Solitary Is Race - Line honours to Spirit of the Maid, Le Billet leads

7:55 AM Tue 5 Jan 2010 GMT

'Bruce Absolon's Spirit of the Maid on her way to taking line honours victory. - 2010 Pittwater & Coffs Harbour Offshore Series' Damian Devine

It was victory finally for HIYC's Bruce Absolon's Volvo 60, 'Spirit of the Maid' taking line honours in today's 21.5nm Groper Island (a.k.a South West Solitary Island race), the third race of the 29th Pittwater & Coffs Harbour Offshore Series. Bill Ebsary's Beneteau 44.7 'Le Billet' took out IRC handicap spoils to increase his lead in the overall series pointscore. Tony Bates 'Viva La Vita', a Northshore 370 representing the MHYC won the PHS Division.

A fleet of 23 started today's race in a 8-10 knot ESE under perfect Coffs Harbour conditions. The fleet got away on time to a clean start on starboard with the fleet spread evenly down the line. Best off the line was the pin end boat 'Hussy' who got off to a flyer, sailing with speed as she took a course inshore followed closely by 'Spirit of the Maid', 'Secret Men's Business' and 'About Time' with 'Perpetual Mocean' a little further to windward. At the more conjested boat end, boats fought for clear air to generate boat speed with the Farr 45 'Pretty Woman' making the most of it followed by 'E11even', 'Le Billet', 'Dark & Stormy Witch', 'Jayhawk' and 'Viva La Vita' just behind her.

Once the start sorted itself out and everyone in clear air, eventually the bigger boats like 'Perpetual Mocean' and Spirit of the Maid' built boat speed and charged throught the fleet with 'Pretty Woman' sitting sweetly in 3rd position. With boats sailing close to the wind on the first leg, 'Le Billet' was amongst the first to set a spinnaker to put her in good handicap position. Nearing Groper Island 'Perpetual Mocean' was making ground on 'Spirit of the Maid' with 'Pretty Woman' in a clear 3rd with E11even close on her heels. As they gybed around the Island mark, 'Spirit of the Maid' established her ascendency and gained again on 'Perpetual Mocean'.

On the leg home, the wind swung a little more to the East allowing the fleet to reach under cracked sheets towards the finish. Nearing Mutton Bird Island the fleet took advantage of the angles with the majority setting spinnakers to cross the finish line in a parade of spectacular colour, inside the harbour. In a race with minimal gybing or tacking involved it was a great day's sailing for all competitors. In a reasonably fast race, the difference between the first boat and the last was just 48 minutes.

Race Director Ted Anderson said,'The breeze was a little stronger than expected and all boats cleared the line in a perfect start sailing close to the line. It was a perfect day's sailing and the competitors had a great day out on the paddock.'

First across the line was 'Spirit of the Maid' who finished in a time of 2hrs 9mins 12secs ahead of Bruce Hogan's Marten 49 'Perpetual Mocean' by 4 minutes with 'Pretty Woman' a further 4 minutes back in 3rd. David Elliot's modified Farr 40, 'E11even' was fourth.

Bruce Absolon said, 'We're absolutely stoked to have a win on the Maid. Perpetual Mocean kept us honest the whole way. The lighter air didn't really suit but regardless it was a great race and the best thing is we didn't break anything major on the boat. It was champagne sailing and we hope to follow up with another win tomorrow.'

Bill Ebsary's 'Le Billet', IRC handicap winner increasing her overall lead in the series pointscore. - 2010 Pittwater & Coffs Harbour Offshore Series - Damian Devine

On corrected time, it was podium honours for RPAYC's Bill Ebsary's 'Le Billet' who sailed extremely well today in a time of 2hrs 41mins 1sec, two and a half minutes ahead of 'E11even' with Sam Haynes Sydney 39 'Celestial' also sailing a good race, a mere two seconds behind to finish third. Ebsary now extends his overall pointscore lead by six points from friendly rival and last year's series winner Julian Farren-Price's 'About Time' who finished 4th overall today.

Bill Ebsary commented on his way back from the dock, 'the conditions suited us well today with the boat slightly off the breeze. The boat went really well and with no passing lanes we just sailed as fast as we could, cracking nicely all the way. We knew it was going to be close but it's great news, it was a delightful day and we're looking forward to tomorrow's final race.' Commenting on his pointscore position leading into tomorrow's race, Ebsary offered,'Tomorrow is going to be interesting with lighter and more variable conditions forecast, so we're not counting our chickens before they hatch. We're not there yet so all we can do is keep our heads down and do our best, so fingers crossed.'

In PHS, on corrected time it was victory for MHYC's 'Viva La Vita' skippered by Tony Bates in a corrected time of 2hrs 45mins 35secs. In 2nd place was Kerry Burke's Mortgage Choice Rumba following up on their handicap victory in the Pittwater to Coffs race with the Coffs Harbour entrant 'Slippery When Wet', a Young 11 skippered by Peter Orr in 3rd.

The final race of the 29th Pittwater and Coffs Harbour Offshore series is on tomorrow starting at 12pm.

Event website at www.pittwatertocoffs.com.au

by Damian Devine