Demolition derby for Cruising division start

by Lisa Ratcliff on 20 Aug 2006 The ‘demolition derby class’, as one onlooker described the Cruising Division, didn’t disappoint with at least two incidents just seconds before the start of today’s Club Marine Long Island Race, the second day of racing at Hahn Premium Hamilton Island Race week

When the optimistic skipper on the Beneteau 390 Risque tried to come across the starting pack on port tack, Brendan Hunt’s Lumina Vitae and Hamish and Michele Petrie’s Ngak Ngak came together then Lumina Vitae and Risque locked rigs forcing both to subsequently retire with mast damage. David Bell’s Sydney based Four Bells also had their day shortened when their backstay broke.

In the confusion at the pin end of the start line Pat Guidice and Brian Pattinson’s bright yellow modified Open 60 Gusto from Melbourne missed the start line and had to re-round.

Bought two years ago from John Biddlecombe, who designed and rebuilt the boat from its original Whitbread hull, this cruiser/racer Open 60 is contesting its first Hahn Premium Hamilton Island Race Week and the crew is out to have plenty of fun.

Gusto recently won the two handed division of the inaugural South Pacific Boomerang Race from Melbourne to Mackay via Vanuatu.

Today’s conditions mirrored yesterday, the opening day of the 23rd Hahn Premium Hamilton Island Race Week with 15-20 knot sou’easters however with the later 11.00am start time, the tides were pushing against the fleet.

First to reach the first mark of the course was Ross Muir’s Beneteau 47.3 Muir but on the reach across the Whitsunday Passage, they weren’t able to hold onto their early race lead and slipped back.

Dayne Sharp’s Beneteau 40.7 RYA also got off to a great start, choosing to stay out of the incoming tide by sailing close to Dent Island. Best of the smaller boats was Roger Down’s Farr 11.6 True Love.

Reaburn Reynold’s Marisa, the smallest boat in the 159 strong fleet competing at this regatta buried the larger boats when she snuck up the western shore of Dent Island and came out on a winning tack across Whitsunday Passage.


The oldest boat in the fleet, Nigel Stokes 1964 built classic Fidelis, had an honorary guest aboard in the former America’s Cup sailor Sir James Hardy who took the helm for part of the race and looked every bit the experienced ocean racing yachtsman that he is.



The Cruising Division is contesting the 23 nautical Club Marine Long Island Race while the IRC Big Boats, IRC Racing, Sydney 38’s, Performance Handicap, Premier Cruising and IRC Cruising divisions set off at 8.00am this morning on a 60 miler, the Club Marine Short Coral Sea Race. Grant Wharington’s Skandia has claimed her second line honours win for the week finishing at 1332 hours this afternoon. Bob Oatley’s Wild Oats X is enjoying a screaming run to the finish and is due to cross shortly.



Tomorrow all divisions will enjoy a lay day and many skippers and crew will attend the sold out Moet & Chandon lunch.



Full results for the Cruising Division and all divisions will be available this afternoon at http://www.hiyc.org.au/results06/html/home.html