Impressive Mary Maitland dominates handicap harbour course to win both combined and division two fleets

Inclement weather last Saturday forced the flying fifteen fleet to abandon their race which left a combined fleet of six to compete in a handicap start harbour course event.

Competitors faced a brisk south-easterly of about 17 knots before dropping out towards the end of proceedings.

Geoff Oliver launched his division one yacht Excitable in readiness to Battle Brett Hawker’s Jessie James when it began taking water from a fracture in the hull forcing him out of the contest to hurriedly get the boat out of the water.

Hawker then joined the five division two boats in a combined fleet.

Zuri skippered by Neil Worrell began with Mark McRae who was in control of Sicarius.

Next away five minutes later was Stephen Brown in Mary Maitland followed a minute later by Stephen Lee’s Flasheart.

Chris Oldham in Joker started two minutes later.

Jessie James began a huge 16min. after Joker and had the challenge of trying to catch and pass the five boats in front.

Sicarius and Zuri were still the early leaders but without the use of a spinnaker Zuri was slipping behind.

Mary Maitland and Flasheart were locked together for long periods but Brown was able to get in front.

Joker wasn’t a threat to the leaders and trailed Brown and Lee although Joker had caught both Zuri and Sicarius.

Meanwhile Hawker had decided to use a huge spinnaker and bridged the gap that he probably thought was impossible.

Brown was able to get away from Lee after a head sail change and romped home to an impressive win.

Flasheart was now under pressure from Jessie James who was storming towards the finish line which it pipped on the post in a dramatic finish.

The results for the combined fleet were Mary Maitland first, Jessie James second and fastest and Flasheart third.

In division two Mary Maitland was first and fastest, Flasheart second and Joker third.