Coveted first and fastest a fine performance from FForever Young to defeat Crazy in family affair

The Flying Fifteens turned into a family affair when Aileen Lucas in Crazy and Simon Lucas in FForever Young pitted their sailing skills against one another over a harbour course conducted in a brisk easterly that reached 19 knots at times last Saturday.

FForever Young won the start and stayed in front for the rest of the journey, with Crazy putting on the pressure as she got within a few seconds every now and then.

But every time the distance closed, FForeever Young put in a burst to open up the gap even further as they neared the end of the race.

Simon Lucas knew he had to be at least two minutes in front to win on corrected time and this he did by a mere 23 seconds to take the coveted first and fastest in a fine performance.

Crazy had done well throughout in the windy conditions which favoured her rival and Aileen Lucas can’t wait until they meet again.

Murray Howson took his Viper, Chinese Moccasin, out for a training sail in preparation for the State Viper Championships in Perth this weekend.

He and Michael Cameron will represent Princess Royal Sailing Club and should do well against their metropolitan opposition.

Howson put on a great display of speed both up and downwind and is looking forward to the titles.

Divisions two and three combined for a harbour course event and Stephen Brown once again stamped his authority on the race by winning the start and finishing well ahead of both Neil Worrell in Zuri and Clive Walker who was skippering Mark Paynter’s Saxon.

Zuri was able to match Mary Maitland in the early stages but had opted to go JAM, as did Saxon.

Under spinnaker Brown went way ahead with Mary Maitland but knowing that the other two had very generous handicaps he had to have an enormous lead at the end.

Brown used all his experience to increase his lead but to no avail as a surprised Walker and Paynter were announced the winners on corrected time.

Worrell and his all-female crew of Zuri missed out on their hat-trick with a second placing and Brown after a gallant effort was third fastest.

There was some activity at the club with yachts being prepared for racing and there should be a few more on the water in the near future.