Baltic wins Performance Handicap trophy

by Ian Grant on 9 Apr 2007 Moreton Bay Boat Club skipper Denis Lever will be the toast of his Club when Baltic sails back into her Scarborough Marina berth with a major prize safely stowed in the skipper’s locker.

The Strathpine sailor who has had a personal passion for sailing on the open waters of Moreton Bay, lined up with the 53 yacht fleet for his first test of ocean racing when the 59th Brisbane to Gladstone Race started from Sandgate at 11 am on Good Friday.

Lever who is exceptionally proud of his Bavaria 38 fractional-rig sloop Baltic, was understandably a little uncertain of where they would finish as the Baltic crew were venturing into a totally different challenge.

When he lodged his race entry with Queensland Cruising Yacht Club officials, his only comment was 'Wish us luck in our first Brisbane to Gladstone.'

His wish was answered when the Baltic crew battled against 35 knot winds and rough seas for 39 hours 54 minutes 36 seconds before they reached the calm water finish line in Gladstone’s busy commercial harbour.

The Baltic crew deserved to be proud of finishing a race which produced numerous reports of wild uncontrolled broaches, equally frightening wipe outs and spinnaker blowouts.

As expected they welcomed the chance to have a warm shower after spending almost 40 hours at sea experiencing numerous cold salt water showers, as Baltic sailed on her course piloted by a crew of Gladstone race rookies.

They were just happy to finish and (Scott Patrick).

Fraser Coast Boating, navigated by 40 Gladstone race veteran Ross Jones appeared set to win the Performance Handicap Class trophy when they finished almost five hours earlier, but the Baltic crew sailed well with in their handicap rating to claim a special victory winning the class trophy by more than an hour on corrected time from Fraser Coast Boating and the famed Wistari.