Please select your home edition
Edition
Excess Catamarans

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week 2015 - On the trail to sailing heaven

by Lisa Ratcliff on 18 Aug 2015
Colourful Dent Passage start day 2 - 2015 Audi Hamilton Island Race Week Andrea Francolini
Day two at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week gave all crews a little respite after the first day straight out of the blocks in challenging conditions. While the IRC fleet sailed windward/leewards on the Eastern Course, the remaining divisions enjoyed sublime conditions, starting their races in an eight - twelve knot south-easter from Dent Passage and winding around various deserted and inhabited islands.

Amongst the island hoppers was the ten-strong fleet in the inaugural Trailables division. From modern one design racers to modest and ‘mature’ cruisers with a top speed rarely more than single figures, this fleet certainly fits the description ‘eclectic’.

The appeal of trailables to those who sail them is the ease and affordability of getting to regattas around the country, as well as the ability to sail shorthanded, or with minimal crew. “We can easily sail two-up if we need to, but we’ll have a guest aboard each day of Race Week,” says Greg Brown who inherited Gone Too Far from his father and sails with his wife Ronda from their home club in NSW’s Sussex Inlet.



Stuart Green, Ben Harper and Morgan James found their boat Rhumbmaid languishing in a backyard in Brisbane where it had stood largely unused and very much unloved for 20 years.

The Boomeroo 22 was built in 1978 and the joint owners - all of whom drive the island’s tour boats for Explore as a day job - have gradually restored it when time permits, “When we get a day off we all tinker with the boat and do a bit of varnishing.” They also take great care of the boat’s gear it seems, “We haven’t bought any new sails since 1983 and they even survived day one’s conditions,” says Stuart, sounding a little surprised.



Rhumbmaid’s owners all sail together on the Island’s twilight races but decided to give Race Week ago this year. “For this week we are sailing four-up and rotate the fourth person, whose job it is to buy the beers. And besides which our boat’s rather slow, so it’s good to have someone new to talk to each day,” says Stuart, as his mother Julie and stepfather Mark smile wryly; Mark is ‘fourth man’ for day two, so he’s on beer and chat duties. “We had a lot of fun on Sunday and we hit our highest speed ever on this boat, 7.3 knots going down a wave with the sheets cracked!” adds Stuart with a laugh.

Anthony Passmore and his crew aboard the Melges 24 Planit - leading the Trailerable Division after two days of racing - had a day one blinder in comparison; “Our speedo wasn’t working, but I’d say we hit at least 19 knots at various times across the Whitsunday Passage.”



“We’ve been coming up here for a few years now. We use Race Week as the start of our season; it’s just the best place to be when it’s winter in Sydney,” says Anthony, who’s been coming to Hamilton Island regatta since 2007. He trails his boat to various events around Australia, sailing with longstanding friends out of Botany Bay Sailing Club.

Making news on day two, Monday August 17, 2015, from the other divisions was Helsal 3’s rather too close encounter with Dent Island. After a glamour race on day one, the 60 footer ran aground while taking the inside line after the downwind start leg. Crewmember Paul Mara explained their misfortune, “My wife was playing golf on the Island and she got within a metre of the hole on her first shot. She nearly won the Audi for a hole in one; so we were just going over to have a look!”

”Anyway we managed to motor her off the bottom without any damage, went for a bit of a sail and then retired.”







Results:

 
Series Results [IRC Div1] up to Race 3
Place Ties Boat Name Sail Num Skipper Sers Score Race 3 Race 2 Race 1
1   TEAM BEAU GESTE IVB1997 Karl Kwok 4.0 1.0 2.0 1.0
2   ICHI BAN AUS001 Matt Allen 5.0 2.0 1.0 2.0
3   SECRET MENS BUSINESS YC3300 Geoff Boettcher 10.0 3.0 4.0 3.0
4   HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD AUS8899 Ray Roberts 11.0 4.0 3.0 4.0
5   CELESTIAL 6952 Sam Haynes 16.0 5.0 5.0 6.0
6   WILD OATS X AUS7001 Mark Richards 18.0 6.0 7.0 5.0I
7   ALIVE 52566 Duncan Hine 20.0 7.0 6.0 7.0

 
 
Series Results [IRC Div2] up to Race 3
Place Ties Boat Name Sail Num Skipper Sers Score Race 3 Race 2 Race 1
1   VAMP 43218 Fuller Wilmot 5.0 1.0 1.0 3.0
2   QUEST 7075 Bob Steel 6.0 3.0 2.0 1.0
3   KHALEESI 46 Andrew&Pauline Dally 9.0 2.0 3.0 4.0
4   AFTER MIDNIGHT 8778 Mark & Greg Tobin 16.0 5.0 6.0 5.0
5 2.0S VENTO 00400 Walter Lewin 17.0 7.0 8.0 2.0
6   PONYO 6838 David Currie 17.0 4.0 4.0 9.0F
7   DEKADENCE RQ432 Stephanie Kerin 19.0 6.0 7.0 6.0
8   MAC 2 USA153 John McDougall 20.0 8.0 5.0 7.0


 
Series Results [IRC Div3] up to Race 3
Place Ties Boat Name Sail Num Skipper Sers Score Race 3 Race 2 Race 1
1   WILD ROSE 4343 Roger Hickman 7.0 4.0 2.0 1.0
2   L'ALTRA DONNA 6935 Andy Kearnan 11.0 5.0 1.0 5.0
3   MORE NOISE SM3131 Jason Close 12.0 2.0 3.0 7.0
4   CORUM HKG1088 Todd Anderson 13.0 3.0 4.0 6.0
5   GAUNTLET 3627 Craig Ellis 14.0 6.0 6.0 2.0
6   JUSTADASH 7722 Philip Dash 15.0 7.0 5.0 3.0
7   CORROBBOREE 9501 Robbo Robertson 18.0 1.0 7.0 10.0
8   THEPHILOSOPHERS CLUB MH20 Peter Sorensen 23.0 8.0 11.0 4.0
9   BOTANY ACCESS COCOMO 5845 Justin Brownbill 26.0 10.0 8.0 8.0
10   KOKO 63344 Roy Leslie 29.0 9.0 9.0 11.0
11   TREASURE VIII RP36 Robert Davis 30.0 11.0 10.0 9.0

 
 
Series Results [IRC Div4] up to Race 2
Place Ties Boat Name Sail Num Skipper Sers Score Race 2 Race 1
1   ESPRESSO FORTE 8181 Laurence Freedman 2.0 1.0 1.0
2 2.0S LOCAL HERO 1236 Matt Owen 6.0 2.0 4.0
3   XPRESS 7013 Mike/Andrew West/Parkes 6.0 3.0 3.0
4   EAGLE ROCK 7744 Ross Wilson 9.0 4.0 5.0
5   TOY BOX 2 MH4 Ian Box 10.0 8.0 2.0
6   RAGTIME RQ130 Chris Morgan 12.0 6.0 6.0
7 5.0S GAME SET 6351 John Mulkearns 14.0 5.0 9.0
8   TILT 4913 Peter Cretan 14.0 7.0 7.0
9   BIG KAHOONA 6603 Steve McManus 19.0 11.0 8.0
10   AUSREO 6755 Ian Creak 20.0 10.0 10.0
11   DRAKES PRAYER RQ6165 Rod Johannessen 21.0 9.0 12.0
12   EUREKA 11 6037 Chris Stockdale 23.0 12.0 11.0


 
Series Results [EHC] up to Race 2
Place Ties Boat Name Sail Num Skipper Sers Score Race 2 Race 1
1   EUPHORIA 7133 Anthony Coleman 4.0 2.0 2.0
2   ISHTAR YC477 Edward Earl 7.0 3.0 4.0
3   HARTBREAKER B330 Tony Walton 8.0 7.0 1.0
4   WHALEWATCHINGSYDNEY 202 Ian Ford 9.0 1.0 8.0
5 4.0S BORN TO MENTOR L53 John Sinclair 11.0 4.0 7.0
6   ZEN 64221 Gordon Ketelbey 11.0 6.0 5.0
7 3.0S SPIRIT OF THE MAID MH888 Bruce Absolon 14.0 11.0 3.0
8   HAMILTON MENTOR L1 Roen Quinn 14.0 5.0 9.0
9   KOMODO 9327 Brendon Gregg 15.0 9.0 6.0
10   TRUE LOVE 999 Roger Down 19.0 8.0 11.0
11 2R PETER LEHMANN BREAKT 6834 Ben McGrath 22.0 10.0 12.0
12   LEEWARD 6833 John Quinn 22.0 12.0 10.0
13   CYCLONE 5090 David Chadkirk 26.0 13.0 13.0


 
Series Results [EHC Div1] up to Race 2
Place Ties Boat Name Sail Num Skipper Sers Score Race 2 Race 1
1   PLATINUM SM76 Chris Barlow 13.0 12.0 1.0
2   VIRAGO II 6813 Dave Rooke 15.0 8.0 7.0
3   ALLEGRO 6723 Adrian Lewis 16.0 14.0 2.0
4   MISS MINX 0505 Chris & Lauren Thorpe 17.0 11.0I 6.0
5   PILGRIM E226 Paul Ley 19.0 2.0 17.0
6 4.0S ABRACADABRA 5612 James Murchison 20.0 4.0 16.0
7 7.0S ONE O NINE 1109 Robert Salteri 20.0 7.0 13.0
8   ZOE 98 Wayne Millar 20.0 11.0 9.0
9   WHITEBIRDS 788 Bob Bird Paul White 21.0 18.0 3.0
10   ENCORE 00100 T.Lewis J. Milledge 22.0 10.0 12.0
11 5.0S SMOOTH OPERATOR SB509 Russell Durham 23.0 5.0 18.0
12   TAKANI 6981 James Whittle 23.0 13.0 10.0
13   SHAZAM PD447 Doug Ryan 25.0 3.0 22.0
14   PHARLAP 8885 Sandy Spencer 27.0 1.0 26.0
15 8.0S MAXI RAGAMUFFIN 7007 Keith Batt 29.0 21.0 8.0
16   L'ESPRIT 7041 Peter Byford 29.0 9.0 20.0
17   INFINITY AUS52 Edward Fader 30.0 19.0 11.0
18   CHRISTINE S77 Paul Bunn 31.0 17.0 14.0
19   HELSAL3 262 Rob Fisher 32.0 28.0F 4.0
20   CONDOR KB80 David Molloy 33.0 28.0C 5.0
21   XSCAPE AUS501 John Foster 35.0 16.0 19.0
22   CONCERTO SM5892 James Morris 38.0 15.0 23.0
23   FIRST LIGHT 6666 P White/ C Stannard 43.0 28.0R 15.0
24   LE COCHON NOIR V NA Roman Guerra 44.0 20.0 24.0
25   VANISHING POINT 22000 T Ryan 47.0 22.0 25.0
26   SILVER LINING SM1155 Andrew McGrath 49.0 28.0F 21.0
27   JOURNEY SM61 Bryan Dorman 56.0 28.0C 28.0C


 
Series Results [EHC Div2] up to Race 2
Place Ties Boat Name Sail Num Skipper Sers Score Race 2 Race 1
1 1.0S COOPERS 3810 Craig Watson 13.0 1.0 12.0
2   THAT BOAT 6782 Darryle Dransfield 13.0 2.0 11.0
3 2.0S LUNACY SB445 Chris McSorley 14.0 12.0 2.0
4   VANILLA BOW17 David Perkins 14.0 10.0 4.0
5   AVANTI B19 Philip Cormie 15.0 6.0 9.0
6   AVVENTURA 7044 Peter Mumford 16.0 9.0 7.0
7   BEDFORDCA THREE CS B45 Charles Cupit 18.0 17.0 1.0
8 3.0S BUNDABERG G16 John Kint 19.0 16.0 3.0
9 5.0S VITESSE 1021 Ian Thomson 19.0 5.0 14.0
10   KATE R53 John Raff 19.0 13.0 6.0
11   LEE-WAY 135 Stephen Humpeis 22.0 3.0 19.0
12 4.0S KITE RUNNER 11000 Phil Jobe 26.0 4.0 22.0
13   CEILIDH 237 Peter Williams 26.0 8.0 18.0
14   MORTGAGECHOICE RUMBA 6232 K Burke/R Carr S Cook 27.0 11.0 16.0
15 5.0S BARUCH SB560 Glenn Watson 29.0 24.0 5.0
16   HOLY COW! 6797 John & Kim Clinton 29.0 21.0 8.0
17 7.0S KICKATINALONG 1317 Graeme Poole 30.0 7.0 23.0
18   ERESSEA 6590 John Bankart 30.0 15.0 15.0
19   UPSTART L41 Michael Daly 31.0 14.0 17.0
20   LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE SM501 Sam Pavic 33.0 23.0 10.0
21   CHARM OFFENSIVE   James Permezel 35.0 22.0 13.0
22   ELUSIVE R6608 Rick Pacey 39.0 18.0 21.0
23   LLOYDS TOO IMPETUOUS 3663 Rudy Weber 44.0 19.0 25.0
24   SYNERGY RQ410 Ron James 45.0 25.0 20.0
25   WIDE LOAD 4198 Elaine William Alan Mcclintoc 46.0 20.0 26.0
26   FLYINGFISH LET LOOSE M604 Walter Jorgensen 50.0 26.0 24.0
27   CHANTILLY R56 Timothy Dutton 55.0 28.0F 27.0


 
Series Results [EHC Div3] up to Race 2
Place Ties Boat Name Sail Num Skipper Sers Score Race 2 Race 1
1   SEA WAFER R473 David Pascoe 7.0 5.0 2.0
2 3.0S D'EUPHORIA 6956 Mike Selbie 8.0 3.0 5.0
3   WINDSONG OF M'TON M5 Jim Watson 8.0 4.0 4.0
4 2.0S KAYAMI BOW28 Brian Pozzey 9.0 2.0 7.0
5   ENGARDE B55 Roger Johnston 9.0 6.0 3.0
6 2R RHYTHM BOW29 Ray Sweeney 11.0 1.0 10.0
7   NORTHERN MOMENT C192 Vic Stevens 11.0 10.0 1.0
8   OSCARS RIDE RQ1982 Peter Driml 13.0 7.0 6.0
9   OASIS 662 Merv Stephensen 18.0 9.0 9.0
10   QUATTRO F8 Jason Daisley/ C&C Monaghan 19.0 11.0 8.0
11   ESCAPADE C200 Mike Schmidt 20.0 8.0 12.0
12   KARMA BOW27 David Angus 23.0 12.0 11.0
13 2R CONDESA BOW19 Mark Gaskell 30.0 13.0 17.0C
14   PLUNDER 191 Ry Spalvins 30.0 17.0C 13.0
15   SATISFACTION II RQ725 Malcolm Wallace 34.0 17.0F 17.0C
15   SANUK 11 547 Harvey Michael 34.0 17.0F 17.0C


 
Series Results [EHC] up to Race 2
Place Ties Boat Name Sail Num Skipper Sers Score Race 2 Race 1
1 2R TRUE COLOURS 6731 Geoff Adams 7.0 2.0 5.0
2   STAR FERRY 68 John Brand 7.0 5.0 2.0
3   LAFAYETTE B502 Peter Edwards 10.0 7.0 3.0
4   FORTUNA 2041 Greg Elliott 11.0 4.0 7.0
5   MIM 450 Mike Walter 12.0 8.0 4.0
6 3.0S DUSTY MUZZLE 4457 Ron Knott 14.0 3.0 11.0
7   IDLE TIME 588 Mal Dennis 14.0 6.0 8.0
8   ANTIPODES AUSTRALIS BOW15 John Culshaw 16.0 10.0 6.0
9   KAOS BOW26 Bruce Pattullo 20.0 19.0 1.0
10   AZURE BOW25 Kevin Gray 23.0 11.0 12.0
11 10.0S PREMIER CRU N21 Keith Stronach 25.0 15.0 10.0
12   JAYD RQ7771 Ben And Diana Shipley 25.0 12.0 13.0
13 9.0S KARM B48 Ray Nankervis 31.0 22.0 9.0
14   SEMPER FI 8497 Vaughan Blackwood 31.0 17.0 14.0
15 1.0S JEMSON SM301 Andrew Molnar 32.0 1.0 31.0F
16   IMPULSIVE30 BOW30 Murray Gordon 32.0 16.0 16.0
17   SAPPHIRE BOW16 Richard Rowe 37.0 20.0 17.0
18 9.0S SHAMELESS RQ11 William Andrews 40.0 9.0 31.0F
19   KRYSTAL B178 Mark Strobel 40.0 25.0 15.0
20   IMPULSIVE 9931 Ross Macaw 42.0 24.0 18.0
21   FRENCH KISS BOW22 Brien Daniel 44.0 13.0 31.0C
22   SUPERTRAMP 6678 Sue & Alan Pick 45.0 14.0 31.0C
23   CAPERATA BOW37 David & Kerrie Barnes 49.0 18.0 31.0F
24   PHIDEAUX BOW14 Rod Roberts 50.0 31.0F 19.0
25   PISCES B113 Wes Wessels 52.0 21.0 31.0F
26   CHINA GROVE SM71 Ian Mellett 54.0 23.0 31.0F
27   SCARBOROUGH BOW12 Robert Jarratt 57.0 26.0 31.0F
28   BLUE LADY 5891 Robert Lester 58.0 27.0 31.0F
29   RUBY CHARLOTTE A65 Jonathan Hickling 62.0 31.0F 31.0F
29   CURLEW ESCAPE RQ67 Scott Turner 62.0 31.0F 31.0F


 
Series Results [EHC] up to Race 2
Place Ties Boat Name Sail Num Skipper Sers Score Race 2 Race 1
1   PLANIT AUS686 Anthony Passmore 2.0 1.0 1.0
2   UNTAMED 8 John Parkes 6.0 3.0 3.0
3 2.0S JUMP AUS3380 Dennis Winstanley 8.0 2.0 6.0
4   GONE TOO FARR SB7500 Ronda Brown 8.0 4.0 4.0
5   HALCYON 925 David Barker 10.0 8.0 2.0
6   RHUMBO 172 Brian Jones 12.0 7.0 5.0
7   FARRNFAST 1041 Locky McLaren 13.0 5.0 8.0
8   RHUMBMAID 3027 Its A Team Effort 16.0 9.0 7.0
9   SLINGSHOT L1 Neil Hamilton 18.0 6.0 12.0F
10   HIGH C 125 Brian Doser 22.0 10.0 12.0F
11   BANSHEE M5456 Rob & Kerry Kasmarik 24.0 12.0F 12.0F


 
Series Results [OMR] up to Race 2
Place Boat Name Sail Num Skipper Sers Score Race 2 Race 1
1 CHILLPILL G1550 Wayne Bloomer 5.0 3.0 2.0
2 MORTICIA 3002 Chris Williams 6.0 1.0 5.0
3 FANTASIA 641 Andrew Stransky 7.0 6.0 1.0
4 APC MAD MAX V2 George Owen 8.0 2.0 6.0
5 MOJO M165 Peter Wilcox 8.0 4.0 4.0
6 THE BOAT WORKS N888 Julian Griffiths 10.0 7.0 3.0
7 CARBON CREDIT SA532 Pete Hawker 13.0 5.0 8.0
8 J'OUVERT WH3801 Stephen Barton 15.0 8.0 7.0
9 RENAISSANCE M1480 Michael Hodges 18.0 9.0 9.0
10 CUT SNAKE RQ120 Robert Dean 21.0 11.0 10.0
11 CROSSHAIR SA432 Gerald Valk 22.0 10.0 12.0
12 EARTHLING AUS57 Glenn Rutherford 24.0 13.0 11.0I
13 OCEAN EMU NIL William Fea 25.0 12.0 13.0
14 DUX NUTTS 449 Peter Boyd 30.0 15.0F 15.0C


 
Series Results [EHC] up to Race 2
Place Ties Sail Num Boat Name Skipper From Sers Score Race 2 Race 1
1 2R M321 KESTREL Richard Jenkins MYCQ 4.0 1.0 3.0
2 1.0S BOW20 BUNDALONG M Griffiths RQYS 4.0 3.0 1.0
3   116044 TALISKER Alan Hunter RQYS 4.0 2.0 2.0
4   63 SNAP Steff Jones PDYC 9.0 4.0 5.0
5   MYS09 MISTY SEA David Davenport EFYC 10.0 6.0 4.0
6   10208 CERULEAN Michael Lane CYCSA 11.0 5.0 6.0
7   3823 SALACIA Ian Johnson TYC 15.0 8.0 7.0
8 7.0S BOW23 CAP ROCAT Peter Dyer MYCQLD 18.0 7.0 11.0
9   C2 STORM BAY Marc Gerard SCYC 18.0 10.0 8.0
10 9.0S AD711 AMELDEC Brian Kohl RYCT 23.0 14.0 9.0
11 10.0S BOW11 SAVANNA Ray Cavanagh NONE 23.0 13.0 10.0
12   SW116017 TROPICAL SUNSET David Hutcheson SYC 23.0 11.0 12.0
13   SABA50 SERENITY Michel Van Der Zwaard MMYC 25.0 12.0 13.0
14   SW11606 VIVACIOUS Rod & Vicki Sweeney CCYC 27.0 9.0 18.0F
15   521 CHARADE M Coughlan / A Theron   36.0 18.0F 18.0R
15   BOW13 SASKIA Michael Hayes RQYS 36.0 18.0F 18.0C
15   LAGOON SUITE 2 Michael / Anne Kornfeld HIYC 36.0 18.0C 18.0C
Boat Books Australia FOOTERHyde Sails 2024 - One DesignVaikobi 2024 December

Related Articles

SailGP's return to Auckland for Season 6 confirmed
ITM is the NZ's Grand Prix's Title Partner, marking a fourth year supporting Black Foils. After a record breaking debut, the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix Auckland has been confirmed to be returning in 2026 and is set to be bigger than ever.
Posted on 26 Jun
Rolex SailGP Championship 2026 dates confirmed
Including a return to fan-favorite destination, Auckland SailGP has released further details of forthcoming 2026 Season, including the return of fan-favorite locations, multi-year hosting agreements secured across all regions, and an evolved regional structure to raise the stakes for athletes and fans alike.
Posted on 26 Jun
BOISW - New Committee announced for 2026
New Committee working hard behind the scenes to rework the 2026 Bay of Islands Sailing Week . A newly appointed committee is already working hard behind the scenes to rework the 2026 Bay of Islands Sailing Week event while honouring the traditions that have made it so special to the sailing community.
Posted on 26 Jun
Pip Hare Announced as Patron of WORLDSTAR 2026
A meaningful return to her roots with the Royal Western Yacht Club of England The Royal Western Yacht Club (RWYC) is absolutely delighted to welcome solo ocean racing legend Pip Hare as the Patron of WORLDSTAR 2026—our flagship round-the-world sailing event. This is more than a title; it's a homecoming.
Posted on 26 Jun
Kieler Woche Day 7
British mixed dominance in dinghy and catamaran After the second day of the Sailing Grand Slam in the Olympic mixed classes, Martin Wrigley and Bettine Harris are leading the 470 class even more dominantly than John Gimson and Anna Burnet in the Nacra 17 on Thursday (June 26).
Posted on 26 Jun
29th Superyacht Cup Palma day 1
Cervo and Open Season take opening day honours The Superyacht Cup Palma 2025 swung into action today, with captains and crews across the varied and inspiring fleet seizing the opportunity to take the measure of the competition out on the racecourse.
Posted on 26 Jun
J/70 Mixed-Plus Worlds at Lake Garda Day 1
Yupi leads after a perfect opening day in Torbole Lake Garda delivered its finest conditions for the opening day of the first-ever J/70 Mixed-Plus World Championship: three races completed in a steady, warm Ora breeze peaking at 20 knots.
Posted on 26 Jun
Tschüss 2 - Transatlantic Titans
Line Honours for Christian Zugel's Volvo 70 in the Transatlantic Race 2025 Volvo 70 Tschüss 2 (USA), owned by Christian Zugel and co-skippered by Johnny Mordaunt, has taken Line Honours in the West to East Transatlantic Race 2025 in an elapsed time of 07 Day 15 Hrs 29 Mins and 10 Secs.
Posted on 26 Jun
Craig Wood Makes History
The first triple amputee to sail solo non-stop and unsupported across the Pacific Craig is the first triple amputee to sail solo non-stop and unsupported across the Pacific, completing the 7506nm journey from Mexico to Japan in 90 days.
Posted on 26 Jun
NTG Global Graduate Program
Shape your career and propel yourself into the world of innovation North Technology Group, a global leader in advanced composite technology, is offering an exciting and dynamic graduate program that will shape your career and propel you into the world of innovation.
Posted on 26 Jun