Derwent Sailing Squadron - Season 'pipe-opener' on the Derwent

9:43 AM Fri 18 Sep 2009 GMT

'Auch, David Bean's Beneteau 44.7 is one of the big fleet contesting tonight's Pipe Opener Series run by Derwent Sailing Squadron and the Huon Yacht Club' Peter Campbell &copy Click Here to view large photo

A traditional night race down the River Derwent and the d'Entrecasteaux Channel from Hobart to Port Huon this evening is heralding the start of the summer season of yacht racing in Tasmania.

The Derwent Sailing Squadron/Port Huon Yacht Club Pipe Opener Series has attracted a fleet of more than 50 boats, including at least seven that sailed up from Port Huon for this evening's start off Castray Esplanade at 7.30pm.

In fact, the Derwent is sparkling with green starboard navigation lights as the fleet sails slowly down the river into a 5 knot south-westerly breeze. Half an hour after the start the leading boats had not passed the John Garrow Light off Sandy Bay.

However, the breeze is expected to freshen from the north-west during the night.

Among the entrants having its first race in Tasmanian waters is Helsal V, a Beneteau 44.7 owned by Rob and Sally Smith, a boat that maintains the name of famous yachts owned by Sally's father, Sydney Hobart and Melbourne Hobart line honours winner Dr Tony Fisher.

Sally skippered her father's yacht Helsal IV in last year's Sydney Hobart Race and now she and her husband, both Derwent Squadron members, have their own boat to race offshore.

Two other boats new to Tasmania making their debut in the Sargisons Jewellers/Kermandie Hotel sponsored Pipe Opener Series are Mark Ballard's 40-footer 42 South, formerly Sydney-based, and Huon Yacht Club member David O'Neill's Red Jacket, recently bought in Melbourne.

Rolex Sydney Hobart Race contenders, Auch, David Bean's Beneteau 44.7 and Todd Leary's She's The Culprit are also entered, along with David Taylor's Sydney 36 Pisces.

The two Mumm 36s from Bellerive Yacht Club, Ian Stewart's TasPaints and Jeff Cordell's Host Plus Executive, are continuing their rivalry as strong handicap contenders in Division 1.

Divisions 1 and 2 boats will race about 27 nautical miles down the Channel to finish off Garden while the Divisions 3 and 4 will sail a shorter course to finish off Gordon Jetty. The fleet will then motor up the Huon River to berth at Kermandie Hotel marina.

Tomorrow, the Port Huon Yacht Club will run the Cock of the Bay Race, a pursuit race start from Port Huon with the fleet returning to Kermandie for the regatta prizegiving on Saturday evening.

by Peter Campbell

Newsfeed supplied by

#News #Sailing #Starboard #North

Derwent Sailing Squadron - Season 'pipe-opener' on the Derwent

Sports/News

Weather Forecasts & Live Reports

Buy & Sell/Classifieds