Donald Fraser’s Dry White clinches lead on Day 1 of 2012 Port Fairy Race – Sailing News
After putting up a great sailing display at the Port Fairy, Dry White skippered by Donald Fraser hit the leading podium spot at the end of the first race on first day of the 2012 Port Fairy Race. The first day of the 2012 ORCV Port Fairy Race began with
a superb wind conditions over the race course. The fleet set sail under ideal wind conditions and completed the only race of the day on time.
Before the fleet launched their boats into the waters, a nice and ideally strong south westerly wind began to blow up to 40 knots over the racing area which proved to be a plus for the participants and they began the race perfectly. The wind conditions were
already predicted so the contenders were mentally prepared for any circumstances during the race.
The first half of the race was quite thrilling as the fleet was setting their positions under strong winds all around with heavy gusts. The breeze became stable in the second half of the first beat and the participants maintained their course towards the
finishing point where Dry White was victorious after an impressive tactical display from Fraser and the crew.
The race commenced from Cape Otway to Port Fairy crossing the boundary between Bass Strait and the Southern Ocean. The fleet had to cover the distance of 65 nautical miles under shifting winds. Many boats were troubled by the weather and they had to quit
the race. Dry White skipper, Fraser commented that the winds were quite strong wafting from 40 to 50 knots along with heavy gusts up to 70 knots.
Speaking to the media after the race, Fraser said that the weather was exceptional and Dry White was in survival mode where completing the race became incidental to getting the crew and boat safely to port. His crew member Sally Williams added that at 35
knots, they were managing but at 57 knots, they got stuck. The boat had limited steerage and was only making half a knot so the Skipper decided to turn back to the Heads.
Overall fleet results after one race:
1 SM401 DRY WHITE Donald Fraser - 0.970
DNF 6107 THE SECRETARY George Shaw - 0.895
DNF B353 MAGAZAN 53 Nicholas McGuigan - 0.792
DNF B434 TRYBOOKING.COM Grant Dunoon - 0.800
DNF R186 YOKO Robin Hewitt - 0.865
DNF R880 ALIEN Justin Brenan - 0.885
DNF R1200 SPIRIT OF DOWNUNDER Lawrence Ford - 0.965
DNF S20 DEKADENCE Ken Simpson - 1.050
DNF SM380 FANTASY OF MAN John Rimmer - 0.805
DNF SM1008 INCEPTION Jeff Dusting - 0.865
DNF SM4040 BANDIT Ashley Trebilcock - 0.975
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