Melges 32 Hamilton Island Race Week - Great racing

1:38 PM Thu 25 Aug 2011 GMT

'Hamo 2011 Melges 32' Tracey Walters Click Here to view large photo

The Melges 32 fleet is racing at Hamilton Island.

With a start for the passage race at Dent Island, the Pine Island then White Rock Denman and home the fleet were looking over their charts to see the most favourable way to go as the tide would have a big influence on the day's racing.

With the current running at two knots against the fleet, all chose to start on a port gybe, except for 'Max Star' Angus Reid who came at the fleet with speed on Std gybe and took the early lead.

As the Dent Island channel mark came up the port gybe 'Red Panther Team' Steve O'Rourke seemed to pick up also - puff and plan into the lead. With dinner plate eyes the crews edged closer to the point for better position, without hitting the bottom, as they turned at the bottom of the island reef and headed to the next island.

Melges 32 Hamo Day 3 - Tracey Walters Click Here to view large photo

At the turning at Pine Island the boats that over layed the island did best, with less back wash, and had the early benefit of the lifts up the shore on Dent Island south. Noel Leigh-Smith's Desperado led followed by Kym Williams Rock'n Roll then Anthony Passmore on Planit.

The boats then headed downwind at a blistering pace. Rounding White Rock the Max Star crew were having so much fun they over layed the island and lost a few places. Gus Reid said 'We were having so much fun running down there we missed the layline, but we saw some great whale displays out there on the starboard lay.'

What great racing in ideal surroundings - thank you Hamilton Island.

Final result:

Rock'n Roll first, Desperado second, Red Panther third, Planit fourth, Funnel Web fifth, Max Star sixth.