Race 15
The Drummoyne Sailing Club TS16s have a new championship winner: Totally Sinister, skipper Craig Jelfs and crew and owner Neil Bilsborough.
This was the first season on the water for Totally Sinister, Neil’s fourth Sinister (the fifth is currently under construction). Neil is a master carpenter and long-time TS16 sailor at DSC, and Craig has won seven Australian TS16 championships with various Bilsborough family members as crew. The boat, skipper and crew proved a winning combination. Over the first four races of the five race championship series, they scored two firsts and two seconds. They had to come in the first three in Race 15 to secure the championship. Paul Pritchard from Saratoga skippered because Craig was isolating, and Totally Sinister came in a handy third.
Tranquil, Neil Johnson and Brett Pollitt, came second with one win, three seconds and a third. Uncle Norm, Eric Partland and Garry Wills, was third with two wins and three thirds.
It rained all morning before Race 15, but it cleared by the start of the race, which was held in an 8 to 10 knot southerly, with a very strong ebb tide strengthened by run-off from the recent rains.
Totally Sinister was an early leader, followed by Uncle Norm and Tranquil, with the fleet close behind.
Rounding the last mark down at Tarban Creek, the order was Uncle Norm, Totally Sinister and Tranquil. It was a close finish. Uncle Norm crossed first, followed 13 seconds later by Tranquil. Totally Sinister crossed third 42 seconds later.
The entire fleet of nine boats finished in just under six minutes.
The Johnston family won the handicap trifecta. Vinca, Russell and Luke Johnston, was first; Murphy’s Law, David Johnston and Kate Thompson second, and patriarch Ron Johnston with his grandson Ben Speed were third.
Murphy’s Law is leading the season point score, followed by Tranquil and Aeolian, Darren and Kylie Chignell. Totally Sinister is leading the summer point score.
Uncle Norm is leading the Fastest Time pointscore, with Totally Sinister second and Tranquil third.
Three more races are scheduled for the 2021/22 season, which concludes before Easter.
