| SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA-(14-12-2003) An improvement on yesterday's conditions off North Head outside Sydney Harbour allowed the Farr 40 fleet to race the three planned races in a 10 knot sou 'east breeze. True to one design racing form the competition was tight with the fleet only separated by seconds during each race.
An individual recall at the start of race three unfortunately had overnight leader Lang Walker's Kokomo at the back of the fleet for this race. Heading into the top mark Team Shockwave were at the front of the fleet with Rob Skinner on Weapon coming in second. At the bottom mark Weapon managed to place themselves inside Shockwave to round in front and take the lead. During the next two legs Skinner extended his lead to one minute to take the gun.
After a general recall the fleet got away for race four with Weapon charging through an opening at the pin end of the start line. Coming into the top mark there were a number of close crosses as boats tacked to lay the mark. Team Shockwave took the mark in the lead of the fleet ahead of Dick Voorderhake on Rapscallion with these two boats maintaining their positions to the finish and Jim Richardson's Barking Mad crossing in third.
Race five had Rapscallion called back after they jumped the start but they sailed well during the tight three-lap race to finish in fifth. Team Shockwave and Steve O'Rourke's Panther stated at the pin end with Richardson's Barking Mad starting mid way down the line. Panther sailed an excellent first leg to round in first position with Barking Mad close behind them. This race saw a number of tactical manoeuvrers at mark rounding's paying handsomely and one of the boats to benefit was Barking Mad. After rounding the first top mark in second position Richardson worked his way into the front of the fleet at the second spinnaker hoist and stayed in front for the next three legs. Steve O'Rourke sailed well to stay in touch with the leader and finished second over the line behind Barking Mad.
Racing in the Rolex Trophy Series will finish tomorrow with the next regatta for the Farr 40 class being the Alfa Romeo Twilights in February next year.
Day One Farr 40 Results:
1st Team Shockwave (N. Crichton - CYCA) 4,1,2,1,4 12
2nd Rapscallion (D.Voorderhake - CYCA) 5,2,3,2,5 17
3rd Barking Mad (J. Richardson - NYYC USA) 6,5,4,3,1 19
4th Weapon (R.Skinner - CYCA) 2,4,1,6,7 20
5th Kokomo (L. Walker - CYCA) 1,3,7,5,6 22
6th Panther (S.O'Rourke - CYCA) 3,6,6,7,2 24
7th Emotional Hooligan (M.Blackmore - RPAYC) 7,7,5,4,3 26
| 
