Excitable storms home to win Gallipoli Cup for skipper Geoff Oliver

The annual Gallipoli Cup, which is a trophy made from an old army helmet, is run with a staggered start over a harbour course in the hope that all fleets finish around the same time.

The annual event was held on Saturday on the Anzac Day long weekend at Princess Royal Sailing Club.

Division 3 began at 1pm followed 30 minutes later by division 2 and then at 2pm division 1 began the big chase.

Because it is a handicap event the winner is not always apparent until the official announcement.

Division 3 skipper Mark Paynter put Serenita on a sandbank five minutes before his race began but was able to motor off to join Rob Cridge in Noel Robins.

Cridge failed to sail the correct course and was disqualified.

In division 2, Simon Lucas in FForever Young was ahead of Stephen Lee's Flasheart for the entire race and was actually the first to cross the finish line but on corrected time could only manage fourth place.

Flasheart sailed well but couldn't catch the smaller Flying Fifteen.

Aileen Lucas was doing well with Crazy until a fouled spinnaker ended her chance even after a good recovery.

The warm autumn weather was welcomed by competitors with a steady south-easterly pushing them around the course at around 13 knots.

Division 1 was a close affair and Murray Deere in Wild One showed the way for the majority of the race.

Geoff Oliver in Excitable was right up there with Deere and Harold Keay in Shagabull. Oliver was causing big problems to the leaders as the tenacious skipper knew he was in with a chance.

Deere knew with his meagre handicap he had to finish well in front to win but couldn't get far enough ahead of Oliver and Keay.

Oliver pulled off a mighty victory to claim the Gallipoli Cup.

This Saturday is another coveted title to win, the Cock of the Harbour race.