Pipe Opener- Smooth sailing hopes for this weekend’s Cock of the Huon

by Peter Campbell on 18 Sep 2014 2014 Pipe Opener - Early on the morning of New Year’s Day 1894 the ocean going steamships Manipouri and Oonah left Sullivan’s Cove with more than 2,000 passengers for Port Huon, keen to watch the regatta that included sailing races for two divisions of working ketches, as well races for both the 21 and 28 foot yachts and two dinghies classes.

The Huon Regatta at Shipwrights Point was the first of the year in the heyday of regattas on the Huon River, D’Entrecasteaux Channel and the River Derwent, culminating with the Royal Hobart Regatta.

This coming Saturday, Shipwrights Point will be the scene of another regatta with a strong fleet contesting the iconic Cock of the Huon, centrepiece of the three race Pipe Opener, conducted by Derwent Sailing Squadron and Huon Yacht Club.

While there won’t be steamers setting sail from Hobart to view the event, there will be a spectator boat leaving from nearby Kermandie.

Let’s hope the race committee has smoother sailing than it did back at the 1894 Huon Regatta when, according to marine historian Colin Denny, there was an altercation over handicaps between yacht owners and the committee.

Denny, writing in Bellerive Yacht Club’s weekly newsletter of sailing 120 years ago, says the discussions to resolve the situation stalled when the race committee adjourned to enjoy lunch aboard the SS Oonah with the Governor of Tasmania and Regatta patron, Viscount Gormanston.

'The rating class owners were infuriated that the committee showed more interest in lunch that resolving the handicapping issue so they abandoned their two programmed races,' Denny wrote.

Denny, past president of the Tasmanian Maritime Museum, says the spectators were able to enjoy the working ketches over 20 tons, 'a magnificent sight with their big jackyard topsails set for racing' with Thomas Purdon’s Surprise the winner.

Like many regattas, the Huon Regatta as such no longer exists, its place taken by the Piper Opener with this weekend being the 46th annual event conducted by the Derwent Sailing Squadron and the Huon Yacht Club.

Opening Day for Hobart’s yachting season of 2014-2015 is set for Saturday, October 4, but the aptly named Pipe Opener certainly sets the scene for the summer.

The Pipe Opener comprises three races, starting with next Friday evening’s race from Hobart down the River Derwent into the D’Entrecasteaux Channel to Gordon. Starting at 7pm, it is the only yacht that starts and finishes in darkness.

Saturday will see the running of the Huon Aquaculture Cock of the Huon Race, on Sunday a final race from Port Huon to Gordon will decide the Quantum Sails Team event.

Also supporting the Pipe Opener is the Kermandie Hotel, owned by Sydney yachtsman Sean Langman who has entered his vintage yacht Maluka of Kermandie for this year’s Rolex 70th Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, representing the Huon Yacht Club.

According to Colin Denny, the famous 21 and 28 foot waterline yachts ad there heyday in the 1890s and raced for substantial cash prizes, possibly leading to the dispute at the Huon Regatta in 1894.

These days the yachts racing for honour and glory and some fine trophies with the perpetual trophy for the Cock of the Huon a magnificent Huon pine half model of one of the most famous yachts to be built on the Huon, Caprice of Huon.