Close finish in the TasPorts Maria Island Race

IRC and PHS handicap winner - TasPorts Maria Island Race © Peter Watson

The first three boats in the TasPorts Maria Island Race crossed the finishing line at Castray Esplanade soon after midnight on Sunday morning within half an hour after a shade over 29 hours of close racing.

Brent McKay's Jazz Player took the gun, closely followed by Tim Gadsby's FilePro with Kraken 42S, Mark Bayles and Andrew Sinclair, in third.

Starting in a solid southerly breeze, the fleet made its way across Storm Bay and around Tasman Island to enjoy a spinnaker run up the east coast to Maria. The breeze softened for the return journey, with the smaller boats battling to keep in touch with the early leaders.

At the halfway point, Kraken 42S rounded the northern end of Maria Island with a slender lead over Jazz Player and FilePro but faded to third on the return trip.

Ed Psaltis' Midnight Rambler sailed to her handicap taking out the AMS division and finishing second on IRC. FilePro won IRC and PHS as well as taking second on Line Honours.

Kraken 42S took second in AMS and PHS divisions and rounded out the podium with third on IRC in a very successful weekend for the team.

As well as taking the win on line honours, Jazz Player picked up third place on AMS and PHS.

Two handed boats Sidewinder, Rob Gough and John Saul, and Hip-Nautic, Jean-Pierre Ravanat, both completed their qualifying race to allow them to sail in the two handed division in this year's Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

The next off-shore race in the Combined Clubs calendar is the Derwent Sailing Squadron's Two Capes Race starting at 9:00 on Saturday 27 November.