Bowater Takes a Commanding Lead in the Harken Women’s International Match Racing Regatta

New Zealander Danielle Bowater and her crew of Bianca Cook, Hannah Osborne and Katie de Lange have strengthened their lead in the Harken Women’s International Match Racing Regatta after three round robins to lead by two points. Representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Bowater finished the three round robins with a total of 13 wins and two losses.

Bowater’s only loss today was to Katie Abbott from the host club, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia. Whilst she had a slight lead at the start of the race, Abbott managed to take the lead at the bottom mark and held Bowater out covering each tack she made. Abbott gained further advantage at the top mark and sailed home strongly to take the match, handing Bowater her only loss of the day.

“Today was definitely hard work and being up to weight definitely had its advantages today,” Bowater said. Speaking about her only loss of the day to Abbott, Bowater said “Katie had more pace and out-sailed us in the race.”

Katie Abbott was true to her word – sailing cleaner and building on her performance from day one, finishing the day with 7 wins and two losses to bring her total round robin score to 11-4 and finishing second at the end of the round robin stage.

Abbott’s other close match was against fellow CYCA teammate Amanda Scrivenor with Abbott taking the match by two seconds. Abbott managed to get her nose in front at the top mark. In a stiffening breeze Scrivenor managed to almost run down Abbott as her yacht surfed towards the finish line only to miss out by the narrowest of margins.

“We had some interesting moments on the race course today but we managed to keep the boat going in trying conditions with some excellent crew work,” Abbott said.

After building on her performance from yesterday and securing fourth place at the end of round robin two, one of Kat Stroinovsky’s crew members had to be brought ashore during round robin three with a knee injury. This meant Stroinovksy was scored DNS in her final three matches of round robin three and has been relegated to the minor placing sail-offs tomorrow.

This paved the way for Stephanie Doyle from Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club to move into fourth place at the end of the round robin stage and gain a place in the semi-finals. Doyle will face off against Bowater in one of the semi finals, leaving CYCA training mates Abbott and Scrivenor to battle it out in the remaining semi final.

In the relatively moderate westerly breeze of 10-13 knots, Race Officer Denis Thompson was able to push through the remaining flights of round robin two and complete round robin three, despite a 2.5hrs AP as the westerly built to a gusting 25 knots around 1pm. The breeze moderated at 15-20 knots at approximately 1530hrs when racing was recommenced in the vicinity of Clarke and Shark Island.

Racing will commence at 1015hrs tomorrow with the Bureau of Meteorology predicting west to north westerly of 5 to 10 knots, tending south westerly during the morning, then tending south to south easterly up to 15 knots during the afternoon. Live results will be available on www.cyca.com.au to keep up to date with the finals action.

For Round robin results click on one of the following links:
Round Robin 1
Round Robin 2
Round Robin 3

Overall Round Robin Placing:
1st - Danielle Bowater (RNZYS) 13 wins, 2 loss
2nd - Katie Abbott (CYCA) 11-4
3rd - Amanda Scrivenor (CYCA) 8-7
4th - Stephanie Doyle (RPAYC) 6-9
5th - Kat Stroinovsky (RSYS) 4-11
6th - Anita Trudgen (RPNYC) 3-12

Teams competing:
Amanda Scrivenor, Breanna Hoppe, Shahhzrad Vahebzadeh, Angelique Kear (CYCA - AUS) (ISAF Ranking - 49)
Danielle Bowater, Bianca Cook, Hannah Osborne, Katie de Lange (RNZYS - NZL) (68)
Katie Abbott, Tara McCall, Sophie Lahey, Angela Farrell (CYCA - CAN/AUS) (116)
Anita Trudgeon, Janey Geodhart, Hannah Scott-Mackie, Heather Trudgeon (RPNYC - NZL) (171)
Stephanie Doyle, Elyce McClelland, Georgina Johnstone, Gemma Rasdall (RPAYC - AUS) (249)
Kathleen Stroinovsky, Antonio Watson, Kate Brown (RSYS - AUS) (N/R)

The event will conclude on Friday 25 March when the finals will be conducted. Live results will be available on www.cyca.com.au from the commencement of the round robins.

To follow the event visit the event website: www.cyca.com.au

By Jennifer Crooks for the CYCA (www.cyca.com.au)