Skipper Eugene Carolan sails Pandora to first place on handicap in IRC fleet opener
Eugene Carolan, skippering Pandora, sailed an outstanding race to grab the first position on handicap in the opening event of IRC fleet taking place at Bahrain Yacht Club in Sitra. The race was full
of excitement with heavy winds five to 10 knots higher.
With the help of female crew members, Eleanor Porter and Julia Doorne, Pandora finished ahead of Sean Thomas skippered yacht, Touch and Go. Jackal, skippered by Nicky Lunn and Dave Capozzalo’s Helmwind
crossed the finish line on third and fourth place respectively.
Slower and faster yachts were divided into Club and IRC fleets along with Hobie 16s of catamarans. The winds were higher five to 10 knots than the forecast within which made the race more exciting.
The winner of Club class series last season, Pandora, tried her luck at the end in the faster fleet and surprisingly grabbed the first place. Both fleets were sailed down to the start with the wind
already built to 15 knots.
As the race started, Pandora and Jackal crossed the line first on a starboard tack while Touch and Go and Singapore Sling skippered by Mike Miller were closing behind. Pandora held Jackal, the fastest
boat of the fleet, behind her after she shortened sail and strode comfortably by taking the increasing wind. Jackal finished one minute behind Pandora at the end of the race which took two and a half hours.
On the other hand, the catamaran fleets moved past the cruiser, having winds at 19 to 20 knots. The heavy winds affected the movement of the Singapore Sling, which is usually a fast boat, and her
sails went almost parallel to the water on two occasions resulting in her retirement from the race.
At the end of the race, the heavy wind took its toll and shattered the Club fleet as there were no boats from Club, while only four from the faster fleet could make it to the finish line with Pandora
in the lead.
Ad interim, Paul and Janet Truscott grabbed the first place in the Hobie Handicap Fleet with Neil Garner and Niek De Baets on second, while Richard and Clare Dixon-Clark took third position. Nigel
Widdowson, Rob Kooyman, LeVesconte and Anderson did not cross the finish line.
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