Doctor Who shows a clean transom to rivals

by Peter Campbell on 3 Dec 2011 Veteran ocean racing yacht Dr Who, skippered by her equally veteran owner Roger Jackman, showed a clean transom to its younger rivals in today’s Combined Clubs Distance Series race, revelling in the tight reaching course with moderate to strong winds on the River Derwent and Storm Bay.

The New Zealand designed and built Davidson 52 led the monohull fleet around the 27 nautical mile course to Yellow Bluff, on the seaward side of North Bruny, and return, winning the Group 1 IRC handicap category, beaten only by two fast catamarans for line honours and first place in the PHS division.

'We’ve actually just put her on the market after 22 years of racing her in Tasmania and in Sydney Hobart races, ' Jackman said after today’s racing.

'The close reach back from Yellow Bluff in the 15-20 knot SSW breeze, with gusts to 25 knots, was just what she likes.

'She is a powerful boat and we have had some excellent wins in Tasmanian offshore races and also winning the IMS division of the 1990 Sydney Hobart,' he added.

Sailing with Jackman today while on a visit from Queensland was Les Nibbs, who sailed for many years with the late John Bennetto on Mirrabooka.

First home in the 27 nautical mile race to Yellow Bluff and return for Group 1 and 2 were the two catamarans Slingshot (Jean-Pierre Ravanat) and Storm Bay (Stephen Laird) in just under three hours. Slingshot got the gun by 33 seconds from Storm Bay, with Dr Who just over 10 minutes further astern

In the Group 1 PHS results, positions were reversed, with Storm Bay placed first, Slingshot second and Dr Who third on corrected time in Group 1. Dr Who also took out first place in Group 1 IRC, beating Rolex Sydney Hobart Race contender Whistler (David Rees) and the Farr 40 War Games (Wayne Banks-Smith).

Whistler made amends by winning Group 1 AMS from Tony Harman’s Masquerade and Ian Stewart’s Tas Paints. Group 2 AMS went to Trouble (Dave Willans) from Footloose (Stewart Geeves) and Easy Street (Easystreet Syndicate).

Group 2 PHS saw and outright win for Birngana (Errol Pyke) from Forever Young (Rob Nalder) and Trouble.

Group 3 boats sailed a shorter course to a mark off Pearsons Point and return. The little sloop Tihany was last to finish but first on PHS corrected time, winning from Camlet Way (Steve Mannering) and Wyatih (Allan Morgan). Under AMS handicaps, Tihany won from Kaiulani (Malcolm Cooper).

A fleet of 38 boats raced today in what was the third of six races in the Combined Clubs Distance Series, with the next race in early January.