Zephyr means a ‘light, gentle breeze’ but it was quite the opposite when the yacht named Zephyr won the Barnes Day Regatta on Friday.
In fact, it was howling out of the north-west at 25-38 knots in the afternoon, with Division 2 yachts not racing because of the near galeforce winds and several Division 1 forced to retire due to damage.
Ian Johnston and his crew of Zephyr took first place on corrected time in both the passage race from Wrest Point to Dennes Point and in the race on Bruny Island’s Barnes Bay.
The Farr 41 MX, originally from Hong Kong, finished second across the line in both races, winning the morning passage race from Liberte Express (Peter Williams) and Philosopher (Shaun Tiedemann).
In the afternoon race in Barnes Bay, Zephyr won from Philosopher, which took line honours, and Ciao Baby II (Bill Batt).
Tilt (Peter and Catherine Cretan) led the fleet down the Derwent to Dennes Point in the morning passage race, but in the heavy wind of race two, the Marten 49 had difficulty in gybing around the windward mark.
The reefed down Philosopher took the lead to finish just 23 seconds ahead of Zephyr withTilt dropping back to finish fourth in fleet.
Filepro (Tim Gadsby) retired with a torn mainsail.
Overall, Zephyr won Division 1 of the Barnes Bay Regatta, conducted by Kingborough Boating Club, with 2 points from Philosopher on 5 points and Ciao Baby II on 8 points.
With Division 2 restricted to one race the overall results were based on results from the Wrest Point to Dennes Point race in which Breakaway (Victoria Logan) won from Athena (Jane and Phil Mason) with Young One (Nathan Mills and Jay Nibbs) and L’Etoile (Mark Dawson) equal third.
In the China Sea Race, 565 nautical miles from Hong Kong to Subic Bay in the Philippines, the Tasmanian owned and skippered Alive has finished first monohull after a frustrating final day nearing the finish.
Line honours went to the trimaran MOD Beau Geste in record time for a multihull.
Words Peter Campbell
Photo Peter Watson
31 March 2018
