Keppel Tropical Yacht Race - Celestial dominance

by Meghan Andrew on 6 Aug 2013 With the last remaining boat due at 1400 local time Monday, the final placing for the 2013 Club Marine Brisbane to Keppel Tropical Yacht Race have been confirmed, and Sydney based Celestial has dominated Division one, winning both the ORCi and IRC divisions, and taking home second PHS.

The Rogers 46, owned by Sam Haynes has been a regular in NSW events including Sydney to Gold Coast and Sydney to Hobart, and regularly features among the top of the IRC and ORCi results.

The all carbon boat dominated in the light breezes in its first Brisbane to Keppel appearance, winning both divisions by over an hour. Celestial was pushed all the way by Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron local, Kerumba skippered by Tam Faragher finishing second, with Black Jack taking third IRC and Ocean’s Affinity taking third ORCi. After the disappointments of last year retirement, Stewart Lewis’ Ocean’s Affinity won Division one PHS.

The consistently light conditions made Division two a close race, coming right down to the last 30nm when five boats were in a position to take out the ORCi and IRC division. But Keppel Bay local, Tim McCall sailing Arcadia, who had held a slim lead since the start on Friday, wasn't going to let the trophy slip away winning ORCi and finishing third place in PHS and IRC.

The IRC win for Blunderbuss topped off a great year for the skipper Tony Kinsman who has placed well in IRC divisions throughout the year including the Royal Queensland Squadron Championship. Ragtime skippered by Chris Morgan finished second. Southern Cross Yachting led from the gun on Friday taking out the PHS division ahead of Synchronicity.

Line Honours and first pineapple (a Brisbane to Keppel tradition) went to Super maxi Wild Thing who finished the race in one day, 12 hours, 14mins just over 12 hours shy of the 2011 Race Record held by Wild Oats IV. This was two hours ahead of the newly launched Volvo 70 Black Jack and Super maxi Lahana.

The eighth Club Marine Brisbane to Keppel Tropical Yacht Race will be held again in August 2014. For further information on the race including full 2013 results head to the Brisbane to Keppel website.