Schooner rigged TRI wins GLADSTONE Multi trophy for the third time

by Ian Grant on 15 Apr 2001 When Shaun Arber first drew the lines of the radical trimaran Shanda almost 25 years ago many yachties thought the result would be a waste of money.

But now with another ocean classic decided those early critics have again been forced to eat their words when the unusual looking ocean racing craft with three hulls and two masts has outsailed the more expensive and supposedly faster yachts for rated handicap speed.

After winning two races in 1978 and 1981 designer builder Shaun Arber thought the competitive racing days for Shanda were over.

But her present proud owner and noted fresh wind sailor Bruce Weiland has patiently waited for the right moment to prove the 'Old Girl'could still be a winner.

When the first signs of the strong wind warning southeast trades became a reality the old tri then firmed as a possible winner.

The sail plan enables Shanda to produce high speed for a heavy old trimaran and this was proved when she sailed the 308 n-ml course in 28 hours 52 minutes.

Crewman Darren Scholl was impressed with his ride, which also provided him with his first Gladstone race win.

'We had the spinnaker up soon after clearing the Caloundra Fairway and didn't take it down till after the finish'.

'As you can appreciate Shanda is not a real dry boat I was drenched but the ride was worth it'.

Skipper Weiland navigator Jeff Hawley, galley slave Jean Hawley, Lloyd Bradshaw, Allan Stamp, Robert Sherwood and Darren Scholl valued the fast fun ride and the opportunity to wear the Shanda crew shirts with pride at the trophy presentation when they were officially declared the overall race champions.

Shanda built in 1976 increased her market value when she won the OMR and Performance Handicap trophies ahead of the best fleet ever to contest the Multihull class race in the past 38 years.

She finished with the corrected OMR handicap of 21 hours 36 minutes 6 seconds to beat Dave Gemmel's Fastback 43 Bach and Byte and the Mike Shelley helmed Pescott 36 catamaran Time Bandits.

Corrected time were a little closer in the Performance Handicap with Shanda winning the main trophy by 17 minutes ahead of the modified Crowther Windspeed catamaran Multihull Yacht Sales (Phil Day) with Brian Anstee in Predator another 11 minutes away third.