2018 Stanley race, its a wrap
Thanks to Soiree Bleu for the photos
Well the 2018 Melbourne to Stanley yacht race is a wrap. With trying conditions testing the constitution of many competitors, the strong Westerlies saw a delayed start of 6 hours. In hindsight many welcomed the decision of the race director.
We saw a fleet of 14 start the race after Merlion decided not to start due to the conditions forecast. Some competitors decided to leave early, listening into a Brighton race start on the VHF repeater and mistaking it for the ORCV start. Fortunately they had time to return and prepare once again. The Heads exit proved challenging, especially for those who cut the reef close and battled 8m plus waves.
The race proved fast and wet with 2 sail being the desired sail plan, many opting for a Jib Top reacher. Patriot tried out the new reaching strut to much success, while Bandit proved why perhaps a spinnaker wasn’t a great idea. Still it provided entertainment for others nearby as they collected themselves and a very wet kite and continued on.
The race proved to trying for three yachts, Jinot, Morning Lassie and Sagred who retired and turned back for the heads. The rest of the fleet slogged it out with a couple trying the Western approach, which unfortunately for them didn’t pay off. Smithton Lions Club grabbed a few hours sleep while they could, after preparing all day for the fleet and planning to stay up all night. They are wonderful people and we couldn’t host the race finish without them. A big thank you for the cold drinks and hot food. Diets took the back burner for a while with hot steaks, hamburgers and chips proving too tempting.
Well done to Avalanche for taking out Line Honours, unfortunately not a race record (perhaps next year).
Well done to Soiree Bleu for taking out 1st PHS followed by Avalanche 2nd and Jaffa 3rd.
Well done to Patriot for taking out 1st IRC followed by Avalanche 2nd and Bandit 3rd.
Well done to Patriot for taking out 1st AMS followed by Soiree Bleu 2nd and Avalanche 3rd.
Well done to Maverick, sailing two handed and taking out 1st DHD (the only DHD competitor).
Results have been published, click here for details.
A big thank you to all the race supporters including Queenscliff Coast Guard, Sheryl Robson and the Smithton Lions Club, TasPorts for berthing and Kordia for HF radio sked support. Thanks to Nicholas McGuigan as Race Director with assistants Martin Vaughan, Simon Dryden and Ray Shaw.
See you on the water.
