Kontrol fastest ever across Bass Strait!!

by Matt Burton on 13 Nov 2002 Strong easterly winds in this year’s Queenscliff to Stanley Race, run by the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria on Melbourne Cup weekend, assisted in setting a new race record.

Peter Blake and his crew aboard the Jones 14m Kontrol set a time of 14hrs 36mins 15secs, finishing just over 3 1/2 hours ahead of the next yacht, Tevake and an hour inside Peter Hansen’s 1996 record set with PL Lease Management (Future Shock).

The race started in a 10 knot Easterly which continued to build throughout the 152nm course, staying at around 20-30 knots for most of the event. Some yachts recorded gusts of up to 50 knots. Many crew also reported more than usual cases of seasickness due to the confused Bass Strait swell associated with the easterly wind pattern.

Kontrol’s time is the fastest recorded for a race crossing Bass Strait, although it’s a debatable title as there are several different races all of different lengths.

Along with Stanley the ORCV runs, or has run, races to Burnie, Devonport and Launceston. The Royal Yacht Club of Victoria is looking to settle the title in January next year with the “King of Bass Strait” race.

It will start in Devonport and finish back in Melbourne. Competitors will have a 5 day window in which they can start the race, choosing the time that they think will give them the fastest possible crossing.

Meanwhile the handicap results for the Stanley race are as follows: In AMS division
Kontrol took the double from Tevake and Bacardi. Kontrol once again in IRC from Bacardi and Sagacious 5.

In PHD it was Angus Fletcher in Tevake from Amaya and Plantronics Duo Pro. Plantronics Duo Pro (formerly Turbo) also took the points in the 2 handed division yet continued to sail past the finish line for a 500nm course around Bass Strait as part of their qualifying for next year’s Melbourne to Osaka 2 handed Marathon. (All results are available at www.orcv.org.au)