tee found that Irene bad tacked too dose and was disqualified . The score Sweden 3 ; Ausll " alia 2 .
For race six the direction of the wind changed again and the race started in a strength of8 to IOknots from the north-west ( 280 degrees ). During the work
10 the first mark the breeze really feU off and dumped
Irene just slightly south-east of Barrenjoey Head , where the weather mark was laid , with Pacific Highway further north in the estuary area . Australia caught a light nor ' wester first and rounded the mark by 46 seconds . Pacifc Highway continued to increase the margin and at mark 3 led by 3 min 20 sec . A wind change to the north-east ( a change of 130 degrees ) caused the Commitee to relay the weather mark which meant that Australia was able
10 cover Sweden for a working distance of approxi · mately 5 miles . Pacific Highway cruised to the finish with a handy margin of I min 24 sec . The score : Sweden 3 ; Auscralia 3-Newport , Rhode Island revisited !
The start for the final race in this challenge was delayed for one and a half hours because the sea breeu had not filled in , either in direction or in strength . In addition , several general recalls were made for the final beat of the World 5.5 Metre Championships which further delayed the starting time for the 6 metre race .
In a light ENE wind Pel . le won the start by 6 seconds and covered Graham all of the way up the first beat . rounding 55 scwnds ahc • d . Pacific Highway , as usual , on lhe down wind leg reduced this
margin to 19 seconds . However , this was as close as Pacific Highway was to get and Irene , revelling in the moderate sea breeze , increased her margin and won the race by I min 27 sec . The series ; 4 matches
to 3 .
While this regatta wa .~ in progress , the St Francis Yacht Club ' s 6 metre Sr Francis fX , captained by Tom Blackaller , was trjalling inside Pittwater hon · ing the crew work . St Francis IX was designed and built in Sweden by PellePeucrson and is very similar in dimensions and shape to Irene .
Because of the seven-race series in the elimina · tions and one lost day due to a gusty southerly wind , the American Australian International 6 Metre CbaUeoge Cup serie .~ was delayed from Sunday until Monday20January . TomBlackaUerwonthestartby
JO seconds in race number one and in a 10-12 knot
ENE wind both yachts sailed on a starboard tack all of the way to the lay line . This tactic surprised most of the spectators as they had expected a fierce tacking duel to take place from the outset . Perhaps both helmsmen used the long tack for tune up purposes . As it turned out Sr Francis [)( was tuned to perfection and rounded the first mark by I min 52 sec . She continued to increase the margin at each subsequent mark and cruised to a comfortable 3 min 17 sec win . Pelle called a lay day .
On Wednesday heavy rain with thunder and light · oing moved over the course just prior to the starting time . The storm caused a delay of an hour while the Race Commiuee waited for the wind to settle in direction . The course was laid out at 60 degrees and was eventually changed to a direction of 100 degrees . Irene won the start by 17 seconds but was headed by Sr Francis IX about halfway up the first windward leg . St Francis fX led by 17 seconds and gradually increased the margin on the succeeding marks , winning the second heat by I min 30 sec . A southerly change , with rain , came through when the two 6 metre yachts bad entered Pittwater on the way home . It rained and blew hard from the south and these conditions continued throughout the night and all day 111w · sday , c . ausing all races to be abandoned . Friday was no better so two days of racing were lost .
A meeting called by the Race Commiuee and attended by the helmsmen competing in the 5.5 metre Scandinavian Gold Cup and the 6 metre challenge agreed to attempt to sail two i : aces on the Saturday . This was a very ambitious task , particularly in view of the big seas that had developed during the two previous days of 25-30 knot southerly winds . As it turned out the breeze held in direction from the south-casL aL about 10-12 knots with the seas moderating considerably .
In the morning race , the third heat , Irene led Sr Francis TX around the first weather mark by 35 seconds and increased this lead 10 I min 31 sec at the leeward mark and looked all set to take our her first race . However , on the second beat to windward , Tom Blackaller slipped the cover and the wheels fell off Irene which allowed St Francis [)( to take the lead and eventually the race by almost 2 minutes . The afternoon race was sailed in similar weather conditions and Tom Blackaller and crew on St Francis IX hit their sttaps early and never really gave Pel . le and his team much of a chance to catch up . Sr Francis / X ' s winning margin was a little over2 minutes and she was able to become St Francis Yacht Club ' s seventh successful defender of the cup since its inception in 1970 .
There is no doubt that over the years ( since 1908 ) the popularity of the 6 metre yacht has ebbed and flowed . Two things are cett ~ e establishment ·
Some idea of the size of the seas on Wednesday
22 January 1986 during the AmAus chaUenge .
173