6:25 PM Sun 14 Mar 2010 GMT 'Thurlow Fisher Lawyers and Rag and Famish Hotel - Race 14 of the Australian 18 Footers League Club Championship 2010' Frank Quealey &copy /Australian 18 Footers League The Thurlow Fisher Lawyers crew of Michael Coxon, Aaron Links and Trent Barnabas took out Race 14 of the Australian 18 Footers League Club Championship in a light Easterly wind on Sydney Harbour today, (Sunday, 14 March 2010). Thurlow Fisher Lawyers had to overcome a race long 'match race' with Rag & Famish Hotel (John Harris, Euan Mc Nicol and Peter Harris) before going on to a 1m:1s victory. Their win today also puts the team into the overall championship lead, three points ahead of Gotta Love It 7 (Seve Jarvin, Sam Newton and Tom Clout). Yandoo (John Winning, Andrew Hay and David Gibson) finished third, just 9s behind Rag & Famish Hotel. The fleet split soon after the start near Robertson Point with Thurlow Fisher Lawyers leading the group on the RHS of the course and Rag & Famish Hotel leading the group on the left. Thurlow Fisher Lawyers led narrowly when the two met and still held a 15s margin at the windward mark in Rose Bay. Club Marine (Marcus Ashley-Jones) was nearly one minute further back in third place, ahead of Yandoo and Appliancesonline.com.au, being sailed by replacement skipper Micah Lane. Thurlow's margin was down to 4s at the wing mark, then in the shifting breeze 'The Rag' grabbed a 20s break at the bottom mark. With the two leaders holding a clear margin over the third placed Yandoo, a match race developed on the following windward beat back to Rose Bay. Redclaw and Gill (and where is the possum?) - Race 14 of the Australian 18 Footers League Club Championship 2010 - Frank Quealey &copy /Australian 18 Footers League The pair were side by side nearing Shark Island before Thurlow Fisher Lawyers raced to an incredible 1m15s lead at the mark. Once again the pair were together after the long spinnaker run back to Robertson Point where Thurlow Fisher Lawyers led by just one boat length. The pair split tacks on the last windward leg but the margin remained close as the lead changed several times. Thurlow Fisher Lawyers was again superior in the Rose Bay section of the course and led clearly as she rounded the final mark and headed for home. Next weekend is the annual Queen of the Harbour race in which every crew will have an additional crew member - a female, their Queen for the day. The last race of the Club Championship will be sailed on Sunday 28 March, which is also the last race of the club's 2009-2010 season. www.flying18s.com www.18footers.com.au Pure Blonde - Race 14 of the Australian 18 Footers League Club Championship 2010 - Frank Quealey &copy /Australian 18 Footers League Redclaw and Gill (and where is the possum?) - Race 14 of the Australian 18 Footers League Club Championship 2010 - Frank Quealey &copy /Australian 18 Footers League Rag and Famish Hotel - Race 14 of the Australian 18 Footers League Club Championship 2010 - Frank Quealey &copy /Australian 18 Footers League by Frank Quealey Click on thumbnails to enlarge and find more photos:

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