Pipe Opener Weekend 2014 Wow!! What a Weekend of Sailing to open the season in Tasmania. At Derwent Sailing Squadron, last minute preparations keep Don Kerr busy under the watchful eye of Femme Fatale Skipper, Jeff Sharp. Stan Pickering adjusts the furler on ; a Tasmanian designed and built Doven 30. She was the smallest boat in this year s HYC Pipe Opener Fleet. HYC Skippers and crews discuss their chances in Race 1 of the 2014, Pipe Opener Series, due to start at 1900hrs.
Race 1. Hobart to Gordon A combined fleet of Thirty-two yachts faced the Starter off Castray Esplanade, Hobart at 1900hrs. Friday night, 19 th September 2104. The Huon Yacht Club Skippers and crews sailed their boats hard from Hobart to Gordon in near perfect conditions. A fresh and variable Southwesterly brought the faster boats to finish before midnight near Gordon, and was last over the line at 0220hrs. Sadly, Matisse retired before reaching the finish line. HYC yachts did not gain a placing in this race, however, all finished early enough to allow time to reach Port Huon for some rest before presenting at the Shipwrights Point starting line for the 46 th. Cock of the Huon at 1400hrs. Race 2. Huon Aquaculture,Cock of the Huon In the race for the prestigious Caprice of Huon Trophy, twenty-six yachts entered, but only twenty-five started as Kharis ran aground on Pipiriki Reef off Shipwrights point. She was towed off by DSS boat Kauilani but did not come to the starting line. Division 3 boats started at 1330, Division 2 at 1345 and Division 1 at 1400. Red Jacket leads the Division 1 Fleet in the Huon Aquaculture, Cock of the Huon race.
The trophy, which is awarded to the best-performed boat over three divisions, was won by Huon Yacht Club boat, Stan Pickering's Doven 30, Stan and his able crew came first on corrected time, bringing the coveted trophy back to Port Huon for the first time in many years. The closely contested race was over an approximately ten nautical mile course on the Huon River, starting and finishing at the HYC clubhouse, Shipwrights Point. On corrected time, First division winner was Andrew Scott's Bellandean followed by Ambrose Coad's Red Jacket, with Scott Sharp's Ramrod in third place. Bellendean leads Division 1. In Cock of the Huon We thank our sponsor, Huon Aquaculture for their generous support.
Bellendean, in front at the start Division 2 was won by Moonshadow, skippered by Anthony Ellis, with second place taken by Port Cygnet Sailing Club boat, Noel Cook's Gomez., and DSS Young Lion, skippered by Steve Chau. Huon Yacht Club s Jeff Sharpe's boat, Femme Fatale came 5th. winning the Cock of the Huon, left first place in Division 3 to the Kaiulani, skippered by Malcolm Cooper, from Lock on Wood, Ron Akhurst, second and Take Five, (last year s winner) Ian Gannon, third. Conditions were ideal for harbour racing on Saturday, with a fresh but variable Southwesterly wind blowing. Many boats were sporting new sails and showing clean hulls and topsides, and the race was very tightly contested. There were no significant downwind runs so spinnakers stayed stowed for the race, with the exception of the multihulled entrant, Fleetwing, Chris Wilson, who managed to fly a small kite on (two) occasions. Photo Lorri Dillon L to R. Bellendean, Moonshadow, Ramrod, Fleetwing.
The race was over by 15:25 giving contestants plenty of time to get ready for the presentation dinner at the Kermandie Hotel on Saturday night. 120 happy sailors and families attended and after the award presentation, enjoyed a sumptuous dinner at the Sass Restaurant at the hotel. An excellent evening was had by all. s crew (L to R.) Paul Shilcock, Graham Foxwell, Stan Pickering and Lee Rankin Race 3. Port Huon to Gordon At 0930 twenty-one yachts presented for the start of the third and final race of the series, on the Wattle Grove side of the Huon River. With a fresh southwesterly wind they were soon out of site behind Brabazon Point. There was action on the foredecks as all raised their spinnakers, which they carried past Huon Island, and Arch Rock to the finish at Gordon. The finish was tightly contested which Red Jacket won by a bowsprit from Ramrod. So close that the sailors could not judge which boat had won. The Officials on Masterpiece were called on and soon put them right. On handicap the results again favoured the Huon Boats. Division 1. First, Red Jacket, Ambrose Coad, Second, Ramrod, Scott Sharp, Third, Cleopatra, Malcolm Denholm. Division 2 First, Femme Fatale, Jeff Sharp, Second, Footloose, Stewart Geeves, Third, Gomez, Noel Cook. Division 3. Fourth,, Stan Pickering.
It was a highly successful weekend of competitive sailing by the Huon Yacht Club Boats. While no places we gained in Race one, all five HYC yachts placed in at least one of the remaining races. Race 1. No Placings, but middle of the fleet for some. Race 2. Division 1. First Second Third Sixth Division 2. Fifth Division 3. First Cock of the Huon Race 3. Division1. First Second Division 2. First Division 3. Fourth Series Scores Division 1. Second Fourth Fifth Bellandean Red Jacket Ramrod Redback (Race 2 only) Femme Fatale Red Jacket Ramrod Femme Fatale Ramrod Red Jacket Bellandean Division 2. Fifth Division 3. Third Femme Fatale Teams Event First Team HYC, Ramrod, Femme Fatale,