Combined Hobart Clubs Summer Pennant Series - Race 6
by Jane Austin 9 Jan 22:21 PST
9 January 2021
The Division 3 fleet was eager to get away in Race Six of the Combined Clubs Summer Pennant Series on the River Derwent in Hobart © Jane Austin
Race Six of the Combined Clubs Summer Pennant Series, the third in the Long Race Trophy Series, was sailed in almost perfect conditions on the River Derwent on Saturday.
Race Officer Grant Sutton didn't have a lot of wind to work with but managed to get three of the four divisions away cleanly in the forecast variable conditions of 2 to 3 knots. The Division 3 fleet was keen to get away, bunching up hard on the pin end with Groove (Will Justo) forced over the line before the start and Footloose (Stewart Geeves) also taking a penalty. In Division 4, Hornet (Neville Georgeson) timed her start perfectly in the light conditions, coming in on a port tack and winning the start convincingly.
Sutton was confident that the breeze would fill in and sure enough a 5 to 10 knot south-easterly soon kicked in, building to a superb sea breeze which gave the boats an invigorating ride home.
The Division 1 fleet's course was to Storm Bay and return with the conditions suiting Chris Sheehan's Melges 32, Assagai, who was first across the line, first on PHS and second on AMS handicaps. Midnight Rambler (Jory Linscott) and Intrigue (Don Calvert) continue their battle on IRC and AMS with Rambler winning both handicap categories in the long race.
The Division 2 fleet sailed to Little Betsey Island and return. 42 South (Mike Ballard) had a great day on the water winning across the line from Pirate's Pride (Peter Masterton) and Southern Swordfish (Ian Stewart), as well as winning on PHS and AMS handicaps, while Natelle Two (Glenn Roper) took out the IRC handicap from Frontline (Ian Snape).
Divisions 3 and 4 sailed to Seacroft Bay, Piersons Point and home. Bryan Walpole's Invincible was first across the line in Division 3 while Young Lion (Steve Chau) continued her good run to win on IRC and AMS while Serica (Charles Peacock) won the day on PHS. Hornet was first across the line in Division 4 from Camlet Way (Stephen Mannering) and Innovator (Ian Smith / Dean Aberle) while Camlet Way won on PHS handicap from Kindred Spirit (Peter Alcock) then Innovator in the long race series.