'Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania’s start/finish box at Castray Esplanade, Hobart - Maria Island Race'    Peter Campbell ©    Click Here to view large photo

Hobart yachtsman Rod Jackman tonight set sail in his 40th Maria Island Yacht Race, a remarkable record in that this is only the 60th race conducted by The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania.

Jackman, at the helm of his father’s Davidson 52 Dr Who, quickly set his sights on another victory by winning the start from his 20 opponents off Hobart’s Castray Esplanade.

Within 30 minutes Dr Who had up a commanding lead, running under spinnaker down the River Derwent before a 10-11 knot northerly breeze. 'She is already two miles down the river and pulling away from the opposition,': RYCT sailing manager Leight Brehens said after the 7pm start.

Last year Jackman sailed Dr Who to a triple win – line honours and first on corrected time under both IRC and PHS handicaps. However, this year the fleet is double the size and includes some very competitive 36-footers.

Running astern of Dr Who early this evening was Host Plus, Geoff Cordell’s Mumm 36 while also well placed was David Rees’ Sydney 36 Creative Intention and David Taylor’s Pisces, also a Sydney 36.

Tonight the fleet is expected to encounter a 30 knot south-westerly front as they enter Storm Bay, giving the leaders a fast reach across the bay and around Tasman Island.

However, reports indicate that the northerly wind is still blowing off the East Coast., which could give the fleet a beat up to Maria Island, the elongated island off Orford.

The Maria Island Race is a qualifying ocean race for yachts entering this year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, the Heemskirk Consolidated Melbourne to Hobart Race and the inaugural Clive Peeters Launceston to Hobart Race, the latter two events being part of the Centenary of the Rudder Cup, the first race across Bass Strait and said to be the oldest ocean race in Australia.

David Taylor’s Sydney 36 Pisces in the only yacht entered for the Sydney Hobart, nine are competing in the Melbourne to Hobart, which this year comes down the Tasmanian East Coast and further seven boats will be racing in the Launceston to Hobart event.

The Tasmanian contingent in the Melbourne to Hobart Race is one of the best ever, with great interest in the Rudder Cup Centenary.

Yachts racing in the Melbourne to Hobart and in the Melbourne to Launceston races, which both start from Portsea on 27 December, will be eligible for the Rudder Cup, either finishing or passing through a gate off Low Head at the mouth of the River Tamar.

The Launceston to Hobart Race, conducted by the Tamar Yacht Club and the Derwent Sailing Squadron will start from Low Head on 29 December.

by Peter Campbell