Cougar II sets a record time in Betsey Island Race

Hobart’s newest racing yacht, Cougar II, today set what is believed to be a
race record time for a port-hand rounding in the Derwent Sailing Squadron’s
traditional Betsey Island race, surfing back up the Derwent in a spectacular
spinnaker run.

Skippered by Tony Lyall, the powerful TP52 class yacht covered the 38
nautical mile course in 3 hours 30 minutes and 9 seconds, averaging more
than 11 knots despite lighter winds and a beat to windward down the river
after the morning start from Castray Esplanade.

“We have yet to search the archives, but we think this is the fastest time
ever for the Betsey Island Race when the fleet has sailed around the island,
leaving it to port,” said DSS general manger Shaun Teideman, who sailed on
Archie.

“The breeze built and backed to the south-east early in the afternoon, giving
us a magnificent square run up the river in a steady 22 knots, along there
were a few broaches in fresher gusts on the way home,” he added.

“We had a great fleet of 58 starters, including several recent Sydney Hobart
and Launceston to Hobart starters in what was also race five of the Combined
Clubs Long Race Series,’ Teidemann added.

Cougar II’s fast time was not sufficient to give the former Victorian 52-footer
a corrected time win in Group 1. She placed third under IRC, but only 13th
under PHS handicaps.

Having her first race back in Hobart after the Sydney Hobart Race, Dump
Truck, Justin Wells’ Ker 11.3, took out the Group 1 IRC division from Sydney
Hobart rivals Whistler (David Rees) and Cougar II.

Greg Prescott’s Melges 32, 2 Unlimited, revelled in the fast spinnaker run
back up the river, finishing third in fleet behind Cougar II and Andrew Hunn’s
Mr Kite, and winning the strong Group 1 AMS division from Dump Truck and
Whistler. Under PHS scoring, 2 Unlimited also won Group 1 on corrected
time, with Mr Kite second and Peter Haros’ Wings Three third

Dave Willans’ Trouble had an outright win in Group 2 fleet, first home and
first under AMS scoring from Footloose (Stewart Geeves) and the syndicate-
owned Easy Street, which also finished first on PHS. Trouble placed second
on PHS, Errol Pyke’s Birgana, third.

The spinnaker run home in the strong sou’easter suited Ian Brett’s
Alumination, finished second in the Group 3 fleet to Joel Bultman’s Grizzly
Adams and first on corrected time. Second place on corrected time went to
Julius Szolvik’s Tihany, the lowest-rating (handicap) boat in Group 3, third to
Tim Maddock’s Quebrada.

- Peter Campbell