| SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA-(6-3-2004) America's Cup, Admiral's Cup, Volvo Ocean Race and Olympic sailors make up the crews of the nine Farr 40's racing at the Joico Regatta being hosted by Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club. Conditions on the first day definitely didn't live up to the forecasted 30 + knots with more rain than wind on the course off Barrenjoey Circle today.
Racing in a 15 knots East - Sou 'East breeze with lumpy seas, the fleet were a little keen to get started, with the first race of the day having a general recall at the first attempt to start. After settling again they got away with Richard Perini on Corinthian Doors getting a great start at the boat end of the line.
Lang Walker on Kokomo rounded the top mark in first with Perini close on his heals and Dennis McDonald's One Step Ahead in third. Perini sailed the down wind leg well to charge to the front and was followed by McDonald in second. 2001 World Champion John Calvert Jones's Southern Star II manoeuvred into third under the guidance of tactician Grant Simmer, and these three boats maintained their positions to finish in this order over the line for race one.
After the race committee relayed the course for race two to accommodate the wind shift, both Corinthian Doors and Marcus Blackmore's Emotional Hooligan had individual recalls. Rob Skinner's Weapon took first place at the first top mark, with Steve Ellis's Buon Giorno in second and Calvert-Jones taking third.
Perini, with Stu Bannantyne as tactician sailed a fantastic leg to recover from their recall to fourth at the first top mark. As spinnakers emerged from the mist the fleet headed to the bottom mark with Calvert-Jones heading to the front. Positions were swapped between the top four boats over the next two legs with race two finishing in typical one design style, two seconds separating Ellis and Calvert-Jones in the first two positions.
Points have the placing's separated by one point margins so racing for day two of the Farr 40 at Joico will be interesting to watch. The Farr 40 fleet have two races scheduled for the last day of the Joico regatta.
Day 1 Results:
1st Corinthian Doors (R.Perini - RSYS) 5
= Southern Star II (J.Calvert - Jones - RPAYC) 5
3rd Buon Giorno (S.Ellis - RPAYC) 6
4th One Step Ahead (D.McDonald - CYCA) 7
5th Weapon (R.Skinner - CYCA) 9
6th Kokomo (L.Walker - CYCA) 10
7th Panther (S.O'Rourke - CYCA) 15
8th Emotional Hooligan (M.Blackmore - RPAYC) 16
9th Rapscallion (D. Voorderhake - CYCA) 17
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