8:01 AM Sun 4 Jan 2009 GMT
 | | 'About Time, Julian Farren-Price's Cookson 12 from the CYCA , declared overall IRC winner in 2009 Pittwater to Coffs Race'
Christophe Launay © |
About Time, Julian Farren-Price's Cookson 12 from the CYCA has taken out the coveted IRC overall handicap honours in the 2009 Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht race. Moksha, a Hanse 540, the largest and heaviest boat in the fleet skippered by RPAYC's Richard Rowe, was awarded victory in the PHS Division.
After finishing 4th on IRC handicap in the Coffs race in 2007 and 2nd in the series behind Le Billet, it was 'about time' victory came their way. Julian Farren-Price was happy to be awarded the honours in a corrected time of 30hrs 21mins 48secs.
Speaking from the Coffs Harbour marina this morning, Julian spoke of the IRC victory, 'We're delighted with the win, we haven't raced Coffs in 2 years. Our objective was to win this race on handicap and have a good race against our good mate Bill Ebsary and Le Billet. The conditions favoured the Cookson better than the Beneteau in this race, so we're absolutely thrilled with the win.'
'It was a hard race and one of the toughest and wettest I've been in. With the angle of the wind and the reaching conditions into pretty lumpy seas, there was plenty of water pouring up the side. But the win makes it all worthwhile.'
Farren-Price added this about the race, 'It was a very competitive race with a great field from the Marten 49 down to the Bull 9000 so it made the race for handicap honours an open and interesting one. We were all in the same weather so it made for a very fair race. We're looking forward to having a good race tomorrow to hopefully take out the series, so we'll be going full throttle that's for sure,' Farren Price said.
Unfortunately for the Hudson/Murphy/Lockley Farr 45, Pretty Woman, who finished 2nd over the line by a mere three and a half minutes behind Perpetual Mocean, they also got the silver medal on handicap, missing out by just over 7 minutes on corrected time from About Time. Rounding out the podium was previous handicap winner of this race in 2002 and consistent campaigner, the Staples /King Murray 37 Dark & Stormy Witch, who relished the reaching conditions. She finished with a corrected time of 30hrs 33mins 42 secs and in doing so also took out IRC Division 2 honours.
 | Moksha, winner of PHS Division in 2009 pittwater to Coffs Race - Damian Devine |
Turning to PHS, Richard Rowe's Hanse 540, Moksha, claimed its first ocean race victory of any distance by winning the PHS Division by just under two hours over the Swan 40, Byzance out of the Balmain Sailing Club skippered by David Saunders with Michael Martin's Sayer 11.9 Frantic representing the Lake Macquarie Yacht Club picking up the bronze.
Having covered a lot of cruising miles since taking ownership in August 2007 and with all the cruising comforts down below, the reaching conditions in reasonable breeze were always going to suit Moksha's waterline length once this heavy boats momentum got going.
Richard Rowe aboard Moksha was thrilled with the PHS win. 'It's a fantastic feeling for us to win and for the seven crew on board, two of whom had never sailed with us before. The reaching conditions, reasonable breeze and lumpy seas suited the big boat. We just ploughed through it. We've got a pretty casual racing crew and we just had a good time racing up the coast. We're looking forward to the Solitary race tomorrow although I don't think we'll do so well with the forecast.'
The Solitary Island offshore race, kicks off at 12pm in Coffs Harbour in forecasted light 8-10knots ESE breeze under clear, blue skies. The race makes up the two race series and the series winners will be declared at the prize giving tomorrow evening at the Coffs Harbour Yacht Club.
Final results are:
Line Honours:
1.. Perpetual Mocean
2.. Pretty Woman
3.. Ausmaid
Overall IRC
1.. About Time
2.. Pretty Woman
3.. Dark & Stormy Witch
IRC Division 1:
1.. About Time
2.. Pretty Woman
3.. Tidetech Eleven
IRC Division 2:
1.. Dark & Stormy Witch
2.. Preddytor
3.. Swish
PHS Overall:
1.. Moksha
2.. Byzance
3.. Frantic
PHS Division 1:
1.. Moksha
2.. Frantic
3.. More Witchcraft
PHS Division 2:
1.. Byzance
2.. Freya
3.. Overdrive
For full results go to the event website at www.pittwatertocoffs.com.au
by Damian Devine
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