Sicarius claims double win in combined fleet for Emu Point to Green Island harbour sailing race

Sicarius and skipper Mark McRae crossed the line first in last Saturday’s Emu Point-Green Island harbour race to take home the win in the Princess Royal Sailing Club division two competition.

Five division two yachts were joined by a solitary division one boat to form a combined fleet with division three sailing in their own fleet as well in an Emu Point-Green Island race held in fine weather. A steady south-easterly around the 15-knot mark made for quick times.

Also sailing the same course were three Flying Fifteens.

It was a flying start with the fifteens beginning five minutes after the combined fleet.

Unfortunately two division two boats broke the start and Joker skippered by Chris Oldham eventually returned to restart and lost valuable time.

The other skipper sailed on not knowing that he had been disqualified and completed the course to no avail.

Brett Hawker had Jessie James in the lead very promptly and was first into Emu Point.

McRae skippering Corrine Ridgway’s Sicarius was the quickest of the division two boats and sailing extremely well.

Stephen Brown had Mary Maitland moving well and not far off the pace as they entered the black water in Oyster Harbour.

Joker had recovered after its false start but was trailing as was Neil Worrell with a skeleton crew on Zuri.

Meanwhile the fifteens were spread out with Simon Lucas way out in front with Forever Young followed by Wayne North in Frequent Flyer who was well ahead of Aileen Lucas in Crazy.

In fact Forever Young was catching and passing boats in the other fleet and beat most of them home.

The black water from the recent record-breaking rain made it more hazardous in navigating around the mud banks near Green Island and although a couple of boats struck the bottom they were able to continue, unlike Neil Worrell who was stuck hard and fast with Zuri going nowhere.

The club’s rescue boat was on hand and dragged the stricken vessel into deeper water and it made its way back to the club.

Jessie James crossed the finish line but was relegated to third place on corrected time.

Second over the line and winning both combined and division two was Sicarius in a tremendous effort and probably the best result for the owner and skipper to date.

Mary Maitland also did extremely well to take second place in both with Joker taking third in the division two fleet.

Simon Lucas had done enough to win handsomely with Forever Young and to record fastest time in a mighty show of power sailing.

North took Frequent Flyer into second place five minutes behind with Aileen Lucas in Crazy well back in third.