6 points, with Maytag (Tony Hannan) next on 8 points and Computer Associates third on 9. Casio, Asko and AAPT (Sean Langman) are equal fourth on 11 points.

Heat 2 began with Casio taking a five second lead at the windward mark but this had been extended to 50 secs at the end of the first lap. The Casio team increased this to 1min 25secs over the next lap then seemed to ease back over the concluding legs to go on for an easy win.

Computer Associates and Asko had a race long battle for second and third placings with Rag & Famish (John Harris), Belle Property (Micah Lane) and Maytag in close pursuit. Asko trailed Computer Associates for most of the course before grabbing second place at the Rose Bay mark.

Results:

Pos	Boat	Elapsed Time	Handicap Place	Aust Points
1	Casio Seapathfinder	01:05.5	3rd	11
2	Asko Appliances	01:07:01	4th	11
3	Computer Associates	01:18:40	2nd	9.0 (3rd)
4	Ssangyong Yandoo		5th	17
5	Omega Smeg		6th	6.0 (1st)
6	Maytag		8th	8.0 (2nd)
7	Belle Property		1st	27
8	AAPT		10th	11
9	Fisher & Paykel		9th	14
10	Rag & Famish Hotel		11th	17
11	Team Morrison		7th	22
12	Panasonic		13th	29
13	Adtec Communications		12th	28
14	Team Pomfret		14th	18
15	Churchills Sports Bar		11th	15
16	Club Marine	Non-Finisher		25
17	CST Composites	Non-Finisher		33
18	Aristocrat	Non-Starter		39
19	Rosemount	Non-Starter		40
20	SX Projects	Non-Starter		29