Judging by her double win overnight in the Isle of Caves race. Shaun Tiedemann’s Philosopher is already showing the right form to successfully defend her Australian Yachting Championship IRC division title on Melbourne’s Port Phillip next January.
Owner/skipper Shaun Tiedemann’s plans to take Philosopher, a Sydney 36cr, to Melbourne in early January 2019 to defend the title she won last January. Before then Philosopher will contest the Launceston to Hobart race at the end of December.
Philosopher sailed an excellent night race to win the main IRC handicap category of the Isle of Caves race from Sydney Hobart entrant Black Sheep, skippered by Rob Gourlay, and Ian Johnston's Zephyr. Black Sheep, a Beneteau 45, also took line honours, by just 34 seconds from Tim Gadsby on Filepro and Matthew Keal with Heatwave.
“Many thanks to our crew of Sam Tiedemann, Andrew Davison, Nelson Brown, Nicholas Wellard, Tom Stearnes, Alec Bailey…great job!” skipper Shaun Tiedemann said after the race, the second in the Combined Clubs Offshore Trophy series. "they are again sailing the boat very effectively."
A fleet of 17 contested the Hobart Jaguar – Land Rover sponsored Isle of Caves race, held annually by Bellerive Yacht Club on the eve of today’s Royal Hobart Show public holiday. Starting at 7.00pm on Wednesday evening, the fleet had a beat to windward down the Derwent before a long reach up Frederick Henry Bay to round the island off Primrose Sands. Conditions overnight were 12 knots or less, mainly SE, progressively moving E, NE, N and then NNW, with light patches between the Iron Pot and Opossum Bay on the way back.
"Good gains were made by Zephyr and Heatwave by going west off Taroona, but east was OK as well," add Tiedemann.
Black Sheep took line honours at 01:03:54am today, by just 34 seconds ahead of Filepro with Heatwave third to finish, Philosopher coming home fourth. Just over an hour and 40 minutes separated the 13 boats in Division 1. Black Sheep sailed the course in just under nine hours.
Philosopher also won the AMS category on corrected time, second place going to former Sydney Hobart race winner Ultimate Challenge, now owned by Peter Jenkins, third to Zephyr. Ultimate Challenge, which also represented Australia at the Admiral’s Cup under the ownership of famous Victorian yachtsman Lou Abrahams, won the PHS category of the Isle of Caves Race. Jim Thorpe’s Hydrotherapy took second place with Filepro third.
"Ultimate Challenge had a great race and is really hitting her straps...she is targeting the L2H this year," Shaun Tiedemann also commented.
In Division 2, Wildfire, skippered by Malcolm Robinson won under PHS scoring from Vaughan Lynch on Crescendo and past L2H winner Off-Piste owned by Paul Einoder.
Words: Peter Campbell
Photos: Australian Sailing, Peter Campbell, Peter Watson
25 October 2018
Shaun Tiedemann I Philosopher Sydney 36cr I Australian Yachting Championship I Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race I Rob Gourlay I Ian Johnston I Tim Gadsby I FilePro Sailing I Sam Tiedemann I Andrew DavisonI Nelson Brown I Nicholas Wellard I Tom Stearnes I Alec Bailey I Hobart Jaguar Land Rover I Bellerive Yacht Club I Ultimate Challenge I Peter Jenkins I Jim Thorpe I Malcolm Robinson I Vaughan Lynch I Peter CampbellI Australian Sailing I Australian Sailing - Tasmania I Peter Watson I IRC Rating I Black Sheep Sailing Team I
