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Oliver grabs ‘bull by the horns to win

Des BeeckAlbany Advertiser
Excitabull, skippered by Geoff Oliver, nearly broaches at the start before going on to win.
Camera IconExcitabull, skippered by Geoff Oliver, nearly broaches at the start before going on to win. Credit: Des Beeck

Division 1 skipper Geoff Oliver sailed an exceptional race last Saturday to score an impressive win with Excitabull.

In probably his first victory for the season, Oliver meant business right from the start with a surprise spinnaker hoist, which caught both Murray Deere in Wild One and Harold Keay in Shagabull unaware.

Oliver did have his moments with a wayward spinnaker for several seconds before settling down to take the early lead.

The other two hoisted kites and the race was on in earnest.

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Oliver was giving the bigger boats a lot of cheek and looking like pulling off an upset win. He was eventually overtaken by Wild One but the gap was not huge.

Excitabull became the meat in the sandwich as he had a larger boat in front and one behind.

It was enthralling sailing from the three boats as not much separated them.

Deere put Wild One over the finish line a minute ahead of Excitabull but he could only manage second and fastest. Oliver won easily on corrected time by almost three minutes in a most determined effort from both skipper and crew. Keay, who battled his heart out all afternoon, was third.

Two division 2 yachts competed in a harbour course race in warm weather, with a steady south easterly around the 16-knot mark.

Stephen Brown won the start with Mary Maitland leaving Neil Worrell in Zuri to play catch-up.

Vipers hoist their spinnakers at their start with winner Fang, right.
Camera IconVipers hoist their spinnakers at their start with winner Fang, right. Credit: Des Beeck

Brown had surged well ahead and showed no mercy to Worrell, who had a big handicap.

Brown had to finish several minutes ahead to score the win, which he did with five seconds to spare in a masterful display. Worrell, who had sailed well, just could not match Mary Maitland under spinnaker and was second.

Three Vipers strutted their stuff in a quick and colourful display as they zipped around their harbour course. Leading the way was Murray Howson, skippering Chinese Moccasin.

His perfect spinnaker work enabled him to stay in the lead as both Steve Dines, in Fang, and Duncan Ray, in Alice, gave chase.

Nothing could stop Howson, who crossed the finish line well ahead but on corrected time could only manage third and fastest time in a mighty show. Fang took the honours 50 seconds in front of Alice, who was second.

The Flying Fifteens had an indifferent day with firstly Aileen Lucas breaking the vang on Crazy well before the start.

After a delay in getting Crazy ashore, it was decided to sail a shortened course and this confused Frequent Flyer’s Wayne North, who went the wrong way, giving the race to Simon Lucas in FForeverYoung.

There is no club sailing this weekend as many members and their families travel to Walpole for the annual regatta.

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