| SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA-(3-11-2003) What started as picture perfect sailing weather turned to a very black sky with the breeze that started in the west swinging to the sou' east and building from 8 to 32 knots. Richard Perini on Corinthian Doors convincingly won the regatta after consistently placing in the top four results throughout the six race series, with an 11-point separation between first and second place.
The fourth race of the series saw both Lang Walker on Kokomo and Dennis McDonald on One Step Ahead both being called over at the start line. Kokomo after having to go back over the start line managed to work their way back through the fleet to finish in second position. Brett Ellis on Buon Giorno sailed the right side of the downwind runs, which saw him sail a consistent race to finish first over the line.
Buon Giorno's success from race four was short lived when they where called over the line on the start of race five. Steve O'Rourke on Panther and Marcus Blackmore on Emotional Hooligan both started at the pin end of the line. Panther tacked back across the back of the fleet, which ended up having an impact on their finishing position of eighth in this race. With a southerly change chasing the fleet to the finish, spinnakers were being trimmed very shy on the final run with Emotional Hooligan improving her places during the race and eventually taking the gun.
Race six had the race committee resetting the course after a swing of 90 degrees in wind direction and the sou' east breeze building dramatically in strength. The start saw Rob Skinner's Weapon nearly collide with the start boat after being held out on the start line by Dick Voorderhake on Rapscallion.
With the breeze being clocked at 32 knots the race committee decided to shorten the course at the bottom gate, which allowed Richard Perini on Corinthian Doors to rocket through the finish line and take out the series.
Kevin Miller on Valley Tram had his tactician Mark Bradford sustaining a rope burn to his neck after having the mainsheet wrap around his head in a gybe. Rapscallion raced with the youngest crewmember of the regatta, Will Parker who is 13 and a member of the Cruising Yacht Club youth program.
' We have thoroughly enjoyed being part of the Farr 40 season and look forward to a long relationship with the class' said Stuart Gilbert, Managing Director of Inner Circle Rum.
The next regatta for the Australian Farr 40 fleet will be the Rhodes Waterside Regatta on November 14-16, being hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.
Final results for the Inner Circle Rum Regatta:
1st Corinthian Doors (R.Perini - RSYS) 3,1,2,4,3,1 14
2nd Buon Giorno (B.Ellis - RPAYC) 2,3,6,1,9,2 23
3rd Rapscallion (D.Voorderhake - CYCA) 1,5,4,7,4,4 25
4th Kokomo (L.Walker - CYCA) 8,9,5,2,5,3 32
5th Weapon (R.Skinner - CYCA) 5,2,1,9,6,10 33
6th Emotional Hooligan (M.Blackmore - RPAYC) 7,8,8,6,1,6 36
7th Panther (Steve O'Rourke - CYCA) 6,6,9,3,8,5 37
8th Valley Tram (K.Miller - RQYS) 4,4,7,5,7,10 37
9th One Step Ahead (D.McDonald - CYCA) 9,7,3,8,2,10 39
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