E-Marineworld Skips wins the 34th Warneet around French Island race

E-Marineworld Skips formerly known as Quickskips, have won the Warneet Around French Island Race including handicap and line honours back to back 2009 and 2010.

On Saturday 27th February, 2010, the 34th Warneet around French Island race (WAFIR) was held. This 37 mile race kicked off at 8.30am with 27 monohulls and 7 multihulls competing.

The Multihull yachts all began the race under spinnaker 30 minutes after the Monohulls. It was a slow start, but with a wind change 30 minutes into the race it was kites down. George Bulka was out for a win on his new weapon, a 7.2 metre home made and designed catamaran called Skedaddle, until the wind came up and he just seemed to stop! As he disappeared out the back door bets were had by nearby boats, was the Skedaddle crew putting in a reef in just 15 knots? We will just never know!

The lead changed several times throughout the day with a fight between Daylight Robbery, Chilli and E-Marineworld. First it was Chilli in the lead from Joes Island to Jam Jerrup Point when Daylight Robbery and E-Marineworld pasted him on the western side of French Island. E-Marineworld then crossed in front of Daylight Robbery just before Schnapper Rock.

Then racing between Schnapper Rock and Pelican Point Daylight Robbery snatched back the lead and was in front again. Just before the top mark YBY, E-Marineworld passed Daylight Robbery when Rob handed back the helm to BIG Tony, the spinnakers were all hoisted and it was now a downwind race home. E-Marineworld crossed the finishing line six minutes in front of the Daylight Robbery . The OMR handicap system once again proved its self, with the top five yachts finishing within 12 minutes of each other on corrected time.

Well done to the crew of E-Marineworld – Rob, Chris, Libby, Gail and BIG Tony.