Double to new Secret Mens Business

by Peter Campbell on 28 Nov 2004 South Australia’s newest ocean racing yacht, Geoff Boettcher’s Secret Mens Business, qualified for the 60th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race over the weekend with a double victory in the Haystack Island Race.

It was the new boat's offshore racing debut.

Conducted by the Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia, the 200 nautical mile Haystack Island Race was the final qualifier for the Rolex Sydney Hobart which starts just four weeks from today.

Secret Mens Business, a Reichel/Pugh 46 which features a trim tab on the trailing edge of her deep bulb keel, took line honours and provisional first place on IRC corrected time from another South Australian entrant in the Rolex Sydney Hobart, Gary Shanks 56-footer, Pale Ale Rager.

Secret Mens Business has impressed Adelaide yachtsmen with her boatspeed in varying winds since being launched two weeks ago. She made her racing debut in the five race Premier’s Cup sailed in winds of 20-30 knots but the Haystack Island was sailed in light to moderate breezes.

The race started last Friday evening in a 5 knot easterly breeze. Conditions did not improve for the first 12 hours but a south-westerly change ranging from 15-20 knots helped most of the fleet get around Haystack Island.

The change did not last for long and the legs from Haystack to Beatrice Island, then back up the Gulf to the finish proved frustrating for all competitors.

Secret Mens Business took line honours with an elapsed time of 28 hours 8 minutes 28 seconds, seven hours slower than the 2003 race. Thirtynine minutes astern of Secret Mens Business came Pale Ale Rager, with four hours back to the 50-footers G-Wizz (Greg Patten) and Santana II (Ivan Samarzia)

Provisional IRC results have placed Secret Mens Business in first place by 1 hour 4 minutes and 8 second from Pale Ale Rager. Complete results will not be announced until Monday. – David Evans