Martingale for short handed race

by Event media on 7 Jun 2005 The SSAA is proud to announce the entry of Martingale, possibly the world’s longest shorthanded monohull, into this year’s Rolly Tasker Sails Pittwater to Port Stephens race.

Martingale is the former Wild Thing; a Murray Burns Dovell designed 83 footer, now lengthened to 90 feet, with the addition of a two metre bowsprit. Owner, David Dicker and sailing master, Dara Johnston, have spent the last two years converting her into a shorthanded yacht.

This year’s Port Stephens race, starting in Pittwater at 2000 hours this Friday June 10th, will be her first official shorthanded race.

Crew are Dara Johnston, and world renowned sailor Phillipe Peché, fresh from his Jules Verne Trophy winning circumnavigation on the maxi cat ‘Orange’.

The SSAA Race Committee had to amend the Sailing Instructions to allow Martingale to start in deep water outside Pittwater, as her more than 4 metre draft will not allow her to enter Pittwater.

Martingale will join an impressive fleet, headed by race sponsor Greg Newton’s Beneteau 47.7, ‘Antipodes’. Joe Adams would be pleased to see a number of his designs, from Ian Westlake’s Adams 13 Alabaster to Tristan Gourlay’s Adams 11.9 ‘Force Eleven’ and Peter McCorquodale’s Adams 10, ‘Torquil’.

Ivan and Sibby McFadyen will be clocking up a few more miles on their Hick 50 ‘Funnelweb’, a keen Melbourne-Osaka entry fresh from the Sydney to Mooloolaba and Brisbane to Gladstone races.

Lord Howe Island 2002 two handed race winner, Eric Frank, will be heading north again on his Cavalier 350SL ‘Debonair’, along with fellow SSAA stalwarts, Ivan Resnekov on ‘Farr Horizons’ and our Sunday lunch host and Wandin Valley Winery proprietor, Jim Davern on ‘Ratu VI’.

Denis Williams will be seeking a third consecutive win of the ‘Coxless Pairs Trophy for Cunning and Innovation’ on his Spencer 32 ‘Paper Moon’, whilst David Bonallo will be contesting his second Port Stephens race on his Sydney 32 ‘Rollercoaster’.

The smallest yacht in the fleet, David Lowe’s Hood 25 ‘Double Happy’, will be hoping for a good southerly to get him up the coast!

The Rolly Tasker Sails – Australia Pittwater to Port Stephens Short Handed Yacht Race is a Cat 3 plus life raft race and entries close on Tuesday 7th June.

Notice of Race, Sailing Instructions and Entry Form are on the website: www.ssaa.com.au.