Please select your home edition
Edition
Maritimo M50

2019 Saint Moritz by GURNERTM Australian Yachting Championship - Day 2

by Lisa Ratcliff 22 Jan 2019 22:56 PST 21-24 January 2019
Khaleesi with Melbourne in the background - Australian Yachting Championship 2019 © Caitlin Baxter

Boats contesting the 2019 Saint Moritz by GURNERTM Australian Yachting Championship shifted gears on day two with the short and sharp mode for the opening windward/leeward races replaced by stamina and picking shifts during the Port Phillip passage race.

Following a light air flat-water start in sou'easters the clouds burnt off and the breeze went right, building steadily throughout the day to a maximum 15-17 knots out of the south-west.

Ray Roberts' slippery Botin 40 Team Hollywood (NSW) narrowly took the corrected time win in IRC division 2 from Bruce McCraken's Beneteau 45 First Ikon (VIC), 19 seconds the difference on handicap over a 24 nautical mile distance race.

Hollywood's tactician David Chapman said "it was a typical start, cloudy and overcast then the breeze went right as forecasted and built, which favoured the boats behind us.

"It was a really good course and the day just got better and better. We've got a couple of new additions in Chris Hosking on main and Ben Durham on runners, both joining us from the TP52 circuit and adding plenty of experience and knowledge."

Team Hollywood's result keeps their perfect scorecard at the championship intact, and they are set to foil McCraken's 2018 Australian Yachting Championship defence.

Matt Allen's Ichi Ban (NSW) led the division 1 fleet of TP52s the 36.5 nautical miles from pillar to post, putting enough distance on the chasing pack to also claim a fourth corrected time win from five starts. They are still only two points clear of Marcus Blackmore's Hooligan and tomorrow's results are crucial in their championship defence.

"It was good to get a bit closer to the others," said Ambition's skipper Chris Dare, the only Melbourne TP52 in IRC division 1 and the newest to the class. "We are having a lot of fun with lots of learning, which is what the regatta is about for us."

In IRC division 3 David Aplin's Whistler, a Mbd 36 from the Derwent Sailing Squadron in Hobart, proved distance racing is their preferred genre. They finally put Shaun Tiedemann's Philosopher, a Sydney 36cr from the same club, on the backfoot in race 5 by taking the handicap win.

Tiedemann and his young crew lead the series by four points with three races remaining going into the closing day.

Craig Unthank's Farrier F22 SKnot is yet to be beaten in the OMR division, now leading the division from Geoff Floyd's Tiger by three points.

Three windward/leewards on Thursday January 24 will complete the IRC championship series for 2019, two for the multihulls. The Bureau of Meteorology's Port Phillip outlook is variable winds below 10 knots around midday tending south-east to south-west 10-15 knots in the afternoon.

The 2020 Australian Yachting Championship are set to be a stand-out, following on from the finish of the 75th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and hosted by the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania in early January. Regatta dates are to be announced.

Progressive championship results available here.

For more information visit www.australianyachtingchampionship.org.au and /or Facebook page.

Related Articles

Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta overall
Final day decider at the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron The final day at the 2025 Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta (AWKR) promised and gave it all - light wind - rain - cold - after Race Officer, Lou Hutton, delved into Melbourne's weather cauldron and shared her findings with competitors at RMYS. Posted on 9 Jun
Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta day 2
Mother and daughter pitted against each other An icy day in Melbourne for Day 2 of the 2025 Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta (AWKR), coupled with high wind blustery conditions on Port Phillip this morning prompted Race Officer Lou Hutton to postpone racing until she reassessed the options. Posted on 8 Jun
Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta day 1
Wet and windy start Rain, a forecast for 20 plus knots with gusts and a cold day on Port Phillip didn't dampen the enthusiasm of those here sailing on Day 1 of the 2025 Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta (AWKR) Posted on 7 Jun
Final opportunity to enter AWKR
This is a final call to female sailors This is a final call to female sailors who would like to race Australia's premier all-female regatta, the 2025 Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta (AWKR), where you will join the 25 already entered in Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron's (RMYS) annual event. Posted on 3 Jun
More join the Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta
18 entries representing Queensland, Northern Territory, South Australia, NSW and Victoria so far Eighteen entries representing Queensland, Northern Territory, South Australia, NSW and Victoria have so far been received for the 2025 Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta (AWKR). Posted on 14 May
Tumlaren Victorian State Titles overall
Yvonne wins lion's share of the 2025 series silver Congratulations go to our recently restored champion Tumlaren, Yvonne, for her take out of the 2025 series silver. All up, Yvonne took out the RMYS T. L. Banks One design trophy, the Bert Ferris Performance trophy and the James Frecheville trophy. Posted on 9 Apr
Tumlaren Victorian State Titles day 1
Fleet revel in Port Phillip's 19 knot conditions With the City of Melbourne as background, Port Phillip, with its infamous short and one metre choppy conditions put out the challenge to six of the best (Tumlarens that is). Posted on 29 Mar
2025 Tumlaren State Titles preview
88 years of Tumlaren One Design yacht racing on Port Phillip This weekend, 29th and 30th March 2025, the 2025 Tumlaren State Titles, will showcase one design racing that has survived and thrived over 88 years of weather tantrums thrown up by Melbourne's Port Phillip. Posted on 24 Mar
Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta entry opens
Two teams were quick off the mark - one from Queensland and one a local entry When Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron (RMYS) opened entries for the 2025 Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta (AWKR), two teams were quick off the mark - one from Queensland and one a local entry. Posted on 18 Mar
CYA Summer Series 2024/2025 on Port Phillip
The eight race series title was a last race, down to the wire, close run thing The eight race series title was a last race, down to the wire, close run thing. On Mercedes IV's heels, point score wise, were the Arthur Robb designed, Akala, a multiple Sydney to Hobart contender and the New Zealander, Marama, designed by Alan Wright. Posted on 17 Mar
Armstrong 728x90 - Wing FG Board Range - BOTTOMV-DRY-XMaritimo M600