Tight finish expected as race week enters final days

RACE WEEK

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A tight finish is predicted tomorrow as the Port Douglas Race Week draws to a close. IMAGE: Robyn Shelley.

THE Quicksilver Port Douglas Race Week is heading into its final days and the Division 1 Performance Handicap is still anyone’s race.

After the halfway mark of the top prize is still being fiercely contested. Racing resumes today with the regatta set to finish on Saturday.


At the end of the opening day it was Frank and Wendy Brace's Sydney 36cr Impulse in the lead.

However, fortunes changed for the Cairns based boat on the second day with the Farr Phase 4 Volare 1, skippered by Neil Robson and Frances Westley, taking the lead after a damp passage race around Snapper Island with a hefty beat to Low Isles and back to the line. Splitting the field between first and second day's leaders was the Beneteau 42s7 Yes skippered by John Pool also from Cairns.

The gloomy conditions didn't deter the fleet as they streamed toward Snapper with kites throwing splashes of colour against the grey, and similar conditions are expected this morning.

Port Douglas favourite Lady Mystique enjoyed a fabulous opening two days of racing in the Division 2 Performance Handicap (NO spinnakers or Code Zeros).

Skippered by Helen and Mick Gwilliams, the Beneteau 440 is shaping up as the vessel to beat after some superb sailing by her skippers and crew. Another PDYC boat Alf Fowler's Ka Pai closely followed by Royal Geelong Yacht Club's Sapphire of London by Grant Stquentin are also in the frame.

The Division 4 sports boats have been sorting themselves nicely and several boats are in contention to take the title.


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