Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania’s Winter Series

by Peter Campbell on 3 Aug 2009
Once again, the fleet in the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania’s Winter Series had to cope with a day of light wind sailing on the River Derwent for Sunday’s fourth pennant race.

In marked contrast to Saturday’s galeforce nor’westerly, with gusts on the Derwent of up to 50 knots, the wind for Sunday’s Winter Series did not get above eight knots in the morning.

The three division winners excelled in the light breeze with good tactical sailing, even if the names of two of them, Wild West and Wildfire, suggested they usually enjoy heavier conditions.

Wild West, skippered by Michael Denney, won Division 1 by just 38 seconds on corrected time from the Stephen Boyes’ Wired which took line honours, third place going to Pisces (David Taylor/Graham McKibben).

After four races in the RYCT Winter Series, Wild West and Wired are each on 10 points, with Fine Cotton (G Adamson) on 14 points and War Games (Wayne Banks-Smith) on 15 points.

Wildfire, owned by the Team Wildfire syndicate, took the line and handicap double in Division 2, second place going to Serenity (Graham Hall), third to Shadowfax (Arias Westland).

With three wins and a second, Wildfire has a commanding lead in the pointscore, with 5 points. In second place, on 13 points, is Just Jones (P Giblin) with Miss Conduct (R Flemming) on 15 points.

Division 3 saw two of the Club’s Elliott’s dominate the race, with Dragon class champion Nick Rogers scoring his second consecutive win at the helm of Elliot 5. Second place went to Elliot 1, helmed by James Anderson while in third place was Vistula (Greg Biskup).

Overall pointscore leader Mrs Pickles, the J24 helmed by Kaye Roberts, was beaten round the track by the two Elliots, and placed fourth on handicap. However, Mrs Pickles’ previous placings of two wins and a second, give the J24 a clear lead with eight points. Elliot 5 (Nick Rogers) is second on 14 points with Elliot 1 (James Anderson) on 21 points.