Match Race Opener to Audi Hamilton Island RW

by Event Media on 23 Aug 2008
In an 18-20 knot sou’easter the fleet contesting the silver anniversary of Audi Hamilton Island Race Week lined up in Catseye Bay, setting off from the start line in waves as each division followed the one in front at five minute intervals.

Peter Harburg’s Reichel/Pugh 66, a development of the Mark Richards’ skippered Wild Oats XI put a stake in the ground today. Following a general recall for the eager IRC Grand Prix Division 1 fleet, Black Jack led the fancied Sydney based boat from the 10.35am start up the first windward work to Lindeman Island and stayed in touch right until the dying stages when Wild Oats slipped ahead to finish by three boat lengths and 29 seconds, crossing the line at 12:38:49.

'We were bow on bow coming into Dent Passage,' said Richards, who also congratulated the crew of Black Jack on a well sailed race.

Harburg and his crew are still settling into the boat they only took charge of last month but skipper Mark Bradford’s observations from today’s 23.5 nautical mile UBS Lindeman Island Race are that their boat speeds are identical.

With a poor start, problems canting the keel in the early stages and a few other issues with the new rig set up, Wild Oats X was underpowered today and can only improve from here. Likewise, each day spent racing on the tropical waters of the Whitsundays will bring more confidence to the Black Jack crew.

The two R/P 66’s stole the thunder of Andrew Short’s 80 footer Shockwave – Club Marine which was heading for its first line honours victory having just arrived back in Australia this week under new ownership. ‘Shorty’, as he’s best known, and his crew of sea dogs in their prime, including Lindsay May, Geoff Cropley and Bob Fraser, went wide up the windward beat and came in at speed on the layline to Kennedy Sound, the channel between Lindeman and Shaw islands.

On the downhill slide to the finish ‘Shorty’, who is also sailing with his wife Kylie and seven year old daughter Maddy, couldn’t hold out the 66 foot flyers.

'On the run back we needed some more rhythm,' admitted Short who has only raced a total of 630 nautical miles in his new boat, in the Newport – Bermuda Race, and hadn’t tested the boat with a racing crew aboard in more than 15 knots of breeze. Still, they managed a top boat speed of 19 knots in the building trade wind but had 'a bit on'.

In the forecast lighter breezes at the end of the week, Short thinks they 'might have chance' to snaffle a couple of line honours wins from the smaller grand prix boats.

Today marked the start of the Trans Tasman stoush for the inaugural South Pacific Cup. Three IRC rated yachts from Australia are being pitted against three of New Zealand’s best. The team that scores the highest accumulated points over the nine races making up the IRC Grand Prix competition at Race Week will be the first to have its name inscribed on the spectacular trophy.

The Hamilton Island Yacht Club team, representing Australia, comprises the current Audi Hamilton Island Race Week defending champion, Yendys (Geoff Ross), who finished second today to Bob Steel’s Quest in IRC Grand Prix Division 1. Team mate Living Doll, skippered by Michael Hiatt, got off on the wrong foot, scored OCS (On Course Side). Results for the third team member, Rod Jones’ Alegria, are yet to be finalised.

Carrying the kiwi flag are three equally strong yachts: Rob Bassett’s 52ft canting-keeler, Wired, the very competitive Cookson 50, Pussy Galore, owned by champion offshore yachtsman Anotole Mafsen, and the thoroughbred Marten 49 cruiser-racer, Carrera, owned by John Meadowcroft.

Results for the remaining division are still being finalised.

Results: http://www.topyachtsoftware.com/results/2008/hammo/series/index.htm

www.hamiltonislandraceweek.com.au