Kiwi’s Konica Minolta is back in town

by Rob Kothe/Di Pearson on 27 Aug 2004 Sparkling water on Catseye Bay, 15-17 knot breeze for the 30 nautical mile Baynham Island race of the Hahn Premium Race Week at Queensland’s Hamilton Island.

The second last race in the 2004 series and the clash of the titans continued between the two 98 footers, Victorian super maxi Skandia and the Wellington entry Konica Minolta (Zana).

Grant Wharington’s Skandia, the 2003 Rolex Sydney to Hobart winner has had the wood on her Kiwi competitor, with five wins, one loss record.

Lots of sunshine at the start, but heavy clouds to the east and distant rain towards the reef as the lead maxis aimed at Baynham, distinguished this was clearly going to be the day tacticians earned their Hahn Premiums.

Bob Oatley’s Wild Oats won the start this morning; she was fast at the pin and cleared out, with Colin O’Neil’s After Shock following her, soon tacking of to the right for clear air.

Skandia again out-manoeuvred Konica Minolta in the pre-start, Skandia a third of the way down from pin, was unchallenged, while Konica Minolta caught in the second row once more, had to climb through smaller boats.

Wild Oats crossed behind Skandia and continued right towards Pentecost Island, but she fell away behind Brindabella.

30 minutes after the start, Konica Minolta looked to be on even terms with Skandia.

As the clouds rolled in from the east, the Kiwi supermaxi was better positioned, she lifted up along the leading edge of the cloud line and reached Baynham Island three minutes ahead of Skandia.

As light rain dropped from the approaching clouds, the wind dropped to less than seven knots and the fleet was slowed down.

Heading back towards the northern tip of Maher Island, the Kiwi boat gained another minute, with her big white spinnaker still pressured up.

At the Port rounding mark in Catseye Bay, Konica Minolta rounded approximately 5 minutes 48 second ahead of Skandia. 15 minutes later came Bob Oatley’s Wild Oats, then George Snow’s Brindabella another two minutes back.

Hamilton Island chairman of the board Sandy Oatley skippered Another Duchess to a solid three-minute lead on Colin O’Neil’s After Shock

Behind them Ichi Ban, Infinity III, XLR8, Hydroflow then Heaven Can Wait tussled for the minor line honours and handicap placings.

When the Kiwi Konica Minolta crossed the finish line on Catseye Bay, the committee vessel sound signal was not of the usual type - instead it was a pair of pliers beating against a frying pan - the Kiwis must have thought it was some strange Australian custom, or a mourning signal for the local yacht's loss.

The Kiwi maxi showed superior boat speed today, but her navigation and tactics at times were worrisome, including the rounding of a mark which was not part of the course.

Tomorrow, the 21 nautical mile Lindeman Island Race will conclude the regatta and then the 187-boat fleet, the largest ever at Hamilton Island.