Airlie Beach Wednesday August 17 2011.
World champion helmsman Peter Sorensen has steered The Philosophers Club to a narrow 3 point lead in the Grand Prix IRC Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach class championship.
Both skipper Peter Sorensen and his crew of Middle Harbour Yacht Club sailors suffered an unexpected slump in form to become engaged in a nip-n-tuck struggle for the title with the equally well sailed Victorian X35 the Rob Davis skippered Nutcracker.
“Our form in the lighter winds has never been that impressive and our results of a 4-6 placed us in damage control”. Sorensen said.
But The Philosophers Club crew fought back to control the championship following their win in race five over their Sydney club rival Wailea helmed by Neil Padden and the Lake Macquarie sloop Iota ( John McNamara).
‘Naturally The Philosophers Club a ‘tweaked’ Sydney 36 cruiser racer produces her best results when there is some grunt in the breeze and the conditions were just perfect” a happier Peter Sorensen said.
They were just too smart and fast recording a comfortable 4 minute 24 second corrected handicap win to take control of the progressive championship point score while Nutcracker continued to remain engaged in a spirited tactical ‘dog fight’ with Wailea for second.
However while The Philosophers Club crew head into the final race with a comfortable lead skipper Peter Sorensen was in no hurry to prepare a victory speech.
There is still one race to go and there is a strong possibility that the forecast of a fading trade wind will present The Philosophers Club with a challenge to win the championship.
The Philosophers Club with her relatively consistent 1-1-6-4-1-3 score is still required to apply a tactical cover on Nutcracker in the final race while today’s winner Brilliant Pearl skippered by Gary McCarthy from Mooloolaba has entered a tight race to decide the minor places.
Results Race 6 Pine Islands 34 n/mls corrected Hcp: Brilliant Pearl (Gary McCarthy, Qld) 1, Bobby D (Ross Winterbourne, Qld) 2, The Philosophers Club (Peter Sorensen, NSW) 3. Margins 2-32 , 17 sec. Progressive Pts: The Philosophers Club 1-1-(6)-4-1-3 10 pts 1, Nutcracker Rob Davis, Vic) (5)-5-1-1-4-4 15pts 2, Brilliant Pearl (7)-3-3-2-7-1 16pts 3.