Ocean Thunder Boat Series Rd 3
Saturday 14th January 2012 round three of the Schick Hydro Ocean Thunder series was held in small, yet testing surf conditions on Sydney's Dee Why Beach.
The Men's morning preliminary rounds saw series leader Culligan Water (Bilgola) again dominate with Reilly and Sons Food Services/Mammoth (Bungan Beach) also impressive, both winning five of their six rounds. Southern Fasteners (North Cronulla), Taste Living (Dee Why), Sheldon Office Fitouts (Newport), Australian Cable Tray Systems (Manly), Dial Before You Dig (Mona Vale), Enware Australia (Elouera), Schick Hydro (Bronte), St George Leagues Club (Bulli), Stockland (Currumbin), Creffields Digitial Printing (Lorne), Starret (Batemans Bay), The Beach Club Hahn Super Dry (Collaroy), West Surfing (Cottesloe) and Bisley Workwear (South Maroubra) qualifying for the finals. Westrac (North Cottesloe) and Energy Australia (Wollongong City) missing out on a countback.
The Men's final saw a possible changing of the guard with a number of crews in their maiden Ocean Thunder final which was contested by Taste Living (Dee Why), Culligan Water (Bilgola), St George Leagues Club (Bulli), Southern Fasteners (North Cronulla), Sheldon Office Fitouts (Newport) and Starret (Batemans Bay). Series heavyweights, Dial Before U Dig (Mona Vale), Australian Cable Tray Systems (Manly) and Reilly and Sons Food Services/ Mammoth (Bungan Beach) all missing the final.
The double race Mens final saw unbeaten series leader Culligan Water (Bilgola) lead going in to the second race before being overtaken by Southern Fasteners (North Cronulla) in an awesome display of power rowing, Southern Fasteners (North Cronulla) went into the final turning can with a two boat length lead which they extended for a comfortable win. Culligan Water (Bilgola) finished in second place to maintaining their stranglehold on the series pointscore with Taste Living (Dee Why) coming in third sport in front of Sheldon Office Fitouts (Newport), Starret (Batemans Bay) and St George Leagues Club (Bulli).
In summary our guys put in another consistent performance, over 9 preliminary rounds including 6 round robin and 3 elimination races, the St George Leagues Club Bulli crew finished with 1 x 4th, 6 x 2nd’ and 2 x 1st placings. The crew winning their semi final putting them into the 6 boat, double race final. After the first leg, the crew were lying in 3rd position and hit some bad luck in the transition landing in a washing machine, rip affected course back out to sea for the second leg. They grunted their way back to 3rd, almost getting to 2nd only to be caught from behind by crews on swells. Heading back into the rip didn’t help either but not a lot of options on the return journey. But hey that’s Surf! It was left to the run up the beach with all 5 crews going for the minor podium positions leading their runners out in 1 line. Unfortunately, we touched in 6th. A great effort by our guys & with one round remaining are currently sitting in 6th position, 2 points from 3rd spot overall.
1 Culligan Water Bilgola 35
2 Southern Fasteners North Cronulla 28
3 Dial Before You Dig Mona Vale 26
4 Australian Cable Tray Systems Manly 26
5 Reilly and Son's Food Services/Mammoth Bungan Beach 26
6 St George Leagues Club Bulli 24