Judging by her double win overnight in the Isle of Caves race. Shaun Tiedemann’s Philosopher is already showing the right form to successfully defend her Australian Yachting Championship IRC division title on Melbourne’s Port Phillip next January.
Owner/skipper Shaun Tiedemann’s plans to take Philosopher, a Sydney 36cr, to Melbourne in early January 2019 to defend the title she won last January. Before then Philosopher will contest the Launceston to Hobart race at the end of December.
Philosopher sailed an excellent night race to win the main IRC handicap category of the Isle of Caves race from Sydney Hobart entrant Black Sheep, skippered by Rob Gourlay, and Zephyr (Ian Johnston).
Black Sheep, a Beneteau 45, also took line honours, by just 34 minutes from Filepro (Tim Gadsby) and Heat Wave (Matthew Keal).
“Many thanks to our crew of Sam Tiedemann, Andrew Davison, Nelson Brown, Nicholas Wellard, Tom Stearnes, Alex Bailey…great job!” skipper Shaun Tiedemann said after the race, the second in the Combined Clubs Offshore Trophy series.
A fleet of 17 contested the Hobart Jaguar – Land Rover sponsored race Isle of Caves race, held annually by Bellerive Yacht Club on the eve of today’s Royal Hobart Show public holiday.
Starting at 7.00pm on Wednesday evening, the fleet had a beat to windward down the Derwent before a long reach up Frederick Henry Bay to round the island off Primrose Sands. The overnight breeze remained about 12 knots but swung around the compass throughout the evening.
Black Sheep took line honours at 01:03:54am today, by just 34 minutes from Filepro (Tim Gadsby) with Heat Wave (Matthew Keal) third to finish, Philosopher coming home fourth. Just over an hour and 40 minutes separated the 13 boats in Division 1. Black Sheep sailed the course in just under nine hours.
Philosopher also won the AMS category on corrected time, second place going to former Sydney Hobart race winner Ultimate Challenge, now owned by Peter Jenkins, third to Zephyr (Ian Johnston).
Ultimate Challenge, which also represented Australia at the Admiral’s Cup under the ownership of famous Victorian yachtsman Lou Abrahams, won the PHS category of the Isle of Caves Race. Jim Thorpe’s Hydrotherapy took second place with Filepro third.
“Ultimate Challenger had a great race and is really hitting her straps…she is targeting the Launceston to Hobart race this year,” Shaun Tiedemann commented on the results.
In Division 2, Wildfire, skippered by Malcolm Robinson won under PHS scoring from Crescendo (Vaughan Lynch) and Off-Piste (Paul Einoder).
– Peter Campbell
