Joint winners declared in rare result for Flying Fifteens, Joker wins competitive division two encounter

It doesn’t occur very often in yacht racing but on Saturday, January 11 history was made at Princess Royal Sailing Club when two Flying Fifteens were declared joint winners on corrected time.

Wayne North skippering Frequent Flyer and Aileen Lucas in Crazy both recorded identical times on handicap with North recording his fastest time since joining this fleet.

Three yachts competed in a flying start harbour course event in perfect sailing conditions with a steady but almost gentle south easterly that never reached 12 knots which made for very comfortable sailing.

Lucas began well with Crazy with Simon Lucas in FForever Young two boat lengths behind.

North was rather sluggish from the start and trailed the other two for much of the journey.

When North found some good air he rapidly closed the gap and when Crazy broke some gear he found himself in front where he stayed right to the end.

It was very close and exciting with only 30sec. between the three boats.

Frequent Flyer and Crazy were declared joint winners with FForever Young in third place in what was a memorable encounter.

In division two, six yachts competed in a King George Sound event.

Stephen Brown won the start with Mary Maitland with a skeleton crew but was swallowed up by Joker being skippered by Chris Oldham and Stephen Lee in Flasheart.

Peter Bane with a new crew aboard Dunluce had opted to go JAM (jib and mainsail) and was doing well.

Neil Worrell was staying in touch with Zuri as was Mark McRae skippering Sicarius and one crew.

Joker and Flasheart were locked together as they led the fleet out into the sound for the long leg out to five fathom buoy and back into the harbour for the final two legs.

Joker was first into the harbour well ahead of the next boat, Flasheart.

Dunluce was still managing to keep in touch and was looking a threat as far as getting a place was concerned.

McRae broke a pulley block and couldn’t use his spinnaker on the long leg down the harbour.

Meanwhile, Joker went on its merry way without much pressure from the other boats and crossed the finish line well ahead.

But Dunluce had done enough to take the race on corrected time from Joker which took second and fastest in a superb display.

Zuri also added to its tally with a third placing.