Pantaenius Pittwater Regatta Day 2
by Di Pearson / RPAYC media 8 Feb 08:01 UTC
7-9 February 2025
Every class and division headed to the water for Day 2 of the Pantaenius Pittwater Regatta - those contesting the NSW ORC and Australian Sports Boat Championships were joined by the Sydney 38 One-Design NSW Championship fleet, Super 40s and other divisions.
Organised Chaos (Garry Gudmunson) now leads Division 1 of the ORC NSW Championship supported by Sydney Marine Brokerage. Gudmunson found the inshore windward/leeward course to his liking, winning both races to displace Toybox 2 (Ian Box) from the top spot.
Box though, is in second place, only two points off the lead and will not be bowing to pressure. Mercury (Mark Tinworth/Mark Waterhouse/Josh Paulson) still holds third place.
"We did a hot dog, triangle, with a beat to the finish in both races," Gudmunson said. "My boat is smallest in the division at 35 feet," he said of his ID35 design. "We hung onto the back of the bigger boats all day in a nice 12-16 knot nor' easter on flat water, which suits us.
"There were a few geographical shifts off Longnose Point and being local, it worked for us," said Gudmunson who has his good mate, Steve McConaghy, doing tactics. "We grew up together. I've known him for 50 years and it's great to have him on board," he said of the highly regarded professional tactician.
The two ORC divisions will sail three offshore windward/leewards tomorrow to decide the outcome in what is likely to be a light to medium easterly.
Dave Davies (Local Hero) won both Division 2 races to sit atop that leaderboard. Local Hero is on equal points with yesterday's leader, Georgia Lee (Craig Suggit), now relegated to second place. Peter Farrugia's Bullwinkle has maintained the status quo in third place.
"It was very close all the way round the track with Bullwinkle and Georgie Lee," Davies commented. "We've been having terrific close racing with them all weekend. We had a good start in the first race, not so good in the second, but had good local knowledge with Michael Bellingham on board," he said of the noted navigator.
"I'd like to give a big thanks to my crew and the RPAYC marina and race team for putting on a great event. They've been very helpful, getting us a marina berth and our entry sorted. They've gone out of their way and it's much appreciated," Davies said.
"This Division is still up for grabs. It's all happening tomorrow and our 15-year-old Kevlar headsail is still competitive," he ended, laughing.
This hard fought series looks set to go down to the wire in both divisions.
Sydney 38 NSW Championship - Day goes to Conspiracy
No surprises to find Conspiracy at the top of the Sydney 38 leaderboard on Day 1. David Hudson and Peter Byford are once again the benchmark after winning two of three windward/leeward races and placing third in the other.
Conspiracy is holding second placed Gusto (Colin Gunn/Jack Stening) to ransom by five points after the latter scored 3-6-1 results. Gusto's owners are quite new to the class. Mondo (Stephen Teudt/Lisa Callaghan) fills out the top three, following 2-8-2 results.
"We had good races until we started too early in the third race! Two of us were called back, but we went from sixth to third," Hudson explained.
"It was quite satisfying in its own way. The exciting race was the first one, it was a lesson in complacency - we crossed the line within a second - the thickness of a spinnaker cloth - of Mondo. Gusto was a further second away. That is exactly what one-design is about. We'll have to watch Mondo tomorrow - they're better offshore."
With his Sydney 38 Association Treasurer's hat on, Hudson commented, "I'm delighted to see new people on the course that are competing so well. It's so satisfying,"
Like Oxygen on fire in Australian Sports Boat Championship
Andrew York's Like Oxygen (NSW) led the 5 Heads Challenge from go to whoa in the Australian Sports Boat Championship, to win by 28 seconds from Malcolm Dean's Black Betty.
York leads the series by four points to Black Betty (NSW). Crank (Qld) has come back into the picture, Andrew Wiklund's fourth place lifting him back into third, on equal points with Charles Baker's No Dough (Qld). Three windward/leeward races will decide the winner tomorrow. Whether anyone can sail over the top of Like Oxygen remains to be seen.
Super 40s opener goes to Condor
Ross Hennessy sailed Condor, a Ker 40 MK3, to a win of over three minutes from Grant Pocklington's Anarchy in the Super 40's opener. Andrew Walters/David Hamilton's Little Nico was pipped to second place by two seconds!
Pittwater Cup Series Day 1
It was all to play for on Day 1 of this series, with the 5-Heads Challenge inshore passage race put to bed for 33 boats in three divisions. Christian and Todd McLennan stitched up Division 1 with Anitra May, a Cole 30. Ian Quarrie's Beneteau First 40, Ascalon wasn't far behind in second, with two inshore races to sail to finish the series tomorrow.
Jan 'Clogs' Scholten and Stephen Parker's Stewart 34, Panchax, pipped Tom Scardifield's Young 88, Cavatina II for the Division 2 win, while Ralf Moller's Hanse 400 took out the top spot in Division 3 from Leon Wilson's Jeanneau 45DS, Nirvanas Kitchen.
Organised by Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, racing concludes tomorrow, when new champions will be crowned in three classes and prizes delivered to other winners.
For full results and all information, please go to www.pittwaterregatta.au.