It was Visit Queensland Race Day at SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week, following the lay day, but everyone fired up on a magical, sparkling Day 3 of Townsville Yacht Club’s annual event – the fun and laughter on board the yachts and ashore after racing, said it all.
In SeaLink Spinnaker Division 1, wins in the two windward/leeward races went to David Hows’ Open 60, Awen (Qld) and Stephen O’Rourke’s Melges 32, Panther 32 (NSW). However, it was Hartbreaker’s (Tas) performance with 3-2 results that impressed and moved her to the top of the series leaderboard.
“A boat load of Hobart geriatrics leading the series – who would have thought – and it was nice to get the gun in both races too,” said a laughing Hughie Lewis, owner of Hartbreaker, a Reichel/Pugh 46.
Hartbreaker’s crew helped her to a glamour start in the first race of the day, firing off the pin right on the gun. “And our second start, although not as precise, was pretty good too,” said Lewis, the well-known yachtie, not to be confused with the famous US singer – A1 seems to think it is one person!
“We nailed the first start, the second was not quite as good as the first, but still OK. Our tactician, Mick Dineen picked the shifts nicely, the whole crew did a great job. Only four of my crew carried on from Airlie Beach, the rest are new on the boat, so are still learning it.”
On the conditions on their course area, Lewis said, “It went from just under to 10 knots to 14-15, but mostly around 10-12 range. A beautiful day and nice breeze.
“Denis (Thompson, Principal Race Officer) does such a great job. He talks so much to the competitors, keeps everyone informed, because he wants to see everyone have a fair race. Denis makes it plain and simple. He is terrific,” Lewis shared.
On the boat he bought in April this year, “We are loving it. I didn’t think we’d make it here, as the boat collided with a whale on the way to Airlie Beach. We had to take the keel and bulb off and it took three and a half weeks to repair. So we are so happy to be here.
“We were surprised to do so well in the windward/leewards today, especially after doing so badly in them at Airlie Beach,” Lewis ended.
The rest of the fleet sailed a race that brought the yachts within close proximity of the Island, along Arthur and Florence Bays to Orchard Rocks (it has some of the most interesting rock formations that makes one wonder how some of them balance without toppling into the sea) and beyond to Horseshoe Bay, on a picture-perfect day.
In Division 2, Brian Yarnall’s Jeanneau 49i, Mika (Vic), overcame Craig Douglas’ Beneteau First 47.7 (NSW) and Stephen Green’s J/122, Joint Venture (Qld) to take the spoils. The latter boat’s third place has moved her to the top of the overall leaderboard though.
“It was a fantastic day, we had some terrible earlier races,” Yarnall confessed. “Saturday was awful. Our furler sheet got wrapped and we had to send someone up the mast to fix it and we found some holes. So we decided we had to do well today,” Yarnall said.
“We had breeze all the way today and a fantastic view of the Island, which the crew hadn’t seen before. We had a good start, kept away from all those barging and kept up with all the other boats around the course.
“Our crew work was fantastic, we didn’t have any breakages, so a good day out!”
Chris Morgan was the big winner in Division 3 as the race win for his Jeanneau 409i, La Quinta (Qld), has given Morgan the series lead by two points over one of his main foes, Brigus, Daniel McSweeney’s Beneteau First 35. Both are from Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron.
Morgan can in part thank Tommy Lee Archer, he reckons. His crew come singer-guitarist, keeps the fleet and those shoreside entertained from the marina at Peppers Race Headquarters to the start line. People ashore are joining in singing and clapping. It’s fun.
“Tommy’s guitar playing absolutely helped us win today,” Morgan said.
“We didn’t get off the line really well, but we caught up pretty quickly. I think we were third around the mark at the Island. We were close with Brava and Brigus, our two target boats. We had breeze all the way and got around the course pretty quickly, considering it was mainly around 10 knots.”
Morgan was surprised to get a first today, “We thought we might have been third, which would have been nice, but we won. A bit worried about the handicap now …”
“It was a much better race than Saturday when we fell into a few holes, but we got out and a bit of a puff got us over the line just inside the finish time cut-off. We were luckier than others,” Morgan said.
“It’s going to be fairly light the next two days, which isn’t good for our boat. Not to worry, we’ll take it as it comes,” the philosophical yachtie ended.
A ding dong battle in Division 4 between Rising Sun (Kevin O’Rourke, NSW), Akarana (Vicki Hamilton, Qld) and Aye Sea Red (Vic) resulted in the three finishing in this order. The trio was close all along the Island spinnaker run.
Rising Sun’s kite came down mid-run, as the Army crew struggled to get air into it, but she kept her speed up somehow. Wayne Mercer had Aye Sea Red surging ahead at times, while Akarana kept a steady pace. It was a thriller to watch all three crews concentrate on their trim, while we watched it all unfold from the media boat.
Correction to yesterday’s release. I had Great Xpectations leading Division 4 – she was leading the Non-Spinnaker division and continues to do so after a fifth place this afternoon.
Racing continues tomorrow from 11am – weather permitting.
SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week is supported by Townsville City Council through Townsville Enterprise.
For full results in all divisions, please visit: www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au
By Di Pearson/SMIRW media
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