Hobart Combined Clubs Harbour Series - Day 1
by Nick Hutton 16 Oct 2022 08:11 BST
16 October 2022
Whistler scoops the pool in Harbour Pennant © Gill Dayton
Drew Latham's MDB 36 Whistler scooped the pool in ORC and IRC rating divisions on Saturday, taking first place in both divisions of Races 1 and 2 in the Combined Clubs Harbour Pennant series. David Calvert's Intrigue, Michelle and Paul Boutchard's Young Magic, and Chris Sheehan's Assagai shared the minor placings.
PHS Division saw Assagai and Matthew Keal's Heatwave tie for first in Race 1 with the ultra-consistent Whistler in third. Race 2 was won by Garry Cripps' Guilty Pleasures VI from another dead heat, this time between Young Magic and the ever-present Whistler.
The Squadron's race committee was faced with difficult conditions with breezes gusting up to 30 knots and shifting between the west and the south, making setting courses difficult.
Group 1 ran on windward/leeward courses, while Groups 2 and 3 took the journey downriver to Crayfish Point then across the River to Howrah and Ralph's Bay.
Group 1 line honours went to Gary Smith's Fork in the Road in both races with the Bakewell-White 45- footer enjoying the heavier conditions. Guilty Pleasures VI was fast enough to take second in each race with the super-slippery Assagai, a Melges 32, in third.
Jim Thorpe's Hydrotherapy, a Beneteau First 33.7, took the win in ORC and PHS handicap divisions. Kevin Jacobson's Hildr was second and Peter Haros' Wings Three, complete with a new rig, was third in both handicap divisions.
Justin Barr's Rumbeat, an entrant in this year's Melbourne to Hobart Westcoaster, was unlucky enough to break her boom but shipwright Barr should have her back in race trim in plenty of time for the next races in the Combined Clubs calendar, Race 2 in the Long Race Series on 19 November.