Latest news with #CockoftheHarbour
West Australian
15-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Albany teenager Eden Gray claims coveted Princess Royal Sailing Club title to open winter series
Teenager skipper Eden Gray with his father Benn as crew, upstaged his fancier opponents to win the coveted title of Cock of the Harbour on Saturday. The race had been postponed from the previous Saturday due to the inclement weather and was also heat one of the winter series. The weather was ideal with a steady southerly at around the 14 knot mark which began dropping out towards the end of the race. It was a combined fleet with six boats from division two and Brett Hawker's Jessie James from division one. Hawker began 30 minutes after the division two boats and had the unenviable task of chasing, catching and passing the other six. In the end he passed only one but it was a brilliant sail by the veteran skipper. The start was a little chaotic when three boats broke the line and had to restart and all did quite well to get up with the others. Eden Gray, 14, in Flying Flounder was the early leader and opened up a handy lead which he held for the major part of the harbour course event. Chris Oldham had Joker moving well after a tardy start. Stephen Brown was also doing well in the early stages and having a great tussle with Stephen Lee in Flasheart. Peter Bane in Dunluce who also had to restart was engaged in his battle with Mark McRae in Sicarius and both were trailing the fleet. Meanwhile Jessie James had started and was bridging the gap in no uncertain manner. Joker found some good air and was able to pass the leading Flying Flounder and took front position where it stayed to the finish. Flasheart now chased the Flounder to the finish line passing Mary Maitland on the way. Jessie James had done well to catch one boat and recorded the fastest time in a show of force. The results were Flying Flounder first, and Joker second and fastest in division two with Mary Maitland in third place. Heat two of the winter series will be conducted this Saturday with the early start at 1.30pm.
West Australian
08-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Zuri skipper Neil Worrell takes home swag of silver at Princess Royal Sailing Club trophy night
The Princess Royal Sailing Club held its annual trophy night on Saturday, despite unfavourable weather conditions forcing the cancellation of the last race of the season. Due to Saturday's weather not being conducive to sailing the Cock of the Harbour race, it was decided to hold the event on May 10. However, trophy night went ahead as planned and a full clubhouse of members and families watched on as dozens of coveted trophies were handed to the proud recipients. No prouder and very humble was division two skipper of Zuri, Neil Worrell, who scooped the pool by winning a table full of silverware, mainly on handicap wins. His faithful Zuri may not have been the quickest yacht in the fleet but always managed to sail to its handicap and reaped the rewards. Stephen Brown, another division two skipper who hardly missed a race also took home a heap of trophies with Mary Maitland and a dedicated crew, in particular Grant Tickell. Peter Bane, also from division two and skipper of Dunluce, was tickled pink with his winning the prestigious Dymes Cup and his only trophy of the night. Aileen and Simon Lucas shared most of the spoils in the Flying Fifteen fleet. Both skippers dominated in their fleet and have proved to be the ones to beat.
West Australian
02-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Flasheart in good form but outshone by Jessie James in combined fleet harbour handicap
Four division two yachts and a sole division one boat formed a combined fleet for a flying start handicap harbour course race across Princess Royal Harbour on Saturday. The race was held in a gentle southwest wind that ranged from five to 10 knots throughout, but stayed strong enough for all yachts to complete the course. Stephen Lee hoisted a spinnaker seconds after the start, taking everyone by surprise as he slipped to the lead for the first two legs before Brett Hawker in Jessie James cruised to the front, where he stayed for the duration. Neil Worrell was again sporting a huge spinnaker on Zuri and stayed in touch early in the event. Peter Bane was away smartly with Dunluce but, opting to go JAM, was found wanting and trailed the fleet. Chris Oldham took a while to get going and unfortunately had to retire midway through the race with a crew member feeling unwell. Flasheart was able to put pressure on the larger Jessie James, which increased its lead to finish first and be declared the winner in the combined fleet, with Flasheart in second place in a mighty effort. Zuri finished in third place well in front of Dunluce. In the division two results, Flasheart was first and fastest, with Zuri easily second and Dunluce getting third place points. This weekend will be the Cock of the Harbour race and the final race for the autumn series.
