Skipper – Neil Bilsborough (right) and Crew – Dennis McDermott
Race 3
Ultimately Sinister’s skipper, Neil Bilsborough, reckons his win in the first championship of the 2019/20 season was one of the better races he has had for some time. It was also one of the closest finishes he has ever had.
Neil has been sailing at DSC in the TS16s since 1977. Few, if any, have sailed longer at DSC than his crew, Denis McDermott who first sailed VJs at Drummoyne 63 years ago. The pair have sailed together in Ultimately Sinister since Neil built it, half a dozen seasons ago.
Neil thinks he won the start, but from then on he remained within three or four boat lengths of last season’s championship winner, Tranquil, skipper Neil Johnson and crew Brett Pollitt.
Tranquil increased its lead on the last round, beating Ultimately Sinister to the top mark before the finish by six or seven boat lengths. But Ultimately Sinister, under its championship sails which Neil only rigs on special occasions, gradually caught up on the final downwind leg. Ultimately Sinister just got ahead on the jibe before the finish, and crossed the finish line one second before Tranquil.
