Albany teenager Eden Gray claims coveted Princess Royal Sailing Club title to open winter series

Teenager skipper Eden Gray with his father Benn as crew, upstaged his fancier opponents to win the coveted title of Cock of the Harbour on Saturday.

The race had been postponed from the previous Saturday due to the inclement weather and was also heat one of the winter series.

The weather was ideal with a steady southerly at around the 14 knot mark which began dropping out towards the end of the race.

It was a combined fleet with six boats from division two and Brett Hawker’s Jessie James from division one.

Hawker began 30 minutes after the division two boats and had the unenviable task of chasing, catching and passing the other six.

In the end he passed only one but it was a brilliant sail by the veteran skipper.

The start was a little chaotic when three boats broke the line and had to restart and all did quite well to get up with the others.

Eden Gray, 14, in Flying Flounder was the early leader and opened up a handy lead which he held for the major part of the harbour course event.

Chris Oldham had Joker moving well after a tardy start.

Stephen Brown was also doing well in the early stages and having a great tussle with Stephen Lee in Flasheart.

Peter Bane in Dunluce who also had to restart was engaged in his battle with Mark McRae in Sicarius and both were trailing the fleet.

Meanwhile Jessie James had started and was bridging the gap in no uncertain manner.

Joker found some good air and was able to pass the leading Flying Flounder and took front position where it stayed to the finish.

Flasheart now chased the Flounder to the finish line passing Mary Maitland on the way.

Jessie James had done well to catch one boat and recorded the fastest time in a show of force.

The results were Flying Flounder first, and Joker second and fastest in division two with Mary Maitland in third place.

Heat two of the winter series will be conducted this Saturday with the early start at 1.30pm.