American import showing the way

One design news from Sydney's British Trophy Regatta

Former world champion, American Jim Richardson gave the locals a sailing lesson today in the opening two races of the Farr 40 One Design NSW Championship being sailed on Sydney Harbour as part of the British Trophy Regatta.

Richardson is competing in the chartered local yacht, Emotional Hooligan, which he has renamed Barking Mad and hoisted his own sails from his US boat.

The American is currently World president of the Farr 40 OD Class Association and his visit to Australia is two-fold – to win this regatta and discuss with the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia plans to stage the Farr 40 OD world championships in Sydney in 2005.

He underlined the helming skills that won him a world championship several years ago with some fine sailing on Sydney Harbour today, winning both races after tight tactical racing in light and flukey east-north-easterly winds under overcast skies.

In race one, Barking Bad scored a 34 seconds win from local boat “fleet owner” Lang Walker, steering Kokomo, with the Pittwater yacht Buon Giornio (Steve Ellis) just 10 seconds further astern.

In race two, Barking Mad finished 38 seconds in front of Weapon (Robert Skinner) with the consistent Buon Giorno 27 seconds further astern.

After two races, Barking Mad leads the Farr 40 OD pointscore from Buon Giorno and Kokomo.

A disappointing fleet of only five Sydney 38 One Design yachts are contesting the eight race British Trophy Regatta that continues through to Saturday, with former CYCA Commodore Hugo van Kretschmar winning both races in Bashfull. AMI Jade (Peter McNamara) placed second in both races, while Chainsaw (Anthony Skinner) placed third in both heats.

Another double winner today was South Australian Chris Tillett, sailing On the Edge in the Mumm 30 Australian championship, also part of the British Trophy Regatta.

The placings were the same in both races, Queenslander Stewart Lewis finishing second with On the Edge, and the Lake Macquarie yacht, Tow Truck, skippered by Anthony Pearson, third.