Murray Title Bid Still Alive

The Sun Herald

Sunday January 17, 1993

SYDNEY'S world renowned America's Cup sailor, Iain Murray has survived a protest at Queensland's Mooloolaba Yacht Club to keep his Carlton Australian Etchells championship prospects alive.

Murray, a former class world champion, is under threat to finish as the best Australian in the highly competitive championship after recording a mediocre 10-18 score in the first two heats of the series.

The protest followed a spirited buoy rounding incident between Murray's sloop, North Sydney Station, and the Queensland skipper, Rob White, in Manly Express.

It had the potential to end the Sydney champion's title chances.

However, Murray, and his sheethand-tactician, Peter Gilmour who have experienced similar protests before in America's Cup and world match racing, presented the perfect defense last Friday night and the protest was dismissed

Murray, totally realises he will need to apply his super sailing skill to haul back into the title after North Sydney Station was outpaced on the course in the first two races.

His major rival, the ace American helmsman Dennis Connor, produced brilliant match racing tactics at the helm of Menace X11 to score a narrow 12 second win over fellow American, Jud Smith, in Friday's heat.

But Connor and his very talented Australian crew of Michael Coxon and Steve Jarvin have been upstaged by the lesser known crew of Peter McNeill, Bill Wawn and Kim Sheridan from the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club in Sydney.

The Pittwater combination have been remarkedly consistent in the intense close racing series to pilot the impressive Paper Tiger 2 into the progressive championship lead with a 2-3 scoreline in the two heats which have been supreme light wind sailing tests.

Their three point lead over Menace X11 (6-1) and Smith's Rebellious Lady(8-2) will come under threat on the course today as a stronger wind system is forecast.

Both Connor and Smith spent yesterday's lay day evaluating the wind and sea conditions in an extensive boat-on-boat match racing session while McNeill's crew relaxed on shore.

They were also joined by Murray's North Sydney Station, who was anxious to test his speed after some important overnight mast modifications.

This type of dedication could provide the difference in the critical third race of the championship off Mooloolaba today.

Connor renowned as one of the world's smartest and most successful yacht racing tacticians has improved his placings in each race and naturally he will be aiming at scoring another heat win to overtake McNeill on the title score.

But first he and the Menace X11 crew will have to master a perfect start over the strong group of Australians in the 48 boat fleet who have the intention to make it real tough for the American crews.

They will also have to make sure that the smooth sailing Paper Tiger 2 does not gain any clear wind and water advantage otherwise, the American's may be forced to look at her speed sailing wake in what promises to be another very exciting championship heat.

© 1993 The Sun Herald

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