Sinking and Dismasting - Day of drama at Skandia Geelong Week

6:48 AM Sat 24 Jan 2009 GMT

'Bohica not having a good day' Traci Ayris Click Here to view large photo

Today's blustery conditions on Geelong's Corio Bay caused a few headaches for competitors with Tod Bartlett's Boatspeed 23 Bohica and Paul Davis' trailer boat Street Car requiring assistance from Skandia Geelong Week organisers, The Royal Geelong Yacht Club.

'There was a bit of drama with some boats overwhelmed by the weather,' said Principal Race Officer Denis Thompson this afternoon.

Bohica, which was competing in the Bundaberg Rum Sports Boats Championship, snapped its rudder and subsequently its mast in the chop and 20-25 knot south sou'wester and took on water until it was fully submerged with its four crew aboard.

A rescue boat tried to tow the swamped sports boat into a headwind but gave up and instead towed the boat to shore to be emptied before resuming the tow to RGYC.

'The on water support systems were in place and they worked perfectly,' added Thompson.

In the Four Points Sheraton Trailer Yachts series Paul Davis' RL24 Street Car sank completely with all crew retrieved safely.

Organisers are this afternoon working with the owner of Street Car to figure out the best way to retrieve the sunken vessel from its shallow water resting place in Corio Bay.

With a peak gust of 32 knots and winds averaging 22 knots and gusting up to 28 the sports boats were sent ashore by the race committee not long after the start of their first race of the day while the SB3's were also sent ashore without getting a start in. Both classes have this afternoon resumed racing in a 14 knot westerly which is gusting to 20 knots.

The Zhik International Moth Nationals were also postponed until the breeze moderated and are currently completing their scheduled two races.

by Lisa Ratcliff/Skandia Media team