Highs and lows of the ninth Club Marine Brisbane to Keppel Yacht Race

by Lisa Ratcliff on 1 Aug 2015 The ninth edition of the Club Marine Brisbane to Keppel Race is the second slowest on record in terms of line honours and the boat furthest back, Philip Bell’s Olsen 40 called She, is not long past the halfway mark in the pleasant but drawn-out 348 nautical mile race.

Phil Turner’s Alive was guided by a full moon to the finish in the very early hours of this morning and recorded an elapsed course time of one day thirteen hours twenty-nine minutes. Back in the inaugural race in 2007 Peter Goldsworthy’s VO60 Getaway-Sailing set a start-up course time of one day fourteen hours fifteen minutes.

Second finisher was Peter Harburg’s Juan K Black Jack at 5.13am this morning. The crew had a quick hi and bye with those in Alive’s team still awake then dashed to make early flights. It’s a quick turnaround for Black Jack’s delivery crew, strong winds forecast for Tuesday mean they are splitting this afternoon back to Brisbane then it’s off to the office on Monday or in the case of jetsetter Stacey Jackson, back to Europe for her next gig with the Team SCA, the Rolex Fastnet Race. Such is the life of the professional sailor.

Black Jack’s skipper Mark Bradford paid full credit to Alive skipper Duncan Hine and the team. “They didn’t miss an opportunity. We knew pre-race what we were up against and there was nothing we could do to defend against it. They were so fast; there were no tactics to combat the fact that Alive is perfectly moded for seven knots.” And Bradford knows, being a key part of the optimisation when the boat belonged to Peter Harburg.

“We have some work to do to drag the boat down the wind range, to get ready if something like that happen in this year’s Hobart race,” he acknowledged this morning. “We learnt a lot but we were still surprised at the final outcome.”

Bradford steps back on the RP66 in a fortnight as Alive’s tactician for Audi Hamilton Island Race week and the IRC Australian Championship. “Hopefully it’s light” he kidded.

Sam Haynes’ latest Celestial, a TP52, finished third over the line at 13:49:57 or 1.49pm this afternoon, Saturday August one, leaving 21 yachts still racing north from Moreton Bay to Keppel Bay south of Yeppoon on the Queensland’s balmy Capricorn Coast.

Sam Haynes said it was race of highs and lows. “We had a full park for half a watch with the main flopping. Patrice kept compressing on us, we could read their sail number at one point then we extended on them yesterday up the coastline.

“We saw plenty of marine life, a huge mantra ray swimming then another jumped out of the water and did a full aerial, plus the usual whales, dolphins and a couple of sharks. We didn’t get a drop of water on the deck.”

“The crew are fresh and well-rested, there were no grumpy moments due to lack of sleep,” volunteered tactician Steve McConaghy. “It was a pleasant race, everyone worked on their position and we are looking solid for Hamilton Island Race Week.”

A group of 45-50 footers, Tony Kirby’s Ker 46 Patrice (NSW), Bruce Foye’s Rogers 46 the Goat, Alan Breidahl’s RP46 Hartbreaker (VIC) and the VO60 Spirit of Mateship (QLD) are following Celestial making reasonable time in the five - eight knot southerly, then there’s another gap to the next lot of finishers.

Todd Anderson’s Mumm 36 Corum leads IRC and PHS division two and Alive’s grip on the remaining handicap prizes is tightening as each hour passes.

PRO Denis Thompson and Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron Vice Commodore Mark Gallagher are warming up for a long night bringing the fleet in safely and presenting the customary pineapple and case of XXXX beer to each crew, no matter what the hour.

The pressure of catching flights home has triggered more retirements, the latest Lloyds Too Impetuous, Lee-Way and Airstream bringing the total to five from 29 starters. Samurai Jack and Mortgage Choice Rumba retired yesterday.

Fleet numbers are slightly down this year due to the RQYS running their long distance Brisbane to Noumea race last month, with some crews staying on to cruise the area. For the event’s 10th anniversary next year RQYS and finish partner Keppel Bay Marina are working towards a record fleet of 40 yachts.

Each yacht is carrying a Yellow Brick tracking device and can be followed via the official tracking page.