Lowana Five crew celebrate BIA Trailerable Yacht Series win

Australia Day celebrations had to be put on hold for the divisions still battling for their final share of the silverware on offer at the 166th edition of the Royal Yacht Club of Geelong’s Audi Victoria Week, which wrapped up today on Corio Bay.

Simon Vaughan’s RL24 Lowana Five, sailing just three up, this afternoon clinched the BIA Trailerable Yacht Series despite scoring their worst result for the six race series. Their score of 6.5 for today’s race was one of two dropped races, leaving them with a final tally of 10 points.
 
It was a tense morning for the Sydney crew with Herman Van Ree’s Noelex 25 Executive Suite still a threat going into the final day. They finished better placed than Lowana Five in today’s race but it wasn’t enough to snaffle the win from Vaughan, who has led since the opening day of competition last Saturday.

Executive Suite finished the series on 12 points and David Allan’s Masram 720 What a Life placed third on 16 points.

“We can finally relax,” said Vaughan this afternoon as he was preparing for the long tow back to Sydney. “This is our best result so far; we also finished third at the nationals in December at Lake Macquarie.”

On today’s conditions, Vaughan found them testing, as most did.

Lowana Five got off the start line with speed and was the first to hoist a spinnaker, the 24 footer skipping out in front of the chasing pack.
 
Peter Kalin’s Noelex 25 Plane Sailing, which was second on the pointscore going into the final race but out of the running for the overall trophy, was late for the start but managed to finish fourth today in the 13 boat fleet on corrected time.

As Lowana Five approached the first turning mark, Phil Clements’ Rum Runner was the closest to their stern, just three boat lengths the difference.

While the grand prix IRC fleet circled, awaiting the start of their deciding event, a fierce battle was unfolding nearby amongst the trailerable yachts.

Then the breeze died off completely, closing up the fleet and stopping them in their tracks until a new breeze settled in and built to a peak 20 knots out of the south west.

“The series was good fun,” added Vaughan. As good as the win is the fact Vaughan has now qualified for a place at next year’s Audi King of the Docklands event and a chance at the major prize, a luxury Audi car.

For all the reports and to view images, video and full results go to: www.victoriaweek.com

Lisa Ratcliff, Audi Victoria Week media