McLennan Bowls Them Over In Sharpie Championships

Gary McLennan sailing Bowling for Burgers (VIC) won the first heat of the Australian Sharpie Championships hosted by Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron in Victoria as part of Sail Melbourne 2005.

Heat 1 was conducted in a moderate breeze and McLennan, the local boy, won by just under two minutes from Jason Heritage (Gingerbread Man, SA), with Malcolm Higgins (All Scoubed Out, SA) coming home third in the 47 strong fleet.

Race officials at Blairgowrie abandoned Race 2 due to lack of breeze on Port Phillip Bay, but racing gets underway again today, with wind already in the 15-18 knot range, giving officials time to sail the missed race today.

The Sharpies have a seven race series for their Championships which are being sailed on 12-15 nautical mile windward-leeward-triangle courses on Port Phillip.

Four races constitute the series which finishes on January 7th, but Blairgowrie are confident of getting the seven races in.

Provisional top five places:

1 Gary McLennan - Bowling for Burgers VIC)

2 Jason Heritage - Gingerbread Man (SA)

3 Malcolm Higgins - All Scoubed Out (SA)

4 Alan Tidy - Beer and Pizza (WA)

5 Vern Tidy - Blatantly Obvious WA)

For full results go to the official Sail Melbourne website: www.sailmelbourne.com.au

By Di Pearson – Sail Melbourne – phone: 0410 792 131