Stephen Girdis of Funnel Web wins 2011 Melges 32 Audi Hamilton Island Week
Funnel Web’s Stephen Girdis sailed tremendously to finish on top of the standings of 2011 Melges 32 Audi Hamilton Island Week. Girdis was too fast on the final day of the event and clinched the top spot with 11 points. Noel Leigh-Smith of Desperado finished
second with 13 points.
The weather conditions at Hamilton Island Yacht Club were very strong. The winds blew up to 30 knots over the racing area, which added that extra excitement to the race along with presenting a challenge to the sailors to brave the winds.
The teams were ready to set sail after they tuned their rigs to the heavy winds but the Race Officer, Dennis Thompson, slowed them down after he witnessed the conditions deteriorating a bit.
However, the race started after the breeze became just about perfect for sailing. Kim Williams and crew set a superb sail on their boat, Bow320 Rock n’ Roll, at noon and sailed past the Hamilton Island YC twice without any hiccup.
Gus Reid’s Max Star raced up in the first beat and finished first owing to their effective strategy to keep the boat out of the tide. They were closely followed by Stephen Girdis’ Funnel Web on second place. After that, team Girdis grabbed all the races
to finish on top and win the 2011 Audi Hamilton Australasia Cup Series with 11 points.
The overall standings at the end of Melges 32 Audi Hamilton Island Race Week are given below:
1. 323 FUNNEL WEB Stephen Girdis 2, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, (5), 4 = 11 points
2. 582 DESPERADO Noel Leigh-Smith 1, 2, 2, 3, 2, (5), 1, 2 = 13 points
3. USA158 MAX STAR Angus Reid 4, 3, 4, 2, (4), 2, 2, 1 = 18 points
4. BOW320 ROCK N' ROLL Kim Williams 3, 4, 3, 4, 3, 3, 3, (5) = 23 points
5. GBR700 PANTHER Stephen O'Rourke 7,C 7,C 7,C 7,S (7 F) 4, 4, 3 = 23 points
6. 183 PLANIT Anthony Passmore 7C, 7C, (7 C) 5, 5, 6, 6, 6 = 42 points
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