PJ Mini Series Regatta provides perfect sailing conditions

by Steve Price on 19 Nov 2013 Sandy Bay Sailing Club’s annual PJ Mini Series wrapped up on Sunday after two great days of racing on Hobart’s Derwent River. Over 80 off the beach dinghies, catamarans and windsurfers contested the seven race series with a light morning SE breeze replaced by a freshening sea breeze on both days providing perfect sailing conditions.

In the Open Optimist Rupert Hamilton (9) took first place ahead of Alice Buchanan (21.5) and Charlie Zeeman (23) while in the Green Fleet Optimist Elliot Salter prevailed ahead of Lovett Taylor Smith and Dimos Yannarakis. The International Cadet fleet was a closely fought affair with recent Australian representative Sam Able partnering with reigning National Champion Hugo Allison in Phoenix to win by one point from Angus Price and Archie Ibbott (Little Devil) with Silas Hamilton and Ethan Galbraith (Executioner) a further point back in third.

The Royal Yacht Club’s Sam King again showed his dominance in the Sabot fleet in a clean sweep taking seven bullets. Joshua Ragg finished second on 14pts followed by Fraser Marshall in third on 18pts. The Flying Elevens went a similar way with Max Cottier sailing Hard Drive taking five bullets to win over Finlay Crisp in Wedgewood and Tom Males in Power Steering. The 4.7 Lasers saw Ryan Moreton from Port Dalrymple Yacht Club win over Angus Calvert and Lachlan Hargreaves.

Sandy Bay Sailing Club’s newest class the exciting 29ers were great to watch under spinnaker with all the crews showing massive improvement and good speed. Sam Teiderman and Will Connor held off a strong charge by the new pairing of Sam Bailey and Charlie Connor to win by one point with Gabrielle Morrision and Oliver Burnell in third. The Paper Tigers were won convincingly by National Champion Bruce Rose (Apprentice) with Mick Boyle (Mud Shark) second and Steve Price (Romper Stomper) third.