Please select your home edition
Edition
Rooster 2025

52nd Pipe Opener Race preview

by Colleen Darcey & Nick Hutton 10 Sep 2020 21:06 PDT
Crusader - Pipe Opener Race © Colleen Darcey

The success of this years Combined Clubs Winter Series demonstrated the enthusiasm of our Hobart sailors to return to sailing in these unprecedented times. The 2020 Ronald Young & Co Builders Pipe Opener is the traditional lead-up to the official opening of Southern Tasmania yachting season. This year the Pipe Opener will be a collaboration between the Derwent Sailing Squadron and the Kettering Yacht Club.

The tradition of the Pipe Opener will continue as it celebrates 52 years of history under a revamped three-day sailing series. This will be the Kettering Yacht Club's first sailing event since last summer and the local Kettering community are right behind the event in providing community services and catering. This will not only be an event for our sailors, but family and friends will easily be able to join the festivities with only a short 30-minute drive from Hobart to Kettering.

The Hobart to Kettering Race, with the Cruising Division starting at 4pm and Racing Divisions starting at Castray Esplanade at 7.30pm on Friday 18 September, is the opening race and part of the Hobart Combined Clubs Offshore Series. With course options including Storm Bay and the D'Entrecasteaux Channel and, apart from the newly-created Cruising Division, conducted entirely in the hours of darkness this challenging race will test the fleet.

Saturday afternoon sees the Duggan's Concrete Cove Race, hosted by the Kettering Yacht Club, sailed around the scenic Channel, while on Sunday morning the fleet will race back towards Hobart in the Kettering to Pierson's Point Race.

With over 35 entries already received, DSS Vice-Commodore Nick Connor is pleased with how the new format has been received. "All events need to be refreshed from time to time and the Pipe Opener is no exception," he said. "We are enjoying working with Kettering Yacht Club, one of Tasmania's most progressive clubs, in conducting this major event for the Squadron."

"Joining our long-time Squadron sponsor Ronald Young & Co Builders is Duggan's Concrete, a stalwart of the Huon Valley, forming a strong partnership to ensure the viability of the Pipe Opener," Connor said.

A strong fleet will greet the starter on Friday with the winner of the 2020 Combined Clubs Winter Series Division 1 John Dryden's Jazz Player being joined by Division 2 winner Ian Johnston's Zephyr and Division 3 winner Steve Chau's Young Lion.

In Division 1 there is a seriously rapid pair of Melges 32s in Crusader Clennents Mitre 10 (Brett Cooper) and Cockwomble (Andrew Smith) as well as the Cookson 50 Oskana (Michael Pritchard). The crack young crew of Crusader will be testing their overnight sailing skills with 5 of the 8 crew under 18 years of age, with the youngest crew Indy Cooper sailing her first overnight race.

Stretching her legs in a longer race since recently arriving in Hobart is Quest (Quest Syndicate) and it is pleasing to see Mark Bayles' Kraken 42S fully-recovered from damage sustained in a Winter Series collision and joining the fleet for next Friday's race.

The Cruising Division is headed up by Paul Burnell's Beneteau 45 Stella along with the Moody 45 Eenee (Sue Alison-Rogers), Bruce McIntosh's Beneteau 45 Marika and Tamar Yacht Club entrant Believe (Richard Fisher). This Division will be a race within a race as the cruising boats enjoy a lighter sailing program, but still with some white line fever competition.

Related Articles

2024 Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race start
Challenging weather conditions delayed the scheduled 11am start The 2024 Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race began with a measured approach as the Race Committee navigated challenging weather conditions, delaying the scheduled 11 am start. Posted on 27 Dec 2024
Footloose triumphs in Two Capes Race
A great 18-hour contest full of tactical battles hosted by the Derwent Sailing Squadron The Two Capes Race, hosted by the Derwent Sailing Squadron, lived up to its reputation, delivering a great 18-hour contest full of tactical battles. Posted on 24 Nov 2024
Pressure builds for Two Capes Race
16 Tasmanian yachts ready to tackle the 82-nautical-mile offshore course Excitement is mounting for this year's Two Capes Race, with a cracker weather forecast and a competitive lineup of 16 Tasmanian yachts ready to tackle the 82-nautical-mile offshore course. Posted on 22 Nov 2024
Combined Clubs Long Race Series Race 2 Preview
Excitement is building in Hobart as 37 boats prepare to hit the water this Saturday Excitement is building in Hobart as 37 boats prepare to hit the water this Saturday for the second race in the Combined Clubs Long Race Series. Posted on 18 Oct 2024
Derwent Sailing Squadron Winter Series preview
Hobart yachts gear up for Australian Yachting Championships amidst Winter Series As anticipation builds for the prestigious Australian Yachting Championships set for January 2025, Hobart yachts are starting their preparations. Posted on 12 Jul 2024
Combined Clubs Long Race Pennant finale preview
Final race of the series taking place this Saturday There is a full line-up for Saturday's fifth and final installment of the Combined Clubs Long Race Pennant Series. Racing kicks off with a mid-river start at 10am and will finish at Castray Box in Battery Point in the mid to late afternoon. Posted on 15 Mar 2024
Combined Clubs Harbour Pennant Races 5 & 6
Another 'Perfect' day on the water How was the racing? "Oh, you know, we went around some cans, we broke a few things... including our spirits," reports Arunga bowman Charlie Donnelly. But beyond they dry and the deadpan he continues, "It really was a beautiful day, can't complain!" Posted on 19 Feb 2024
Combined Clubs Harbour Pennant preview
Race 4 at Derwent Sailing Squadron is coming up The Combined Clubs Harbour Pennant returns this Saturday for a 1:30pm start. The Derwent Sailing Squadron will be hosting the "short and sharp" style racing that keeps crews on their toes. Posted on 16 Feb 2024
2023-24 Combined Club Long Race 4 Preview
Kicking off a busy month of Summer yacht racing in Tasmania This Saturday's Combined Clubs Long Race kicks off a busy month of Summer yacht racing. Crews racing in the 4th round of the series hosted by the RYCT will be preparing for the club's Bruny Island Race as well as the BYC's Crown Series. Posted on 2 Feb 2024
23-24 Combined Club Harbour Series Race 4 Preview
Young Guns and Old Salts Teams will be shifting gears from long ocean races over the holidays to the short sprints offered this Saturday by the Combined Clubs Harbour racing series. Posted on 19 Jan 2024
Henri-Lloyd Dynamic RangeC-Tech 2020 Tubes 728x90 BOTTOMV-DRY-X