The Thomson 7 sportsboat Temptation notched up a victory for Australia’s southernmost yacht club, the Port Esperance Sailing Club, in today’s Derwent Sailing Squadron’s Quantum Autumn Shorthanded Series on the Derwent. Skippered by sportsboat racing stalwart Steve Harrison, Temptation finished second in fleet in Division 1 (two-handed, spinnaker) to John Wearne’s Fish Frenzy, on corrected time winning the race from the consistent Saga (Chris Sheehan) and Fish Frenzy, both from Bellerive Yacht Club.
Port Esperance Sailing Club is located at Dover, Tasmania’s southernmost town at 43º19’ South, and Harrison regularly represents the club at regatta and events in Hobart.
Today’s light north-westerly breeze that ranged from 0 at the start to the odd gust of near 10 knots, suited the sportsboats and other lightweights in the 54 boat fleet. The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania’s new Elliott 6 sportsboats again dominated Division 4 (two-handed spinnaker) finishing seconds apart in both line and corrected time.
Chartered by RYCT club members, Elliott 6 (Daniel Woods) won Division 4 on corrected time by just one second from Elliott 1 (Rod Chamberlain) which had taken line honours by 38 seconds. Third place went to Quebrada (Tim Maddock).
Division 4 (two-handed spinnaker) saw Derwent Sailing Squadron members Stephen Catchpool, helming Hypertronics, and Scott Brain, steering Brainwave, fill the first two places ahead of Karabos (Nick Rogers, RYCT).
Another DSS entry, Mike Rowley’s Huon 10 Planet X won line and handicap honours in Division 6 (three-handed spinnaker) from Pisces (David Taylor, RYCT) and Moonshine (Bruce Palmer).
The two two-handed divisions attracted big fleets with DSS sailing manager Mike Denney and his wife Michelle taking line honours with Wild West in Division 2, but placing last on handicap.
The Bellerive-based, syndicate-owned Farr 31, Wildfire, won Division 2 on corrected time from Jim Thorpe’s Hydrotherapy and Southern Cross (Bill Batt).
DSS entrant L’Etoile (John Dawson) scored a 13 second win on corrected time in Division 3 (two-handed non-spinnaker) from line honours winner Bronzewing (Derek Adams), third place going to Vistula (Greg Biskup).
– Peter Campbell
