Please select your home edition
Edition
Maritimo 2023 S-Series LEADERBOARD

Hobart Combined Clubs Long Race Series Race 5

by Liz Rountree 18 Mar 2024 06:59 UTC 4 February 2024

The last of the Combined Clubs Long Race Pennant was true to the name, with most competitors describing the day as just that, "Long", made longer by the possibility of a sea breeze that never came.

"Sitting off Little Betsy Island with 5 kts of breeze, 3 kts of current and severe backwash from the island, we didn't think we would finish before midnight," laughs IYKYK skipper Steve Chau, sharing what just about the whole fleet was thinking at one point or another.

Luckily the breeze trickled in. managing to bring the troops home with kites up. "It was a glorious run back from Betsy," says Gus McKay the sometimes skipper of Jazz Player, "And we enjoyed some really close views of the impressive Porco Rosso."

While not quite enough for the Cookson 50 to "stretch her legs" according to skipper Paul McCartney, it was still a great day out for Porco Rosso to get ready for some Autumn training before Winter boat work and their 2024 Sydney to Hobart campaign. The team nabbed Line Honours ahead of Gary Smith's Fork in the Road.

And while they didn't have to, David Calvert and Team Intrigue went ahead and took the win for the day in the Division 1 IRC and ORC handicap, locking and throwing away the key on the Pennant win in both categories, leaving Jazz Player the win on PHS.

Intrigue of course is not just a champion yacht, but a maker of champions.

Only 2 weeks ago Jacinta Cooper skippered her for an overall win on the 42 South Women's Regatta, hosted by the Derwent Sailing Squadron.

"Intrigue was a pleasure to sail. She's a well-balanced boat in immaculate condition," shares Cooper. "Absolute credit to the Calvert family for looking after this 40-year-old yacht."

Cooper got her big start in yachting as a young sailor with the help of the Calvert family for her first overseas event in J24s in Newport Rhode Island, and later in J22s in Dubai.

"It was support from the Intrigue fund that helped make these regattas possible," continues Cooper.

Jill and Don Calvert continue to develop new talent, taking on the newest up-and-comers like Jack Harris who is well on his way to his Yacht Masters.

Just behind the winners, Matthew Keal's Fish Frenzy and "CWeeds" Joint Custody had an excellent performance in the final race for 2nd and 3rd in the handicap results for the day, giving Joint Custody the tiebreaker for 2nd overall in the IRC series over Jazz Player, Jazz Player holding on to 2nd in the ORC rating.

IYKYK finished 2nd to Stewart Geeves' Footloose on IRC both in the race and in the series by one point but managed to keep the ORC win for both. Ron Akhurst's Jigsaw had a standout performance in Div 2 to finish 2nd on ORC in the race, for a 3rd place overall in the series behind Footloose.

"Spending lots of time parked, followed by a reasonably fast run home helped us," reports Geeves.

Newcomers Polka Dot Lady (Michael and the Pritchards) and Anna (fresh import from QLD James Chilman) brought extra competition to the division, finishing 1st and 3rd in Line Honours.

Some of the tightest racing took place in Div 3, with a neck and neck nail-biter between Camlet Way and Joie de Vie - each thinking the other had won in the end. "Some boats did better with lifts up the Western shore," says skipper Ben Morgan of Joie de Vie, "Surprisingly it stayed lighter in the East although there was a South-Easterly forecast." He and his team managed to win the day by a mere 40 seconds and in doing so took the series, with Camlet Way (Stephen Mannering) and Astrolabe (Peter Bosworth) in 2nd and 3rd overall.

Once again RO Ian Ross and the team onboard made the most of a lacklustre day, for a competitive finish to the Pennant.

Once sailors have recovered, it might just be time to think about next year - and McKay has got a few reasons why:

"It's personally my pick of the racing out of Hobart. It's really close racing and a mixed bag of conditions that keeps everyone on their toes and provides plenty of hero to zero and then back to hero moments!"

One more Saturday to go, to finish off the Summer Pennants with the last of the Harbour Series...

Full Series Results

Combined Clubs Hosts: Bellerive Yacht Club * Derwent Sailing Squadron * Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania

Related Articles

Marine Auctions: June online auctions
Bidding to open on Friday 20th June The Bidding for the June Online Auction will commence on Thursday 20th June and will end on Thursday 26th June at 2pm AEST. Posted today at 5:19 am
Bulwarks and Bulldust – watch Episode Five
Episode Five - Shane Subichin, The Boat Works - is now up and running Watch along as we speak with Shane Subichin, GM at The Boat Works about his life from tinnies on Sydney Harbour to leading the team at the premier refit and maintenance yard on the Gold Coast. Posted on 6 Jun
New Formula 360 Crossover Bowrider
An exciting new generation of Formula dayboats has arrived An exciting new generation of Formula dayboats has arrived with the upcoming debut of the all-new Formula 360 Crossover Bowrider. Posted on 5 Jun
Michael Rybovich & Sons construction updates
Progress on hulls from 84', 62' down to 42' New construction updates of 70' S/F Hull # 9, 42' S/F hull #10, 75' S/F hull #11, 84' S/F - Hull # 12. Posted on 5 Jun
A very clear video for overhead casting
Stop fly casting 10-2 and start using this method for longer casts Lyall and Nathan have spoken to me often of how to advance beyond the clock face 10-2 using the terms translation before rotation. Posted on 4 Jun
Valhalla 55 Sport Yacht - Ready to ride
Making her highly anticipated debut in Atlantic City The Valhalla 55 Sport Yacht makes her highly anticipated debut in Atlantic City, New Jersey – and it's more than a new model. Posted on 4 Jun
NOAA reduces Atlantic bluefin tuna retention limit
The adjusted limits will take effect June 3, 2025 and extend through December 31, 2025 On May 29, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced adjustments to the Atlantic bluefin tuna daily retention limits for recreational anglers. Posted on 3 Jun
Delegation urges state control of red snapper
Expressing "strong support for a state-led framework to ensure science-based stewardship" South Carolina's congressional delegation, led by Congressman Russell Fry and joined by U.S. Senators, formally urged U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to transfer management of the South Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery to the states. Posted on 2 Jun
Bayliss Boatworks new construction updates
Big Deal's final touches are coming together beautifully Gearing up for her christening later this month, Big Deal's final touches are coming together beautifully. Posted on 2 Jun
Bulwarks and Bulldust – watch Episode Four
Episode Four - Mark Elkington, The Yacht Sales Co. - is now up and running Watch along as we speak with Mark Elkington from The Yacht Sales Co. about his transition from a West Australian crayfisherman to a global sales and support organisation par excellence. Posted on 30 May
Maritimo 2023 S600 FOOTERPalm Beach Motor Yachts