Pressure on for final day of Audi Hamilton Island Race Week 27 August 2016 by Crosbie Lorimer The four cruising divisions that fly spinnakers comprise more than one third of the entire Audi Hamilton Island Race Week fleet of 252 and are clearly enjoying some close racing as the regatta reaches its final day. It’s tight at the top of each division and with the arrival of stronger breezes on Friday August 26 the podium order has changed in all four divisions. In Cruising Division 1 Richard Fader and Greg Prescott’s Tassie Buizen 52 Infinity, is clearly revelling in the fresher breeze. “Consistency is everything, that and having fun,” said Fader, after posting an eighth place to take the division lead heading into the final passage race around the Molles islands race. “Our only real issue in the fresher breeze was spilling the fat from the barbeque!” he added of yesterday’s hit-out. Andrew McGrath’s Victorian Beneteau Sense 55 Silver Lining and Bryan Dorman’s Bordeaux 60 Journey are tied on 23 points for second and third place, just a point behind Infinity, with Silver Linings holding second on a countback. Belinda Cooper’s Beneteau 42.7 Senga jumped from fourth to first place in Division 2 with a sixth place on Friday and is now lying a point ahead of Brendon Gregg’s Quest 3 with Andrew and Matt Stoeckel’s Beneteau 42 Integrity two points behind in third place. The Charm Offensive is working well for Chris McSorley with his boat of that name leading Cruising Division 3 with a second place in race 4 on Friday, keeping the yacht one point ahead of Hanse 505 Miss Minx, owned by Chris and Lauren Thorpe. “We’re in luck, the handicapper loves us” said McSorley. “Well, that and having Tom Stephenson, the World Half Ton Champion from 1980 steering our boat,” he adds, mentioning in passing that this is also the 27th time he’s sailed at Race Week. Craig Watson’s Jeanneau 53 Coopers, lying in third has a bit of ground to make up today with a six point gap to Miss Minx. Mark Chew’s restored classic Fair Winds for Melbourne is holding her own against the more contemporary designs in Cruising Division 4, taking top spot after Friday’s race in conditions that seemed to hit the sweet spot. “Fourteen tonnes is a lot of boat to drag around the course in light airs,” said Chew, “but on the other hand anything more than 16-18 knots and we have to start furling our headsail and that slows us down. “It’s great to be leading the division, we’re trying really hard and we’d love to win the trophy, but it really doesn’t matter if we don’t,” said Chew. John Brand’s Star Ferry lies in second position and Rod West’s Bavaria Painkiller Op in third. With a forecast of 18-22 knots of SSE breeze for Saturday, there is plenty of opportunity for the heavy airs specialists to come good on the last day. With little more than a couple of points separating first from third in most of the divisions, the pressure will be on the current podium holders to turn in a winning performance on the last day of the 33rd edition of Audi Hamilton Island Race Week. Results page Race Week TV and Radio All information relating to AHIRW is on the regatta website Media images for editorial purposes can be downloaded here. Twitter: #AHIRW #HamiltonIsland @AusYachtChamps Facebook: /raceweek /hamiltonisland /AusYachtChamps/ Instagram: #AHIRW @HamiltonIsland Further information: Lisa Ratcliff AHIRW & Australian Yachting Championship media e. lisa@occ.net.au m. 0418 428 511 Denny-Lyn Dixon Hamilton Island General Manager Marketing e. ddixon@hamiltonisland.com.au m. 0407 160 771