Fine battles featured at regatta

The Cockburn Sound Regatta continued in earnest after the Boxing Day events and some fine battles emerged during the competitions.

In division 3, the struggle for supremacy between Need for Speed, sailed by Jacob Birch and Neal Girolamo's Redback was fascinating as it developed.

The same was true in the division 1 fleet, where Walk on the Wild Side, Optimus Prime and Sue Sea made a spectacular sight off the Rockingham beachfront as they blasted around the course.

Some of the world's best kite boarders joined in the regatta, with the title going to Alty Frisby, ahead of second-placed Andrew Cooksley and Andrew Hansen.

The Flying Ant Association held its national championship in conjunction with the regatta, and under the control of national race officer Kim Laurence, ran its invitation race on the first day and continued through to January 3.

First place in the championship went to local lads Jeremy Kaputin and Isaac Pringle sailing Equalizer 2, followed by Luke Phillips and Nick Sfetsos in Ants Pants. Consistency winner was the all-girl pairing of Georgia Payne and Drina Bucktin sailing Voodoo Child.

Graeme and Heather Monkhouse's J122 Lithium dominated the Premier Cruising Division, taking fastest time in every race and winning the division's IRC handicap trophy.

In division 1 IRC, Laurie Flynne's Beneteau 34.7 Dynamic sailed an excellent series to comfortably win from Ryan Binedell's Low Flying Duck. On performance handicap, the popular Max Pallaschi won over Phil Harris' Tiger Shark and Dynamic.

Darryl Brown's Just a Pussy won the Multihull long passage race from line honours winner Whip It, sailed by Greg Hill.

Last year's regatta winner Craig MacDonald's River Run was clearly the fastest boat in the Jib and Main A Division but Rick Hoad's big Beneteau Serendipity enjoyed two handicap wins in succession, a good effort but not good enough to beat the consistent Paralympic champion Graeme Martin, who won the consistency trophy.

In the Jib and Main B fleet, Huckleberry, the S&S 34 sailed by Phil Somerville won ahead of Hillary's Bruce Ellery in Show Me.