| PERTH, WA, AUSTRALIA-(8-1-2003) City Motors Holden 2003 International J24 Class Australian ChampionshipFive races have been completed in the J24 Australian Championship being hosted by Royal Perth Yacht Club on the Swan River, Perth Western Australia. The fleet of 18 boats have endured a range of conditions of the first two days from 18-25 knot winds on day 1 to 5-10 knot shifty conditions on day 2. Doug McGain sailing Code Violation from Middle Harbour Yacht Club (NSW) has been the most consistent and leads the championship ahead of Japanese entrant Takumi Nakamura sailing Siesta Team with past two time championship winner Stephen Girdis sailing Convicts Revenge third overall. The Japanese Siesta Team dominated racing on day 1 in the 18-25 knot conditions finishing with two wins in the two races sailed with Code Violation finishing with a 2nd & 3rd place in the respective races. In the lighter conditions on day 2 Code Violation sailed consistently in the shifty conditions to finish with two wins and a 2nd while the Japanese, also sailing well, finished with two 2nd and a 9th. Local boat AUS4763 sailed by Royal Perth Yacht Club member Glenn Tucker is the only other championship heat winner and is currently placed 4th overall. Can McGain and the team from Code Violation continue on with their consistent results and claim their first Australian Championship title or will Girdis claim his third Australian Championship in four years or can the Japanese claim victory on Australian turf? Racing continues Thursday with three championship races scheduled with the final two races to be completed Friday. Lighter conditions are forecast with temperatures around 37C. Progressive results – 5 races completed (no drops, bonus point scoring system used):1. Doug Mcgain, Code Violation, NSW (11.7pts); 2. Takumi Nakamura, Siesta Team, JPN (21.0pts); 3. Stephen Girdis, Convicts Revenge, NSW (39.7pts); 4. Glenn Tucker, AUS4763, WA (48.7pts); 5. Gordon Lucas, Rhythm n Blues, WA (51.0pts).
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