Warwick Rooklyn retains lead as Kevin Nixon closes in at 2012 Melges 24 Australian Championships
Second day of the Melges 24 Australian Championships seemed almost like a dead one because there was no breeze to launch the races. The fleet had to wait almost the whole day for the winds to fill in so that they could actually start racing, but everything
was not according to their wishes. The race committee had to abandon the first race due to the lack of wind.
However, at the conclusion of Day 2, the first-day leader Warwick Rooklyn on his boat Bandit retained the overall leading position with nine points after eight races, including a discard. Meanwhile, Kevin Nixon closed trailing behind the overall standing
leader with 15 points.
The second day started with no breeze at all over the racing area and the race committee had to notify the fleet that they are changing the race course to Course D outside Corio Bay. The crews had to alter their positions and tactics to cope with the new
course.
Due to the lack of wind, the first race could not commence while half of the second race was also abandoned at a time when Bandit was leading the fleet. The third race began with some breeze but it was not strong enough to have a noticeable finish. However,
the winds raised a little to give hope to the fleet with a complete fourth race.
Rooklyn took two bullets on second day’s proceedings and was able to retain his top spot with nine points. Jason McHatton on his Melges 24 one-design boat, Arriba! Arriba! managed to cling to the third place overall with 29 points. He has to work harder
to remain in the top three because Heath Townsend is right behind him with 30 points and can challenge him anytime.
Top 10 standings at the conclusion of Day 2:
1. 814 BANDIT Warwick Rooklyn (3) 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 1, 1 = 9 points
2. 679 ACCRU Kevin Nixon (5) 2, 4, 2, 1, 1, 3, 2 = 15 points
3. 590 ARRIBA! ARRIBA! Jason McHatton 8, 6, 2, (12) 5, 3, 2, 3 = 29 points
4. 709 KAITO Heath Townsend 1, 3, 7, 4, 3, 5, (14 F) 7 = 30 points
5. 553 JESTER 4 Dave Bull 4, 5, 8, 3, 7, 4, (10) 4 = 35 points
6. 133 FOXTROT Dave Alexander 2, 7, 3, 7, 4, 9, 8, (11) = 40 points
7. 19 MATILDA Jim Dargaville 6, 8, 6, 5, (9) 8, 4, 8 = 45 points
8. 686 PLANIT Anthony Passmore 9, (12) 5, 10, 6, 7, 7, 6 = 50 points
9. 815 OUTRAGE-US Gary Shanks (14 O) 4, 9, 9, 8, 10, 6, 12 = 58 points
10. 816 AMIGOS Geoff Fogarty 7, 11, 11, 8, 11, (12) 5, 5 = 58 points
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