After last Sunday’s Long River race results were published where river race magician Teddy Clausen’s
Cool Change recorded another river race victory, many were questioning “How does he do it?”. Cool
Change has five series victories in the seventeen races contested so far and only rarely fails to
podium.
Last Sunday with a crew comprising, a couple returning friends renewing former acquaintance with
Cool Change, and a sailor new to the club, Cool Change pulled off an improbable victory, after
starting mid fleet, and watching Stuart Watson’s Solar Coaster shoot to the lead after brilliantly
winning the start.
Solar Coaster was pursued across the line by Enticer, travelling at speed from mid fleet, while Tribal
Wave and Katherine were leaders of the mid fleet.
Showing blistering speed off the line, although mid fleet at the start, the sleek Enticer was soon
able to find the lead, and in a race sailed in three sections was clearly in front at the Hibbard Ferry.
Solar Coaster followed, and, largely thanks to her excellent start, just pipped light airs specialist Zig
Zag.
The Hibbard to the top mark and return journey again saw some yachts deploy spinnakers while
other skippers elected to goose wing their sails on the downwind leg. Overall, on this leg, Enticer
took line honours, with Zig Zag revelling in the conditions, turning tables on Solar Coaster, which
came home about 300 meters in arrears of Zig Zag at the end of the section.
The first grouping had best use of a dying breeze over the final section from the Hibbard ferry to the
Settlement Point finish line with the order over the line being Enticer, Zig Zag, Solar Coaster, Cool
Change, Third Man, Katherine and Tribal Wave.
After the application of handicaps river race shaman Teddy Clausen found yet another victory, with
Solar Coaster taking a well deserved second place, and Third Man taking the final podium. Cool
Change continues to lead the river series from Enticer in second place and Solar Coaster third.