Feb 19 - Ichi Ban wins Alfa Romeo Farr 40 Sprint Series

Matt Allen and his crew on Ichi Ban have taken home the Alfa Romeo Farr 40 Sprint Series which was raced this weekend in Sydney. Racing off Sydney heads on Saturday proved to be a testing one for everyone with a very light shifty Nor‚ East breeze that topped eight knots, making hard work for the four races.

Each of the four completed races of the day had different winners with Ichi Ban taking the first race of the series. Don Telford's Rushcutter took out race two and Lang Walker's Kokomo took the honours in race three. New Zealand's Brett Neill and his team on the recently renamed White Cloud took the win in race four of the series with the race committee deciding to abandon race five due to a dying breeze. Telford's Rushcutter led the pointscore after the first day of racing with Ivan Wheen's Sputnik one point behind and on equal points with Richard Perini's Evolution who rounded out the top three after a long day on the water.

Day two and racing was on the world famous Sydney Harbour along with its famous harbour traffic. Sydney ferries, container ships, Spirit of Tasmania ferries and even an Australian Navy warship made for interesting sailing with a few Farr 40 crews having a couple of rather close encounters. The 10 knot sou‚easter had the windward leeward course set from Taylor's Bay on the harbour's north shore into Rose Bay with Shark Island acting as a backdrop for the top mark roundings.

Leon Christianakis's Cydon improved on their day one results to take out races six and seven. Race eight of the series was convincingly won by Michael Milne's Blacksnake with overall series winner Ichi Ban winning the final two races of the series to take home the trophy.

"It was great to have a win this weekend and we are looking forward to the next two events. The racing was close and hard fought over the weekend and every win was earnt by each crew," commented Allen after racing.

The next event for the Australian Farr 40 fleet will be the Inner Circle Rum Farr 40 regatta February 25 and 26 at Royal Price Alfred Yacht Club on Sydney's Pittwater. The final event for the 2005 -2006 Australian schedule will be the Hamilton Island Farr 40 Australian Championship being held March 3-5. Also being decided will be the winner of the Australian Farr 40 Circuit point score for 2005-2006.

Final Results:

1 Ichi Ban Matt Allen (CYCA) 39
2 Rushcutter Don Telford (CYCA) 40
3 Cydon Leon Christianakis (RSYS) 42
4 Evolution Richard Perini (RSYS) 42
5 Kokomo Lang Walker (CYCA) 48
6 Quantum Racing Ray Roberts (CYCA) 50
7 Sputnik Ivan Wheen(RSYS) 54
8 Black Snake Michael Milne(RSYS) 55
9 White Cloud Brett Neill (NZL) 61
10 War Games David Urry (CYCSA) 67

For more information check the class website at www.farr40.org or contact Sam Crichton email \n // -->This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ph +61 (0)407 63 64 16