Sail Port Stephens Week - It got ugly at the Yabby Race

2:05 AM Wed 14 Apr 2010 GMT

'Were the Yabby Races 'fixed' at Sail Port Stephens Week 2010?' Andrea Francolini &copy

Sail Port Stephens competitors taking part in the Yabby Race this morning yelled 'fixed, fixed,' when the Yabby supplier and fellow regatta competitor Alyn Ovenden came out the Division 1 winner at Port Stephens this morning.

While Ovenden's Yabby looked frisky, others were decidedly under the weather, while others looked to have heavily imbibed in alcohol; slipping over, falling on their backs, standing stunned and running the wrong way. Some even tried to escape into the crowd.

It was suggested to event organiser, Jody O'Brien, that perhaps next year they involve drug testers a legal team and a bookie!

Each of the competing yachts for the Commodore's Cup were handed a numbered foam cut-out of a Yabby and the live Yabbies had corresponding numbers on their backs. When let loose, there were calls of 'come on, bring it home,' while others tried to guide their Yabby over the finish line.

One Yabby, No. 4, seemed to have some sailing experience, picking its moment to port tack No. 5 and finish in second place, while another poor creature lost its leg in a fight with a fellow Yabby.

Division 1 top three:
1.. Let's Go (Alyn Ovenden
2.. Mangogroove (Brian Shuttleworth)
3.. Patrice Six (Tony Kirby)

Division 2 top three:
1.. Harlequin (Clayton McLellan
2.. She's the One (Michael Kirby)
3.. Mainstay Bradley (Sewell)

www.sailportstephens.com.au

by Di Pearson

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