DSS Autumn Two-handed Series - Tight scoring

by Peter Campbell on 11 May 2014 In the Derwent Sailing Squadron’s Quantum Autumn Two-handed Series three Division One boats are tied on 11 points going into next Sunday’s final day of racing on the River Derwent.

With Mother’s Day commitments reducing numbers to 59 starters today, the DSS is looking for a record line-up of more than 70 boats on the final day.

'We have had up to 73 entries and a record 64 starters a couple of Sundays ago and hope to break the 70 boat fleet in next Sunday’s final race,' DSS sailing secretary Mike Denney said after today’s racing.

'We had big fleets out each Sunday so far and the competition has been extremely close in each division in what we refer to as ‘Gilbert’s two-handed world championships’ – Gilbert Leitch conceived the event and runs it over five Sundays each autumn,' Denney added.

Denney’s assessment was correct with Saga (Chris Sheehan), Hot August Night (Nat Morgan) and Fang to the Max (Fred Barrett) equal on 11 points after Fang to the Max’s win in Division One today.

Obsession, sailed consistently by David and Alison Creese, has a four point margin in Division 2, with 10 points on the board. Ciao Baby II (Gary Cripps) holds second place on 16 points with Pirates Pride (Peter Masterton) and Hydrotherapy (Jim Thorpe) are both on 17 points.

In Division Three, just one point separates Pierrette (Garry Kennedy) and Kaiulani (Malcolm Cooper) with a gap of 13 points to Acacia II (Jory Linscott).

In Division Four, Which Way Up, helmed by Ian Stewart, is on 12 points, while Whistler J (David Rees) and Street Car (Peter Bingham) are each on 16 points.

A win today by Nick Rogers’ Karabos has given the Tasmanian SB20 champion a two point margin going into next Sunday’s final race. Karabos is on 12 points, Brainwave (Scott Brain) on 14 points and Hypertronics (Stephen Catchpool) on 17 points.

The big fleet today encountered the freshest breeze of the five race series with a 15-18 knot north-westerly breeze that at times gusted over 20 knots, causing several broaches in the spinnaker divisions.

Two women skippers were among the winners with Lisa Schulander and her crew, Tim Price, sailed the Cole 23 Alibi to victory in Division Three while in Division Four first place went to Eenee, with Sue Allison-Rogers on the helm and her husband Damian Rogers as crew of their Moody 45.

Lisa Schulander’s Alibi finished 14th in the 17-boat Division 3 fleet but scored a 10 second win on corrected time from Kaiulani (Malcolm Cooper) with another 10 seconds to Pierette (Garry Kennedy).

Sue Allison-Rogers and husband Damian took line and handicap honours with Eenee in Division Four, winning on corrected time from Storm Petrel (James Anderson) and Quebrada (Tim Maddock).

Fred Barrett’s self-designed sportsboat Fang to the Max won Division One yesterday from Hot August Night (Nat Morgan) and Michael Denney’s Wild West, which also took line honours. Only 11 seconds separated the first three boats on corrected time,

In Division Two, Phil Adamson and Alf Doedens sailed the Knoop 35 Fine Cotton to victory from Ciao Baby II (Gary Cripps) and Pirates Pride (Peter Masterton).

In the SB20 Division Nick Rogers rocketed away from the 10 boat fleet with Karabos to take line and handicap honours from Three Musketeers (Brett Cooper), third on handicap going to Hypertronics (Stephen Catchpool).