First blood to Omega Smeg

A report from heat one of the Computer Associates Australian 18ft Skiff Championship

Sydney 2000 Olympian Daniel Phillips starred today on Sydney Harbour when he skippered Omega Smeg to victory in Heat 1 of the Computer Associates Australian 18ft Skiff Championship.

Phillips and his crew of Trent Barnabas and Jim Beck took out the race by 47secs from Tony Hannan's Maytag. Third place went to AAPT, skippered Sean Langman, which finished a further 10secs behind Maytag. For Langman it was a big change from his second place performance at the helm of his maxi yacht of the same name in the recent Sydney-Hobart race.

After a delayed start the fleet got away over the southeast course in a 15 knot breeze. The fleet quickly split into two separate groups as they worked into the windward mark at Rose Bay. The skiffs on the right hand side of the course did better and when the groups met Omega Smeg led narrowly from Casio Seapathfinder.

Casio reversed these positions at the mark where she led Omega Smeg by 20secs, then followed AAPT, Club Marine, Maytag and SX Projects.

Positions at the head of the fleet changed regularly over the next three legs and it was now Club Marine and Maytag which led at the end of the first complete circuit of the course.

Two legs later and it was Omega Smeg's turn to lead from Maytag and Club Marine in one of the most closely contested championship races seen on the harbour for many years. From that point though Omega Smeg held onto the lead despite the constant challenges from Maytag, AAPT and Club Marine.

Results:

Pos	Boat	Elapsed Time	Handicap Place	Aust Points
1	Omega Smeg	01:15.1	5th	0.75
2	Maytag	01:16:00	2nd	2
3	AAPT	01:16:10	7th	3
4	Club Marine		6th	4
5	Fisher & Paykel		1st	5
6	Computer Associates		3rd	6
7	Rag & Famish Hotel		10th	7
8	SX Projects		8th	8
9	Asko Appliances		16th	9
10	Casio Seapathfinder		14th	10
11	Team Morrison		9th	11
12	CST Composites		13th	12
13	Ssangyong Yandoo		15th	13
14	Team Pomfret		4th	14
15	Adtec Communications		11th	15
16	Churchills Sports Bar		12th	16
17	Panasonic		17th	17
18	Aristocrat		18th	18
19	Rosemount		19th	19
20	Belle Property		20th	20
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