10:25 PM Wed 17 Dec 2008 GMT
 | | 'Honeysuckle - Hahn Premium Race Week Hamilton Island'
Crosbie Lorimer
|
When you're onto a good thing, stick to it, or so says Ray Harris the proud owner of five Beneteaus in a row. When Sail-World asked Harris why he had remained such a loyal customer, he was effusive in his praise for both Beneteau and their Australian distributor Vicsail. 'They offer very good value for money and they tend to have boats that go well and rate well. You stay with things that haven't let you down.' Harris started with a First 36.7, moved onto the bigger First 40.7, then up to the 47.7, 44.7 and now a brand new First 45. And all his much loved racers have shared a name: Honeysuckle.
Harris learned to sail on the Beneteau First 36.7 and remembers it as a steep learning curve. 'It wasn't my finest hour on the water; but from there on in you learn a lot sailing it, and they're good and reliable boats.' From there he developed a steadily increasing passion for racing, coupled with an impressive results list that includes two division wins at Hamilton Island Race Week. His first win was in 2006 on the 44.7. He took a break in 2007, returned this year with a brand new First 45 and won Grand Prix Division 2 with CYCA commodore Matt Allen on board as a helmsman and Michael Spies as tactician.
This year's win was all the more impressive considering that Harris only took delivery of the 45, the first of its kind in Sydney, in early August with his first race at Hamilton Island. He was racing with his usual Sydney crew, with Spies the only paid professional on board, and said that the cockpit layout of the 45 made it easy for his crew to quickly adapt to the new boat:
'The cockpit layout on the 45 is sensational. It's very open, and with the twin steering wheels, the best handling position that I've ever had..and generally room for all the hustle and bustle that goes on in the cockpit. It's absolutely a pleasure and a huge improvement over the other boats.'
We asked Harris, who after owning five of them has become something of an expert on Beneteaus, whether there were any other features of the First 45 that made her a good racing boat. He replied that the two things that stood out were the 105 overlapping headsail and the flush traveller.
'(The overlapping headsail) means you can get it on quicker, we're coming out of tacks most definitely half a knot faster than when we were with the 44. You'd like to have always the expertise to pull it on quickly but it's much easier to pull on a 105 than a 135. The boat trims up quicker .'
'The traveller is flush to the deck so entry, exit and general movement around the boat is better. The twin wheels also give you easier access, and once you get used to moving from one to the other, it gives you a great helming position.'
Like many racing skippers, Harris has difficulty finding and retaining enough reliable crew (or stopping other skippers poaching them once he's trained them up!) He has a short list of sixteen people, for twelve places, because it's inevitable that there will 'always be a couple away.' Over the summer Honeysuckle will be racing in the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron's series with Harris contemplating some 'interesting' races next year to keep his crew engaged and motivated. Honeysuckle is likely to compete in at least one of the lead in races to next year's Sail Port Stephens event, probably the Pittwater to Newcastle leg.
 | Wot’s Next and Honeysuckle on start Line - 2006 hahn Premium Hamilton Island Race Week Day 7 - Sail-World.com -AUS© |
Honeysuckle isn't the only new Beneteau you'll see out on the water next year. Vicsail's Brendan Hunt said that although the global financial environment meant that new boat sales had cooled, there was still plenty of action with Beneteau owners like Harris trading up into larger vessels, or stepping out of performance boats and into more cruising orientated designs, or vice versa.
Vicsail has three new Beneteau models arriving in Australia next year: the First 40 and the Oceanis 34 and 54. The Farr designed First 40 looks like being a cracker on the race course and a beauty off it, with Beneteau continuing their use of pale, sleek timbers in the internal fit out, complemented by minimalist lines and elegant styling.
'It's specifically aimed at the IRC rating, but it does not alter the fact it's Beneteau. The beauty of the Beneteaus is they survive very well under the different rating rules, but at the end of the day it's a very good, useable boat and a boat that has an afterlife in terms of resale and in family use.'
The Oceanis cruisers are expected to arrive in time for next year's Sydney International Boat Show, with the 34 a possibility for the earlier Sanctuary Cove Boat Show. Hunt said that the Oceanis 34 was likely to be very popular due to its suitability for club racing and potential for three cabin layout, making it an attractive choice for families looking for a cruiser that they can entertain on but also race hard.
'It's a mid 30's boat which is guaranteed to be a successful boat for us. It's a boat you could comfortably fit three cabins into and you have a very good sailing performance so it will fit very well into the club racing and to even the short off shore racing that a lot of our Oceanis owners are going towards.'
Hunt describes the Oceanis 54 as the 'Queen of the Fleet' and a '2,4,6' vessel meaning that it's:
'.able to be handled by two people, able to sleep or separate the sleeping accommodation for four to six people in different sections (with separate head and shower facilities) and being able to have the complete dinner party experience for at least six to eight people. It's the biggest boat fits into the day to day use that our clients have.'
For more information about the Beneteau range contact Vicsail, or just wave to Ray Harris when he's out racing his latest Honeysuckle.
Contact details:
Vicsail Pty Limited
d'Albora Marinas
New Beach Road, Rushcutters Bay NSW 2027, Australia
Telephone:+ 61 2 9327 2088
Fax: +61 2 9362 4516
Email: info@vicsail.com
by Jardine Media
Click on thumbnails to enlarge and find more photos:
         |
Hamilton Island, QLD
Foiling - Components (Wings,Masts,etc)
Windsurfing - Accessories
Kitesurfing - Kites
Stand Up Paddle - Wave & Cruising Boards