COUNT BACK DECIDES SHERWELL TROPHY WINNER

Perfect conditions greeted the first consistency time trial for the season – the Sherwell Memorial Trophy. With some of the fancied runners out of action due to a bachelor party at Rottnest, some skippers thought they had a better chance of a podium finish. It was tight competition in perfect conditions.  Bright sunshine, very little breeze and flat water – a time trialler’s dream

Amazon, with Sharon Horne doing the navigating in Amanda’s absence, set the pace with a brilliant six points off the stick to win least points lost and placed first in the starboard fleet.  Anton Jennings also had a good day to be runner up.

In the port fleet, Stephen Elliott and Paul Ward stepped out for the first time in Stephen’s latest acquisition, Nearly Nineteen, which just might be a play on its overall length. With ten points lost and a handicap of only 2, they finished on equal points with Amazon to take the win in the port fleet, with Steve and Diane Clarke runners up in The Board Room.

On a count back, Nearly Nineteen won the Sherwell Memorial Trophy.

Three newcomers to the time trial fleet can take a bow. Their scores, 126, 105 and 61 were very credible and augur well for their future in the sport.  Ben and Nadene Townend were a surprise.  Their 55 footer Catalina is not an easy boat for time trials, but they finished best of the trio with their 61 points. The other newbies were Mike and Angela Irving in Ships and Giggles, and Vince Acalinovich and Christine Foley in Desiderata.

We give a vote of thanks to Brian Smith, who for the past two weeks has stood in for John Meldrum and Garry Morrison, with the support of his wife Tina.  Thank you to you both for your assistance.

Next Saturday will be time trial for the Linfox Trophy, the last opportunity for competitors to hone their skill prior to the first heat of the CPYC State Championship.