Bandit Beats Accru by one point in the Melges 24 East Coast Championships

After six races and  two days of incredibly exciting Melges 24 racing  Bandit  AUS 814 claims the East Coast Championship  over Accru AUS 679 by one point in the Melges 24’s. 

The friendly rivalry between owners  and training partners Warwick Rooklyn Bandit and Kevin Nixon Accru has a long history in 18 ft skiffs.  The team aboard Bandit  Dave O’Connor, Doug McGain, Jay Griffin and Julian Plante took an impressive four bullets over the series and demonstrated slick crew work  and superior downwind speed.

The understated team on Accru sailed consistently throughout the regatta  and were day two winners demonstrating the benefits of teamwork . The entire Nixon Family crew Accru including Kevin’s wife Glenda, son Daniel and daughter Bonnie, another competitor describing  them as the “smiling assassins”  and one to watch at Lake Macquarie in a fortnights time.

The final race of the series gave the Avalon Sailing Club team Amigos  AUS 816 their first regatta race win outsmarting the fleet in shifty conditions with superior local knowledge as a thunderstorm threatened.  Skipper Geoff Fogarty’s instincts took over  as he sniffed out every zephyr on  Pittwater to take the win over Accru. Ex Commodore of Avalon Sailing Club Fogarty drew on experience since sailing Fireballs on Pittwater in the 19 some things.

Taking  third place in the final race and in the series overall Anthony Passmore  Planit  AUS 686.  After chartering a Melges 32 at Hamilton Island Passmore was hooked on Melges and purchased 686 when it returned from the Worlds in Texas.  The East Coast Championships is the first regatta for Planit who proved they are no slouch with three seconds over the weekend.

Thanks to SLAM for sponsoring the Championships and the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club for a great weekends racing and club entertainment.