88th Bruny Island Race –Intriguing record

by Peter Campbell on 25 Jan 2014 Hobart yachtsman Don Calvert sailed on a winning yacht in the iconic Bruny Island Race for the first time in 1957, crewing for his father Charles on the famous Caprice, later to be known as Caprice of Huon and to represent Australia at the Admiral’s Cup.

Don has been racing his own yacht, the also famous Intrigue in Bruny Island Races since 1985, with the Castro 40 winning the historic race a record nine times.

Next month, Don will aiming for a tenth rating win, a victory that would be of great significance, as October this year will mark the 30th anniversary of the launching of the classic timber racing yacht.

Intrigue won her first Bruny Island Race in 1985 and later that year Don, his crew and his boat were chosen to represent Australia at the Admiral’s Cup in England. Intrigue was the top-scoring Australian team boat in the prestigious international offshore regatta.

'She was built down the Huon and launched on October 12 1984 and we contested our first Bruny Island Race early in 1985,' Don Calvert said. 'I don’t recall how many Bruny Island Races she has competed in, but we have won nine times, the first in 1985.'

Intrigue won her ninth race, taking out the AMS division in 2012. Intrigue is one of the first six early entries for this year’s 88th Bruny Island Race, Tasmania’s oldest long inshore-offshore race. The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania held the first race in 1898, but there have been gaps due to world wars and other factors.

The 2014 Veolia Bruny Island Race, an 89 nautical mile circumnavigation of the elongated island south of Hobart, will start at 9.30a.m. on Saturday, February 8. The start will be off the Royal Hobart Regatta Grounds, just south of the Tasman Bridge, linking it with the 176th Royal Hobart Regatta.

Other early entrants include Gary Smith’s Bakewell-White 45 The Fork in the Road which last year made a clean sweep of major trophies, taking line honours and first place on corrected time under AMS, IRC, and PHS handicap categories.

Also entered are Gavin Adamson’s Mum 36 Madness, David Rees’ MBD 35, Whistler and Rob Fisher’s Adams 60, Helsal 3.

Event website: click here