Ricochet, who claimed a win in race one of the Waikawa Boating Club’s Evolution Sails Summer Short Handed Series on Sunday.

Ricochet and Bavaria engaged in a tussle, with Ricochet skipper Pip Maslen getting his yacht in front and scoring a win in race one of the Evolution Sails Summer Short Handed Series on Sunday.

Four races will be contested in the latest Waikawa Boating Club series, one a month until April, with only two sailors aboard each yacht.

Maslen was sailing with Jimmy Swanson, who the skipper said was “a very good tactician”. On a day where winds were patchy and between five and 15 knots, he needed to be.

The pair had Ricochet’s bow even with Bavaria’s stern as they yachts duelled up to Perano Shoal during the race in the Marlborough Sounds. By the time the boats rounded the Shoal, Bavaria’s bow was at Ricochet’s stern and Maslen and Swanson snuck their boat around the mark narrowly in front.

Ricochet went on to finish around two minutes ahead of Bavaria, but were only fifth of the seven yachts across the line. After handicaps they claimed the win by more than a minute though. Dave Paul skippered Sirrah to second place, Slingshot took line honours but was third and Bavaria fourth, the three boats separated by only 25 seconds.

The next race in the series is on February 28.

Top five from race one of the Evolution Sails Summer Short Handed Series

1 Ricochet, 2 Sirrah, 3 Slingshot, 4 Bavaria, 5 Settimio. Line Honours: Slingshot.

 – Stuff

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