The vice-grip on Neville Crichton’s Maserati crew unexpectedly loosened when the umpire nabbed the chasing Marcus Blackmore’s Hooligan in the penultimate race of the MC38 season’s Act 4 on Sydney Harbour.
A point separated the duelling pair before Hooligan‘s disqualification for failing to complete a penalty turn at the umpire’s signal, the same reason Shaun Lane and Quentin Stewart’s Lazy Dog from Middle Harbour Yacht Club was rubbed out of a busy race six.
Carrying a costly eight points moved Hooligan back to third going into race seven and a follow-up win gave them a silver medal finish. Maserati (Cruising Yacht Club of Australia), meanwhile, was able to freewheel to victory with a second place to finish the September 29-30, 2018 series five points clear.
John Bacon’s Dark Star (Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club) finished third overall.
Pic – Dark Star (RPAYC) 3rd overall – photo © Tilly Lock Media