Please select your home edition
Edition
C-Tech 2021 (Spars-QFX Racer) 728x90 TOP

Septuagenarian skipper goes high tech in IRC

by Peter Campbell on 17 Aug 2008
Treasure - Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week Day 3 Andrea Francolini Photography http://www.afrancolini.com/

Whitsunday yachtsman Harold Menalaus, at the senior age of 79, is arguably the oldest owner/skipper competing in the 2008 Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week, helming Treasure VIII in IRC Division 2.

The retired share investor, originally from Melbourne and then Sydney, has lived at Airlie Beach for the past 15 years and reckons that over the years he has owned 18 boats.

Most of them have been comfortable cruisers, but to satisfy his ‘end of life crisis’ he elected to step up a mark and buy a Sea Quest 36, Reichel/Pugh-designed fast racer/cruiser from the design board of the noted US naval architects who have created such grand prix racers as Wild Oats XI.

‘Harold is a very keen sailor, a good helmsman, but he bought this boat primarily to win line honours in the Whitsunday Sailing Club’s Wednesday afternoon races,’ tactician Chris Pomfret said today.

The impressive-looking RP 36 is built by Sea Quest Yachts in Dubois and while there are no exotic materials used in the hull or rig, this boat is to the forefront of modern racer/cruiser designs.

A feature is the 49% ballast to displacement ratio which makes them a very stiff boat, clearly evident in today’s fresh 18-20 knot south-easterly breeze on Pioneer Bay.

With no overlapping headsails, a sweptback spreader rig and a comfortable interior, the Sea Quest RP 36 is an easy to sail boat for short-handed sailing or a rewarding full-on racing boat, while the interior layout provides for comfortable cruising.

After three races in IRC Division 2, Treasure VIII is third overall in standings with places of 4-2-3. Unbeaten so far is Geoff Pearson’s Archambault 35 Arajilla, while the Sydney 38 Zen (Gordon Ketelbey) has moved into second position with placings of 2-3-2.

Race four for the IRC divisions is continuing this afternoon, with Graham Jones’ Benetau First 45 Bluewater from Port Douglas Yacht Club upsetting the grand prix races in IRC Division 1 this morning’s short windward/leeward course race three.

Bluewater won on corrected time from Michael Hiatt’s Cookson 50 Living Doll and Ray Roberts’ Quantum Racing, leaving Living Doll heading the pointscore.
PredictWind - GPS 728x90 BOTTOMRS Sailing 2021 - FOOTERArmstrong 728x90 - Wing FG Board Range - BOTTOM

Related Articles

PredictWind launches PredictRain
New app From PredictWind delivers hyper-accurate, short-term rain predictions PredictRain is a groundbreaking standalone app that combines advanced AI modelling with intuitive tools to provide timely and precise rain forecasts for all types of outdoor activities.
Posted today at 4:51 am
49er & 49erFX Junior Worlds champions crowned
One final race before the storm kicked in at Øresund The final day of the 2025 Junior World Championship delivered high drama and even higher waves. As wind and rain swept across the Øresund, Race Committees managed to run one final race before safety concerns forced an early end to the competition.
Posted today at 4:43 am
Admiral's Cup: Emotional, Rare, Unforgettable
The 2025 Admirals' Cup set the stage for a bold new era in offshore racing Once the pinnacle of international offshore sailing, the return of the Admiral's Cup was a resounding success, setting the stage for a bold new era in offshire racing.
Posted on 4 Aug
29er World Championship at Porto Day 2
The breeze never quite showed up but the action didn't stop Day two of the Porto World Championships began with hope—and strategy. With light winds in the forecast, the race committee scheduled an early start in anticipation of a short sea breeze window.
Posted on 4 Aug
RS Aero World & Youth Worlds overall
The fine Brittany weather and afternoon sea breezes have provided excellent racing The stage was set for a dramatic final day showdown in Quiberon Bay, France, to decide the titles for the 7th RS Aero Worlds and 4th Youth Worlds.
Posted on 4 Aug
RS Feva Worlds at Aix-les-Bains, France Overall
Crowning of our 2025 World Champions As our World Championships drew to a thrilling close on Friday afternoon, the atmosphere was electric with anticipation! Sailors and families were buzzing with excitement as they prepared for their journey home.
Posted on 4 Aug
ClubSwan 28 American Series launched
US-based regatta series unites high-performance design with competitive racing. Nautor Swan today announces the launch of the ClubSwan 28 American Series in collaboration with Terry Hutchinson and American Magic, a new high-performance racing circuit designed to ignite competitive sailing in the U.S.
Posted on 4 Aug
Just another event?
Is Cowes Week still a pinnacle regatta? We've been blessed with incredible sailing so far this summer in the UK (for once) with great breeze much of the time, and some of the best events in the world gracing our shores. But, like with Storm Floris, there are clouds on the horizon...
Posted on 4 Aug
Safe Harbor Race Weekend starts Friday
Exciting racing, unforgettable shoreside festivities on tap Ever growing in popularity and caliber, the three-day Safe Harbor Race Weekend will host an impressive fleet of 73 boats on August 8 when it begins its fifth annual edition in Newport, R.I.
Posted on 4 Aug
Tenerife Windsurf Grand Slam Day 3
Pierre Mortefon draws first blood after the wind fills in late After a couple of days of waiting for the wind, Day 3 eventually provided the goods to end the wait for some official competition as the Slalom X got under way during the early evening in 15-18 knots of wind.
Posted on 4 Aug