It was an early start for the IRC Divisions on day three of Hamilton Island Race Week, with the Nautilus Marine insurance Classic Long & Medium Races on the schedule commencing from 0915.
The 49 nautical mile Nautilus Marine Insurance Classic Long Distance Race starting from Dent Passage saw Rating Division 1 head north and make its way around Coppersmith Rock to finish from the south into Dent Passage in front of Hamilton Island Yacht Club. It was two-time Rolex Sydney Hobart winner Alive who took the win on corrected time, their first for the regatta, to bring them within just one point behind Wild Oats X on the overall standings.
“We had a really good day, it was a lot of fun”, said Duncan Hine, skipper of the RP66 Alive out of the Derwent Sailing Squadron in Tasmania.
“Apparently we did 46 tacks before we learned our lesson, and they finally got through us”, he commented. Wild Oats X passed them on the long beat to Lindeman Island, but not without a fight.
“We’re a brand new team, well most of us. I’ve got four people here who have never been on the boat before so it made it very interesting. But we learned lots from it which was really good”, said Hine.
“I don’t wanna say it but that’s our forte, VMG downwind, this boat is a weapon”, and that was where Alive got Wild Oats X back.
“They’ve got lots of points of sail that they’re better than us at, but it’s still tight racing”, he finished ahead of another three races in the series.
Rating Division 2 took on the Nautilus Marine Insurance Classic Medium-Distance Race. The fiercely competitive TP52 class, which has been battling it out over the last two days, makes up the majority of the division. Hooligan, skippered by Marcus Blackmore, took their first win on IRC and also closed the overall lead of David Doherty’s Matador to a single point.
Nautilus Marine Insurance Classic Medium Race entrants. Image: Salty Dingo
In IRC Rating Division 3, Ikon skippered by Bruce McCracken moved into the top spot to lead the overall division after an impressive win today, knocking the previous overall division winner Wazza Red Boat skippered by Garth Riley down to third place behind Ian Box’s Toybox2.
Going into the mid-regatta lay day, Raymond Roberts’ Team Hollywood has had another fantastic day on the water, winning both races to keep hold of first place in the overall scoring for the Super 40’s Division.
In the Cape 31 class National Championship, Kukukerchu skippered by David Ross also stayed at the top of the podium after winning their class today, staying two points ahead of B4-Celestial skippered by Sam Haynes.
While Jeff Dodd’s Zero missed out on a podium position today, they have still done enough to manage to hang on to first place overall in the Hamilton Island Multihull Black Division with their impressive placings in previous races.
Mitch Hodgkins’ Tao has also kept steady in their performance and held the top spot overall in the Hamilton Island Multihull White Division.
Hamilton Island Blue Division saw a change to the overall leader as the three-way tie from yesterday was broken. First place is now held by Gin & Tonic, skippered by Mitch White, who have not won a race since day one but have consistently placed everyday to lead six points clear of the runners-up in the division.
Hamilton Island Race Week Division Blue passing Dent Island. Image: Salty Dingo
The overall division winner for Hamilton Island Fluro Yellow continues to change every day, with Kerazy skippered by Shane McKay moving into the top position leading into lay day.
The Hamilton Island Orange Division has a new overall leader, SunFish skippered by Stuart McLeod, who snuck up the leaderboard today to take the lead with a dominant win on corrected time.
L’Esprit skippered by Rick Rogers and David Stoopman stepped into pole position to lead the Hamilton Island Pink Division following today’s races.
In the Trailable Yachts Division Masquerade, skippered by Tom Vujasinovic, had day on day improvements to secure first place going into lay day, and Remco Pen’s Bigger Day Out have maintained a top three position over the last three days of racing in the Non-Spinnaker Division to stay as the overall division winner so far.
The 164 yachts and 2,000 plus sailors will tomorrow enjoy a lay day from racing, a well earned opportunity to take in the stunning surrounds of the Whitsunday Islands.
