By Ian Grant.
Rod Sawyer’s Surefoot left another imprint in their claim to become the pacesetter in Whitsunday Sailing Club events on Pioneer Bay following their convincing win in the 2010 Airlie Sails trophy.
Surefoot now considered to be racing in the twilight of her career has the distinction of proving her boat speed against the best IOR class racing yachts at the highest level.
Since her launching almost three decades ago the 11.5 m sloop created from the drawing board of Swedish naval architect Peter Norlin to race in the 1983 Champagne Mumm Admirals Cup in England has some impressive results in her log book.
Besides representing the Royal Papua Yacht Club at the Admirals Cup and proudly flying her battle flag in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race and winning the West Australian Blue Water racing championship Surefoot also has the distinction of placing third in the 1987 Brisbane to Gladstone race.
Surefoot matched her larger rivals Seller’s Witchcraft ll (Bob Robertson) and The Gambler (Ian Kenny) in what proved to be a close tactical race to decide the overall winner of the prestigious 308 n/ml Queensland blue water classic.
She was well in the mix after weathering Lady Elliot Island however the match race between Bob Robertson and Ian Kenny steering the almost identical Farr 40 class sloops ultimately favoured them with Seller’s Witchcraft ll winning with a 1.076 seconds per n/ml speed advantage over The Gambler and 2.16 seconds per n/ml faster than Surefoot.
However Surefoot has continued on racing celebrating the start of her 28 year by scoring a two point win in the four race competition to decide the 2010 Airlie Sails Trophy over the tactical demanding Whitsunday Sailing Club courses.
Her proud owner skipper Rod Sawyer who is no slouch when he becomes embroiled in protecting his reputation as a smart tactician had to produce something special when he and Surefoot started the series with a below par 4-5 in the opening races.
But the Surefoot crew responded to produce the required all angle sailing speed to register an important win in race 3 to lead the series into the final.
Rod Sawyer had sailed far too many races to accept that the final would be another pleasant sail on Pioneer Bay and wisely paid special attention to racing Surefoot in uncontested space while Terry Archer steered Questionable Logic to another comfortable line honours win.
However the Surefoot crew became relatively confident of sealing the series win when they finished second fastest leaving the lower handicapped Sandpiper (Colin Pruden) and Queensland Marine Services (John Galloway) with the challenge to better Surefoot’s corrected handicap.
Sandpiper rating .758 sailed the final leg of the course with consistent speed in the 12 knot breeze to push provisional final race leader Surefoot into second place when Colin Pruden snatched a close five second win leaving Surefoot to still win the series with a score of 4-5-1-2 while Sandpiper 2-7-4-1 and Queensland Marine Services 5-2-6-3 filled the minor places.