Flight Decks
This year the cream of the IRC big boats participating in Skandia Geelong Week were berthed about a ten minute walk away from the Royal Geelong Yacht Club marina on a temporary floating pontoon system at Cunningham Pier. SGW 2008 saw some damage to a few of the bigger boats while berthed in the club marina so the move was for good reason although it was a bit disappointing to have to split them away from the main event.
One benefit to the arrangement was that the wharf to which the pontoons were attached was well elevated above the boats allowing a view you just don’t get at dockside. For those who may interested in such things and because I know photos like these give you major wood, here is a series of images showing the cockpit and deck layouts of some of the latest IRC racers in the world today. Interesting layout differences can be seen with regard to grunt powered vs electric powered winch systems.
The overall winner of SGW 09 Div 1 IRC Audi Series was the new Farr 55 Living Doll for Michael Hiatt from the Royal YC of Victoria, bouncing back from a series of setbacks that have plagued her since her launching in October ‘08. Their program has now come together and they are sailing the boat very well. What might have been for the ‘08 Hobart? – Sportscar.
