Dr Who and ABN AMRO Morgans in Bruny Island Race

by Peter Campbell on 12 Feb 2007 Two yachts of widely varying size and age, Dr Who and ABN AMRO Morgans each scored a double victory in the 80th Bruny Island sailed in Southern Tasmanian waters over the weekend.

Dr Who, Roger Jackman’s Davidson 52, took line honours in this historic circumnavigation of Bruny Island, south of Hobart, just 1 minute 19 seconds ahead of ABN AMRO Morgans, the Thomson 9.2 sportsboat skipper by Bruce Calvert.

On corrected times, Dr Who won the IRC Division from the Dubois 40 Intrigue, skippered by David Calvert and Fruit (Mark Ballard) while ABN AMRO Morgans won both PHS and AMS handicap categories.

IN PHS, ABN AMRO Morgans won from Dr Who and Wild West, Michael Denney’s Rocket 31. In AMS, the Victoria-created handicap system now being run in Tasmanian offshore races, ABN AMRO Morgans won from Dr Who and Fruit on corrected time.

Dr Who and ABN AMRO Morgans duelled all the way around Bruny Island, firstly down the ocean eastern shore to round the southern headlands of Tasman Head and South Bruny Head, and then dash up the d’Entrcastreaux Channel to the River Derwent before a freshening sou’easter that reached 20 knots.

Dr Who finished at 8.47pm on Saturday, far ahead of RYCT predictions of a 20 hour race. Her elapsed time was 15 hours 17 seconds. The two leaders dashed between Partridge Island and Zuidpool Rock, at the mouth of the Channel in three hours, averaging 12 knots.