Sandstone wins Dent to Dunk race

by John Graham on 29 May 2006 The 2006 Dent to Dunk Race was won by Mike Davies’ Jeanneau Sunfast 36, Sandstone, by a narrow corrected time margin of 36 seconds from John Clayton’s Jutson 60, Millenium, followed in third place by Kevin Fogarty’s Spacesailer 36 Idle Time with a margin of 7 minutes 3 seconds.

First and second yachts were from Hamilton Island while Idle Time represents Whitsunday Sailing Club.

The first Multihull was Bernie McErlane’s 11·8 metre catamaran, Zippy that took both line and handicap honours.

The race started at 1100 on Saturday 27th in a light 5-8 knot South easterly that was forecast to increase to 15-20 knots as the yachts moved north. What wasn’t forecast was the storm cell that brought winds to 40 knots and a waterspout that 'put the wind up' Millenium. Rod Sawyer’s Surefoot retired from the race having run out of spinnakers. No other yachts reported any damage.

Millenium took line honours with an elapsed time of 30 hours for the 245 nautical mile race, 45 minutes and 7 seconds ahead of Chris Smith’s Mumm 36 Mummbo from Townsville.

The CORAL COAST RALLY that began the previous Sunday with 34 boats and anchored each night, finished at Port Hinchinbrook on Saturday 27th, was an amazing success. Everyone who took part agrees it was 'fantastic', the first entry for the next Rally in 2007 has already been lodged even though the dates have yet to be set. It is expected that next year the number of entries would more than double. There may have to be a limit on the number of entries. More on the Coral Coast Rally later.


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