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Airlie Beach Race Week commences down under

It was a rare off the breeze start for the 23 nautical mile Double Cone Armit Race today in the 17th annual Airlie Beach Race Week - and it was the Kiwi's Day, with the Auckland built canting keeler, owned by New Zealander Antatole Masfen blitzing the field.

The IRC Division was first away in a south westerly of 20 knots, with Michael Hiatt's Living Doll and Anatole Masfen's Pussy Galore both hitting the line with speed. Pussy Galore was higher and faster and flying straight at Double Cone Armit. Living Doll (Michael Hiatt) sailing with her canting keel fixed was falling away to leeward, but both were still higher than the following fleet. Behind them Quest of Queensland (Kevin Millar) was taking the centre line on the course and Quantum Racing (Ray Roberts) was in close pursuit.

Approaching Double Cone, Living Doll took a better line and she took distance out of the leader. The same thing at Armit, round the island Pussy Galore was just 100 metres ahead of Living Doll but up the beat she was soon showing a clean pair of paws. Anatole Masfen commented: "We were quick today, just quick enough. Living Doll, even with her fixed keel, she kept sailing up to us. It was only on the beat that we found the speed we needed."

Living Doll owner Michael Hiattt said: "We were pleased with today. Sailing with a fixed keel is good for the numbers; we sailed better tactically closing around the islands. However it was a different story upwind."

The new production Sports 8 Revolution won the on water battle today, in the very competitive Sports Boat field but it was a hollow victory as the key rival, the Bethwaite 8 Vivace broke her boom in the pre-start sequence.

Pierre Gal and his three crew sailed conservatively in difficult conditions for a clear line honours win. The former French Kiss America's cup sailor was sporting a giant grin as the white hulled Revolution slid into her pen.

"We really enjoyed it. Before the start, it was windy, quite puffy. We delayed putting a kite up, sailing conservatively. We saw 28 knots and our top speed was 17.4. The boat performed flawlessly. We sailed with just four crew; the canting keel is worth more than two crew on the rail.

"It was great to win against Steathly, she's always been close to Vivace in speed. But we came to race Vivace, it was disappointing that she broke her boom, but we expect she will be on the line tomorrow."

There were more victims from the unexpected gusts in the pre-start and the early part of the race caused carnage. Michael Grieve and Damien Van Deudekom's Rip it Up was dismasted, Julian Golding's Charley retired with a damaged wing.

In softening conditions, Bob Cowan's Stealthy was second across the line. Cowan commented dockside: "We were slow off the line, we did not hoist our kite early enough and we paid the price. We were sixth at the Island, but came back on the beat."

5,300 kilometres from her base in WA, Steve Battley's Road Warriors performed well today. Battley commented, "We hoisted our kite at the start, held right to corner, so were just a minute behind Revolution."

Dockside the former 18 footer World Champion Peter Sorrensen and his crew carried the black carbon boom from Vivace ashore. The boom will be sleeved overnight and the quest for the speed title will continue tomorrow.

While the line honours battle gained the limelight, handicap results went to Tom Jordan's Liquidtactics ahead of Jason Ruckert's GoneTroppo with Road Warriors third.

Provisional results for the IRC division: Pussy Galore, Anatole Masfen, first with Living Doll, Michael Hiatt second and Quantum Racing, Ray Roberts DK 46, third.

In the PHS Racing Division, Restless, the Cape 35 skippered by Kane Davidson took the honours, with Airlie Beach 'locals', Charlie Preen and Greg Tobin scoring a second place on Dehler Magic, their Dehler 39.

Harbour Lights, Chris Townsend's Northshore 370, from the North Queensland Cruising Yacht Club completed the podium placings.

In the Premier Cruising Division, Wayne Millar and the Zoe crew took first place, a good reward for this well sailed and campaigned Sydney 41.

Greg McMahon's AfterNoon, the Beneteau 44.7 from Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club was second with long time supporter and stalwart of this event, Don Algie and his Warwick 66 Storm 2 finishing third. Storm 2 had a great afternoon also taking line honours in this division.

In the Cruising Division with Spinnaker, Breakaway, the Adams 12 sailed by Arthur King took the honours, followed by the Hanse 370 e Hanson, skippered by Colin Cox in second. Completing the places was Bliss, Paul Verdon's Jutson.

In the Cruising Division without Spinnaker, Mick Phillips Spencer 30, Shearwater was first, with Tony Vidler's own built Maravu, second. Lachlan Wilson sailed Felicity, his Clansman into third position.

In the Trailable Division, Spudguin, the RI 24 Drop, skippered by Bernie Ryan was first, followed by Charles Baker's Bakersdough, the Spider 22 Mk2m. Third was LornaRoseToo, Peter Mitchelson's Clubman 8.

Full results at http://www.airliebeachraceweek.com