Idle Time wins fourth race of Cumberland Charter Yachts trophy series

4:52 AM Mon 27 Apr 2009 GMT

'Idle Time' Sail-World.com /AUS &copy Click Here to view large photo

Three talented Whitsunday Sailing Club skippers are poised to stage a match race to decide the Cumberland Charter Yachts trophy on Pioneer Bay this week.

Kevin Fogarty fought his way back into contention when he and his Idle Time crew mastered the variable 15-20 knot trade wind to win the fourth race of the series by 40 seconds from the John Galloway helmed Queensland Marine Services while Craig Piccinelli' s Wobbly Boot was a similar distance away in third place.

This result has tightened the points table with Queensland Marine Services on 14 points leading the series on countback over Idle Time, while Wobbly Boot holds third on 15 points.

There is never very much between the three crews who have won a share of the monthly series trophies over the past 12 months.

The Idle time crew will be hoping for a repeat forecast to show that they are among the toughest to beat wwhen the wind blows above 15 knots.

They also have the knowledge to extract the required all angle boat speed to allow Idle Time to outpace her lower .740 time correction factor over Queensland Marine Services .832 and Wobbly Boot .800.

But skipper Kevin Fogarty understands that last week's win will have to be repeated to be assured of adding the Cumberland Charter Yachts series to the impressive list of 'silverware' in the trophy cabinet.

He is the first to agree that while last week's win was important he the Idle Time crew will need to sail in the pressure line of the prevailing breeze and protect their sailing space while John Galloway's Queensland Marine Services crew face a similar test of tactical sailing to build a time difference of 5.4 seconds a minute in what promises to turn into a pressure packed final.

Both John Galloway and Kevin Fogarty understand the importance of sailing each puff of breeze on merit or face the task of playing catch up particularly if Wobbly Boot is allowed to race in clear space.

Wobbly Boot can win the trophy however her crew must produce the faster handicap corrected time and win the final race to have any chance of upsetting Queensland Marine Services and Idle Time.

They presently hold the upper hand but if Wobbly Boot wins her crew will claim the trophy on countback with 16 points.

This places the pressure on John Galloway and Kevin Fogarty who have shown they have the potential to win, however the Wobbly Boot crew who have compiled a 1-3 compared with Queensland Marine Services 2-2 and Idle Time 4-1 during the last two races has the tactical experience to come out on top in the three way match race.

However there is no margin for error leaving all three crews to face a test of character to officially decide the 2009 Cumberland Charter Yachts trophy winner on Pioneer Bay this week.

by Ian Grant