TCYC's Easter Offshore Bluewater Classic

by Andrew Wallace on 26 Mar 2008
For forty years the Townsville Cruising Yacht Club has a proud tradition of hosting the annual Easter Offshore Bluewater Classic.

Previously known as the Townsville to Dunk Island Race a major sponsorship deal five years ago with Port Hinchinbrook Marina now sees the event run a 98.8 nautical mile course from Townsville to Port Hinchinbrook. In conjunction with the offshore race a second course is run from Dungeness up the picturesque Hinchinbrook Channel to also finish at Port Hinchinbrook.

Starting 1200 Easter Friday the event saw a colourful start with all yachts hoisting spinnakers for a downwind drag race in the light to moderate winds. New boat 'Feral' made an early break leading the fleet past Bay Rock. Feral battled with past line honors winner Zoe as the lead swapped on the upwind leg to Albino Rock, located on the eastern side of Palm Island. Back in the fleet the smaller yachts fought their own battle for the revered handicap trophy.

As night fell the yachts hoisted spinnakers again. The fickle winds proved to separate the men from the boys as those who chanced their hand at bigger sails managed to extend a healthy lead. Unfortunately for Phil McGuire’s boat, Kachina, a lapse in concentration saw them forced to retire after wrapping the spinnaker around the forestay.

After almost 100 nautical miles of racing the line honors winner was decided in the last few miles as Zoe managed to snatch back the lead just short of the finish line in drifting conditions.

Teddy Bears Picnic capped a faultless race with a handicap win followed by Come by Chance in second and The Major third.

The Dungeness to Port Hinchinbrook race was won by Warrigul followed by Supermac and Librian.

PORT TO RESORT RACE
The weather was perfect for this event of two races . First leg was to the Hinchinbrook Island resort, a break for lunch at the resort and a return leg to Port Hinchinbrook.

The morning started with 10 to 15 knot breezes with typical channel gusts making for attententive helmsmanship. Warrigul ran away from the fleet with a tight finish between Two Shea, Mystique and Akarana.

The resort lunch was incredible and many thought of abandoning the race home.

A late start caught a few competitors off guard. The Major took the early lead until overtaken by Mystique. A great spinnaker run by Akarana gave them the speed to run down The Major and take the inside line to power past Mystique. Size does matter and one mile out from the finish the 44ft Mystique got the edge on 36ft Akarana to cross the line first. Akarana second and a late run had Warrigul placed third.

RESULTS

Event: Townsville to Port Hinchinbrook
Start Time 12:00:00

1 TEDDY BEARS PICNIC FARR 37
2 COME BY CHANCE LIDGARD 34
3 THE MAJOR S 90
4 BOUDICEA DUFOR 34
5 AKARANA FARR 1104
6 FERAL FT 10
7 ZOE IMA 41
8 MACH 1 BAVARIA MATCH 38
9 TAPDANCER FARR 11.6 MOD
10 THE BOAT WINDSPEED 32 EXT
KACHINA Mc GUIRE RET


Event: DUNGENESS
Start Time 9:30:00

1 WARRAGAL FINCH 40
2 SUPERMAC S 80
3 LIBRIAN SUPERSONIC 27
4 MYSTIQUE
5 JACK TIMPHENY 14:07:56
6 MY WAY BAVIRIA 14:03:33
7 JEANI ANN
8 SGT PEPPERS
9 TOO SHEA
10 SAVANNA
11 WHISTLING DIXIE

Oerall race winner
Yacht Name RACE 1 RACE 2

THE MAJOR 1:16:18 1:12:27
SGT PEPPERS 1:23:49 1:07:08
AKARANA 1:15:36 1:15:58
WHISTLING DIXIE 1:20:10 1:11:47
JACK 1:23:10 1:09:40
MYSTIQUE 1:18:06 1:15:02
LIBRIAN 1:21:33 1:12:03
SUPERMAC 1:21:45 1:12:10
WARRAGAL 1:19:18 1:23:24


Start Time Race 1 9:35

1 TOO SHEA
2 AKARANA
3 THE MAJOR
4 SAVANNA
5 MYSTIQUE
6 WARRAGAL
7 WHISTLING DIXIE
8 LIBRIAN
9 SUPERMAC
10 JACK
11 SGT PEPPERS

Start Time Race 2 15:30:00

1 SGT PEPPERS
2 JACK
3 WHISTLING DIXIE
4 LIBRIAN
5 SUPERMAC
6 THE MAJOR
7 MYSTIQUE
8 AKARANA
9 WARRAGAL

http://www.tcyc.org.au/