The light to moderate winds on the Derwent and Storm Bay could not have been better for the Mumm 30 Cleopatra in yesterday’s Combined Clubs Long Race Series.
Owner Matthew Denholm and his crew capitalised on an early spinnaker run down river in light winds and then a spinnaker run home in a freshening sea breeze to score a handicap double, PHS and AMS, in Group A.
“A very pleasant day on the water, light katabatic northerly for the start, then a building sea breeze as the yachts went down the river,” commented Bellerive Yacht Club sailing manager.
“Group A went out into Storm Bay, the first time for a long time we have used this course, with the windward mark about 6 nautical miles out from the Iron Pot towards Wedge Island.”
BYC race officers sent Group B to Blackman’s Bay, then Seacroft Bay and back to the finish. Group C did a similar course.
Group B start to Saturday
s long race. Photo Peter Watson.
In the freshening sea breeze for the spinnaker run home, Cleopatra was in her element, finishing fourth across the line, astern of Wot’s Next, Filepro and Intrigue and ahead of several bigger boats in Group A,
In the PHS handicap category, Cleopatra won from the Mumm 36 (Gavin Adamson) and Ramrod (Tom Maddock).
In the AMS rated category Cleopatra won comfortably on corrected time from Don Calvert’s Intrigue and Madness.
Intrigue went on to win the IRC handicap category for Group A in close race with Shaun Tiedemann’s Philosopher and Madness.
Ron Akhurst’s Lock On Wood won Group B on PHS from Moonshadow (Anthony Ellis) and Team Wildfire’s Wildfire. Under AMS, first place went to 42 South (Mark Ballard) with Lock on Wood second and Mako (Peter Foley) third.
Lock oN Wood finishing Saturday's Long Race. Photo Peter Watson
In Group C, Steve Mannering’s Camlet Way had an outright win from Kindred Spirit (Peter Alcock) and Wayatih (Alan Morgan).
Yesterday’s results produced some provisional changes to overall positions in Groups A, B and C, but the leading position remain virtually unchanged.
In Group A, PHS, Illusion (David Brett) has moved to the head of the leader-board; in Group B, PHS, Silicon Ship has retained its position; while in Group C, PHS, Camelot Way heads the pointscore.
Philosopher still heads Group A, IMS and has regained first place overall in Group A, AMS.
Words: Peter Campbell
Photos: Peter Watson, Ed Glover
