The Fork in the Road wins Lexus of Hobart King of Derwent crown

by Peter Campbell on 2 Jan 2015

Lexus of Hobart King of the Derwent winner The Fork in the Road powering to windward on the Derwent today - 2015 Lexus of Hobart King of the Derwent. Dane Lojek

2015 Lexus of Hobart King of the Derwent - Former world champion and Olympic dinghy sailor Gary Smith today added another crown to his illustrious career, steering The Fork in the Road to victory in Hobart’s iconic harbour race, the 2015 Lexus of Hobart King of the Derwent.

The noted Tasmanian yacht won the IRC handicap division of the spectacular round-the-buoys race giving her the coveted title of King of the Derwent to add to line or handicap honours in almost every offshore race in the State, including her fourth line honours win early this week in the National Pies Launceston to Hobart Race.

Smith recently was inducted into the Tasmanian Sporting Hall of Fame, the first yachtsman to receive this honour in more than three decades.

Derwent Sailing Squadron sailing manager Mike Denney late this afternoon confirmed The Fork in the Road as the winner of the King of the Derwent title but the announcement of other results was delayed for several hours because of an extended protest hearing between the Hobart yacht Voodoo Chile (Andrew Hunn) and the winner of the Melbourne to Hobart West Coaster race, Cartouche (Steven Fahey).

The two yachts locked masts in a port and starboard incident with the protest committee ultimately disqualifying Cartouche from the race. This confirmed Voodoo Chile’s fourth place in the IRC division.

With The Fork in the Road the winner of the King of the Derwent trophy, the other three top placed yachts in the IRC division each moved up one place, with the Victorian yacht Seduction (Richard Nichols) becoming first in the IRC division, Cougar II (Tony Lyall) second and Voodoo Chile third.

The good weather, the size of the race fleet and the spectator fleet today compensated the Derwent Sailing Squadron and the KOD sponsors, Lexus of Hobart, for the abandonment of last year’s event because of galeforce winds on the Derwent.

Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman on the helm of Audere in today's Lexus of Hobart King of the Derwent race today - 2015 Lexus of Hobart King of the Derwent. © Dane Lojek

It also attracted VIP spectators and competitors. Her Excellency, Professor Kate Warner AM, Governor of Tasmania, watched the race from the motor yacht Egeria, Premier Will Hodgman crewed aboard orthopaedic surgeon Michael Pritchard’s Audere while Cruising Cruising Club of Australia Commodore John Cameron was aboard line honours winner Alive.

Today’s weather was perfect for all: a warm summer’s day with the temperature reaching 25º C and a freshening south-easterly seabreeze moving up the Derwent just as the fleet started on the three lap, windward-leeward course.

Line honours in the Lexus of Hobart of the Derwent went to Alive - 2015 Lexus of Hobart King of the Derwent. © Dane Lojek

Rolex Sydney Hobart Race entrant, Alive, Derwent Sailing Squadron member Phillip Turner’s Reichel/Pugh 66, turned on a powerful sailing display, hitting 15 knots a she swept across the finish line to get the gun, well clear of her nearest rival for fleet line honours.

Big boats Cougar II, Tony Lyall’s TP52 Cougar II and The Fork in the Road, Gary Smith’s Bakewell-White 45 won the start and sailed above their handicap ratings to figure in the top corrected time results for the IRC division.

From a five knot southerly breeze at the start off the John Garrow light, the wind swung to the east and freshened to 18 knots, with line honours winner Alive, DSS member Phillip Turner’s Reichel/Pugh 66, covering the 9.6 nautical mile course in one hour and 12 minutes.

However, skipper Duncan Hine and his crew of Alive had to play catch-up after a missing a significant wind shift on the first windward leg. Among the crew was John Cameron, Commodore of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.

Four yachts, all locals, broke the start but all returned and re-started, losing considerable time in the light breeze.

At the first windward mark near White Rock Tony Lyall’s TP52 Cougar II led the fleet from Alive and Gary Smith’s Bakewell-White 45, The Fork in the Road, with Alive struggling in the light and variable breeze.

As the fleet finished the first lap, DSS race officers signalled a change of course to the east, relaying the windward mark towards Ralph’s Bay.

As the race progressed the bigger boats took over the running with Alive overtaking Cougar II to finish a good 10 minutes ahead of Cougar II with the Fork in the Road about four minutes further astern.

The Fork in the Road also won the AMS division, with Seduction second and Paul Einedor’s Beneteau Oceanis 37 third.

The PHS division went to Paul Einoder’s Off-Piste from The Fork in the Road and Tony Ellis’ Moonshadow.

The results of today’s Lexus King of the Derwent has seen the National Pies Launceston to Hobart Series go to Off-Piste, taking out all three handicap categories, IRC, AMS and PHS.

2015 Lexus of Hobart King of the Derwent

Hosted By Derwent Sailing Squadron Inc

Race 3 (2/01/2015) Lexus of Hobart

Updated: 2/01/2015 8:55:14 PM

***Division 1 AMS results Start : 14:00***
Place	Sail No	Boat Name	Skipper	Fin Tim	Elapsd	AHC	Cor'd T	ETOrd
1	TAS100	FORK IN THE ROAD	G.SMITH G.WHITE	15:24:29	01:24:29	1.056	01:29:13	1
2	M406	SEDUCTION	RICHARD NICHOLS	15:51:29	01:51:29	0.811	01:30:25	12
3	834	OFF-PISTE	PAUL EINODER	15:57:03	01:57:03	0.789	01:32:21	16
4	5357	MEM	PAUL BOUTCHARD	15:42:24	01:42:24	0.913	01:33:30	5
5	SM6886	YOUNG LION	STEVE CHAU	15:56:00	01:56:00	0.813	01:34:18	14
6	1881	YOUNG ONE	GERARD SMITH	15:57:15	01:57:15	0.810	01:34:58	17
7	H602	TURBULENCE	PAUL NEILSON	15:48:31	01:48:31	0.876	01:35:04	10
8	881	FOOTLOOSE	STEWART GEEVES	15:58:30	01:58:30	0.805	01:35:24	18
9	3952	MOONSHADOW	ANTHONY ELLIS	15:56:56	01:56:56	0.818	01:35:39	15
10	5441	HOST PLUS EXECUTIVE	JEFF CORDELL	15:43:42	01:43:42	0.924	01:35:49	6
11	6577	ILLUSION	DAVID BRETT	15:49:58	01:49:58	0.875	01:36:13	11
12	12	STEELIN TIME	ALLAN WARREN	16:08:24	02:08:24	0.752	01:36:33	20
13	L77	WHISTLER	DAVID CROMARTY	15:45:11	01:45:11	0.921	01:36:52	7
14	6197	PISCES	DAVID TAYLOR	15:45:40	01:45:40	0.933	01:38:35	9
15	3639	TAKE FIVE	IAN GANNON	16:08:58	02:08:58	0.770	01:39:18	22
16	H1	SILICON SHIP	G.CLARK D.WYATT	16:05:53	02:05:53	0.790	01:39:27	19
17	SM401	DRY WHITE	DONALD FRASER	15:45:12	01:45:12	0.950	01:39:56	8
18	137	KAIULANI	MALCOLM COOPER	16:08:35	02:08:35	0.780	01:40:18	21
19	82	ULTIMATE CHALLENGE	PETER JENKINS	15:53:06	01:53:06	0.898	01:41:34	13
20	AUS52	INFINITY	GREG PRESCOTT	15:41:51	01:41:51	1.017	01:43:35	3
21	R1200	SPIRIT OF DOWN	LAWRENCE FORD	15:42:03	01:42:03	1.031	01:45:13	4
22	480	X & Y	TOBY RICHARDSON	15:39:49	01:39:49	1.061	01:45:54	2
DNF	S16	ADDICTION	RICHARD McGARVIE			0.935

2015 Lexus of Hobart King of the Derwent

Hosted By Derwent Sailing Squadron Inc

Race 3 (2/01/2015) Lexus of Hobart

Updated: 2/01/2015 8:55:14 PM

***Division 1 PHS results Start : 14:00***
Place	Sail No	Boat Name	Skipper	Fin Tim	Elapsd	AHC	Cor'd T	ETOrd
1	834	OFF-PISTE	PAUL EINODER	15:57:03	01:57:03	0.821	01:36:06	26
2	TAS100	FORK IN THE ROAD	G.SMITH G.WHITE	15:24:29	01:24:29	1.150	01:37:09	3
3	3952	MOONSHADOW	ANTHONY ELLIS	15:56:56	01:56:56	0.855	01:39:59	25
4	5357	MEM	PAUL BOUTCHARD	15:42:24	01:42:24	0.978	01:40:09	11
5	12	STEELIN TIME	ALLAN WARREN	16:08:24	02:08:24	0.791	01:41:34	30
5	M406	SEDUCTION	RICHARD NICHOLS	15:51:29	01:51:29	0.911	01:41:34	20
7	SM3598	RUMBEAT	JUSTIN BARR	15:51:38	01:51:38	0.914	01:42:02	21
8	SM6886	YOUNG LION	STEVE CHAU	15:56:00	01:56:00	0.880	01:42:05	24
9	H602	TURBULENCE	PAUL NEILSON	15:48:31	01:48:31	0.943	01:42:20	18
10	1881	YOUNG ONE	GERARD SMITH	15:57:15	01:57:15	0.878	01:42:57	27
11	6577	ILLUSION	DAVID BRETT	15:49:58	01:49:58	0.937	01:43:02	19
12	881	FOOTLOOSE	STEWART GEEVES	15:58:30	01:58:30	0.872	01:43:20	28
13	3639	TAKE FIVE	IAN GANNON	16:08:58	02:08:58	0.802	01:43:26	32
14	137	KAIULANI	MALCOLM COOPER	16:08:35	02:08:35	0.811	01:44:17	31
15	82	ULTIMATE CHALLENGE	PETER JENKINS	15:53:06	01:53:06	0.931	01:45:18	22
16	5441	HOST PLUS EXECUTIVE	JEFF CORDELL	15:43:42	01:43:42	1.027	01:46:30	12
16	H1	SILICON SHIP	G.CLARK D.WYATT	16:05:53	02:05:53	0.846	01:46:30	29
18	K1	CROMARTY MAGELLAN	RICHARD GRANT	15:46:22	01:46:22	1.002	01:46:35	17
19	R1200	SPIRIT OF DOWN	LAWRENCE FORD	15:42:03	01:42:03	1.047	01:46:51	10
20	SM6083	CIAO BABY II	GARY CRIPPS	15:44:55	01:44:55	1.020	01:47:01	13
21	8888	VOODOO CHILE	HUNN ANDREW	15:33:09	01:33:09	1.155	01:47:35	5
22	L77	WHISTLER	DAVID CROMARTY	15:45:11	01:45:11	1.030	01:48:20	14
23	6197	PISCES	DAVID TAYLOR	15:45:40	01:45:40	1.026	01:48:25	16
24	5200	COUGAR II	ANTHONY LYALL	15:19:57	01:19:57	1.358	01:48:34	2
25	6137	BLACK MAGIC	GRAHAM MANSFIELD	15:53:27	01:53:27	0.959	01:48:48	23
26	SM401	DRY WHITE	DONALD FRASER	15:45:12	01:45:12	1.036	01:48:59	15
27	4545	AUDERE	MICHAEL PRITCHARD	15:41:48	01:41:48	1.074	01:49:20	8
28	AUS52	INFINITY	GREG PRESCOTT	15:41:51	01:41:51	1.087	01:50:43	9
29	480	X & Y	TOBY RICHARDSON	15:39:49	01:39:49	1.121	01:51:54	6
30	52566	ALIVE	DUNCAN HINE	15:12:52	01:12:52	1.578	01:54:59	1
31	222	WAR GAMES	WAYNE BANKS-SMITH	15:41:10	01:41:10	1.145	01:55:50	7
32	360	PATRICE	TONY KIRBY	15:32:54	01:32:54	1.285	01:59:23	4
DNF	S16	ADDICTION	RICHARD McGARVIE			0.987
DSQ	B10	CARTOUCHE	STEVEN FAHEY			1.046

2015 Lexus of Hobart King of the Derwent

Hosted By Derwent Sailing Squadron Inc

Race 3 (2/01/2015) LEXUS OF HOBART

Updated: 2/01/2015 8:55:15 PM

***Division 1 IRC results Start : 14:00***
Place	Sail No	Boat Name	Skipper	Fin Tim	Elapsd	AHC	Cor'd T	ETOrd
1	TAS100	FORK IN THE ROAD	G.SMITH G.WHITE	15:24:29	01:24:29	1.228	01:43:45	3
2	M406	SEDUCTION	RICHARD NICHOLS	15:51:29	01:51:29	0.959	01:46:55	14
3	5200	COUGAR II	ANTHONY LYALL	15:19:57	01:19:57	1.365	01:49:08	2
4	8888	VOODOO CHILE	HUNN ANDREW	15:33:09	01:33:09	1.179	01:49:49	5
5	L77	WHISTLER	DAVID CROMARTY	15:45:11	01:45:11	1.052	01:50:39	11
6	834	OFF-PISTE	PAUL EINODER	15:57:03	01:57:03	0.961	01:52:29	15
6	4545	AUDERE	MICHAEL PRITCHARD	15:41:48	01:41:48	1.105	01:52:29	8
8	5441	HOST PLUS EXECUTIVE	JEFF CORDELL	15:43:42	01:43:42	1.085	01:52:31	10
9	6197	PISCES	DAVID TAYLOR	15:45:40	01:45:40	1.072	01:53:16	13
10	SM401	DRY WHITE	DONALD FRASER	15:45:12	01:45:12	1.080	01:53:37	12
11	52566	ALIVE	DUNCAN HINE	15:12:52	01:12:52	1.578	01:54:59	1
12	137	KAIULANI	MALCOLM COOPER	16:08:35	02:08:35	0.915	01:57:39	16
13	480	X & Y	TOBY RICHARDSON	15:39:49	01:39:49	1.192	01:58:59	6
14	222	WAR GAMES	WAYNE BANKS-SMITH	15:41:10	01:41:10	1.179	01:59:16	7
15	360	PATRICE	TONY KIRBY	15:32:54	01:32:54	1.285	01:59:23	4
16	R1200	SPIRIT OF DOWN	LAWRENCE FORD	15:42:03	01:42:03	1.180	02:00:25	9
DSQ	B10	CARTOUCHE	STEVEN FAHEY			1.105