Incredible finishes in both division two and Flying Fifteens racing

There was an incredible end to the division two King George Sound race last Saturday when Josh Hughes, skippering Joker, came from well behind to overhaul Stephen Lee’s Flasheart on the finish line to end in a dead heat.

It is an event that seldom happens at Princess Royal Sailing Club and was the talking point post-race in the club house.

That close finish was almost repeated in the Flying Fifteens, when only three seconds separated the two yachts.

Four division two yachts started in their King George Sound event held in a southerly breeze about 15 knots, which did swing around to the west and back again in the latter stages, delivering an advantage to the trailing boats as they were able to move closer to the leaders.

Lee had Flasheart leading the fleet out into the Sound with Hughes in Joker right behind.

Lloyd Pascoe was doing well with Arkessa even without the use of a spinnaker and Stephen Brown in Mary Maitland trying his hardest to stay with them.

After several legs in the Sound, Flasheart was still leading as they entered the harbour for the last legs.

He was way ahead and looking comfortable until the wind shift enabled Joker to suddenly close the gap.

It was full on as these two headed for the finish line.

Joker caught Flasheart on the line to record the almost impossible dead heat.

Joker won on corrected time with Flasheart in second place and both yachts recorded fastest time in the race of the century.

Brown actually made up ground in the wind shift to finish in third place.

Two Flying Fifteens sailed a harbour course and it proved to be a close affair throughout.

Aileen Lucas was doing well with Crazy against her arch rival, Simon Lucas, in FForever Young and led in a merry chase around the harbour marks.

However FForever Young surged to the front and it looked all over as it increased the lead but that wind shift gave the lead back to Crazy and it was cat-and-mouse stuff to the finish line with Aileen Lucas winning by a mere three seconds and recording fastest time in a great entertaining encounter.