Audi Hamilton Island Race Week – The joys of a level playing field

by Crosbie Lorimer on 16 Aug 2015 Most Audi Hamilton Island Race Week regulars know the weather gods have lulled its fleet into a false sense of security over recent years. For almost five years, day one has gifted crews a quiet introduction to the regatta; head out into Dent Passage, hoist your largest spinnaker and glide down Dent Passage.

But not in 2015!

This year’s Race Week started with a bang.

Class after class headed downwind at handsome speeds and more than a few crews in the IRC and Cruising divisions ran a very fine line between controlled speed and a major round-up, when boats ended up on the wrong side of the wind versus tide equation.

For many sailors from the southern states who take a break from racing for much of the winter, Race Week’s day one conditions proved a rather rude awakening. But, for one section of the fleet, maintaining control seemed deceptively effortless.

The 40 multihulls that make up two divisions of cruisers and racers at this year’s regatta are as varied as the crews that sail them; but whether a luxurious live-aboard or a wiry turbo-charged flyer, all multihulls share one trait not found on a monohull - life is lived on the level.

Be it racing at 20 knots or cruising at five, a multihull’s mast rarely passes twenty degrees from the vertical, and that’s a large part of the appeal for many in the growing multihull community.

“They’re just a joy to sail,” said John Sticklan, skipper of Glenn Rutherford’s impressive Earthling as he worked on some minor winch maintenance after today’s 23 nautical mile Molle Islands race.

“Let me demonstrate” said his crew mate Paul as he moved to the helm position.“Ready to tack”, he said, placing his beer bottle on the seat beside the helm and steering the wheel through a simulated tack.

Completing the ‘tack’, picking up his bottle and taking a swig Paul quipped “Beer’s still there. Won’t find that on a monohull!”, he added with a smile.

Andrew Stransky’s self-built Fantasia nosed out Wayne Bloomer’s Chillpill for pole position in the Multihull Racing division, while Michael Griffiths’ Bundalong topped the podium, with Alan Hunter’s Talisker taking second in the Cruising Multihull division.