Audi Hamilton Island Race Week - Cruising and Non Spinnaker results

by Stephanie Hobbs on 26 Aug 2012 Graham Smith’s Scaramouche built up plenty of points in the early part of Audi Hamilton Island Race Week 2012. This year's Cruising Division 1 winner finished just one point ahead of Sympatico, after posting their worst result in yesterday’s Molles Islands race.

The X-43 from Mooloolaba Yacht Club had mixed results throughout the week, opening strongly with their highest place, a first on day one and finishing with their worst result, a 13th on corrected time on the final day.

Smith said this year’s Race Week was ‘a ton of fun’ and he was ‘very happy with the end result. My crew and I really enjoyed the atmosphere.'

Bryan Dorman’s Beneteau 58, Sympatico, from Sandringham Yacht Club in Victoria finished second. Third place went to the Jeanneau 49 Muir, skippered by brothers Ross and John Muir.

Cruising Division 2

In Division 2 things were not decided right up until the very last day. Scores were neck and neck between Tonic and Ucan’ttakeitwithu but Psycho II, a Bavaria 39 skippered by Philip Bates, slipped by both of them to grab the silverware.

This afternoon Bates hadn’t quite come to terms with the result. ‘I’m over the moon considering it was anyone’s game yesterday.'

The boat’s moniker comes from the Hollywood blockbuster Psycho, with Bates’ surname the name of the motel featured in the horror flick.

John Stuckey’s Ucan’ttakeitwithu was awarded second, while third place went to Tonic, skippered by Robert Pizzie.

Cruising Division 3

Cruising Division 3 results were also up in the air until yesterday’s Molles Islands race decider. In the end Sandstone skippered by Mike Davies took the points, Davies admitting ‘we just scraped in thanks to getting off in quick time right from the start.' The Jeanneau Sunfast is from Geographe Bay Yacht Club, Western Australia.

Andrew Robertson’s Beneteau 31.7 Rex, placed second with 41 points.

Non-spinnaker

The Non-spinnaker Division victory belonged to Les Batchelor’s Temeraire but only just, finishing a point ahead of Stuart Pascoe’s Christina Jay.

Hamilton Island CEO Glenn Bourke highlighted the changes that have made the cruising divisions feel even more welcome at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week.

‘Adopting some new initiatives like an afternoon sausage sizzle and free ice delivered to the cruising boats was the right move. We wanted to make sure that they felt like they were an important part of the regatta, which they are.

‘The new measures for boats berthed on F and G arms are a small give on our part but which make life a lot more comfortable and easy. We’ll continue in that vein going forward.’

Regatta director Denis Thompson has witnessed great racing among the cruising fleet. ‘We’ve been innovative with the courses and I think they’ve enjoyed that and we have sent them to places they haven’t been before and the feedback has been positive.’

‘We are trying to make Race Week as varied and interesting as we can’ Thompson added.

Results here

Video highlights here

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week 2012 website