Zuri unveils new-look spinnaker to romp home in handicap harbour race, Flying Flounder wins Flying Fifteens

Division two skipper of Zuri, Neil Worrell, unleashed his secret weapon newly installed to romp home in a handicap start harbour course race.

A bowsprit to hold an asymmetrical spinnaker was used for the first time, which enabled Zuri’s hardworking crew to stay well in front of the six-yacht fleet to go on to win handsomely on Saturday, December 14.

Peter Bane’s Dunluce was the limit boat and he worked hard to stay well up throughout, and was only passed by Zuri.

Dunluce performed well and was rewarded with second place.

Stephen Brown in Mary Maitland and Stephen Lee in Flasheart were engaged in their own private duel for third place.

Both sailed well but Brown pipped Lee on the finish line.

Lee took the honours for fastest time by two seconds from Brown.

Two division yachts competed in their handicap start, which saw Geoff Oliver having his first outing of the season with Excitabull.

His opponent was Brett Hawker in Jessie James, who had opted to go JAM.

Oliver had a two-minute start over Hawker and, using his spinnaker in devastating fashion, increased his lead at every mark to finish eight minutes ahead to easily take the race and record the fastest time in a fine showing.

Three Flying Fifteens also competed in a handicap start, and teenager Eden Gray was first away with Flying Flounder.

Aileen Lucas in Crazy began four minutes later and began to bridge the gap.

Simon Lucas in the scratch boat started his daunting task of catching the leaders six minutes later.

The weather was ideal, with a fresh southerly which never reached 14 knots, making sailing a breeze.

Flying Flounder kept the lead throughout and was only put under pressure towards the finish by Crazy.

However, the father-and-son combination had done enough and won by less than a minute from second-placed Crazy, with FForever Young taking third and fastest time.