10th October 2009
By Peter Campbell
Photo by John Jeremy
The Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron is the custodian of many fine perpetual trophies of historical significance, reflecting on the deeds of past members or donated to the Squadron in recognition of its status in Australian yachting.
Most perpetual trophies are presented to the season pointscore winners, but on several race days during the summer season other trophies are awarded to the individual race winners in various divisions and classes.
Last Saturday was one such day and some 50 boats turned out in the divisions to race for special trophies, as well as continuing their Spring Series and Short Inshore campaigns. A further 37 Etchells, Dragons and Ynglings also raced.
Division 1 raced for the Duke of Gloucester Cup with victory going to Willyama (R Barron/S Sanlorenzo and T Stanley) by just six seconds on PHS corrected time from Impetuous Too (Graeme Lambert) and Equinox (John Molyneux & Peter Bray).
Division 1 yachts are also scored on IRC and again results were extremely close, with Peter Campbell’s ISuper taking honours by eight seconds from Impetuous Too, third going to Charles Curran’s Sydney.
Division 2 raced for the Carleton Cup, the trophy winner being Alan Husband’s Limelight by a comfortable 2 min 31 seconds, but only three seconds separated alouette (John Waring) and Tangaroa (Tony Gooch).
Past Commodore Jim Dunstan’s Zeus II won the Sydney Hobart Race back in 1981 and the veteran one tonner proved she is still a most competitive boat by taking out Division 3 and the Tarring Cup on Saturday. The handicapper was again right on the ball with just five seconds the margin between Zeus II and line honours winner Wallop (Bryan Collis & Stephen), third going to Kupu Gila (John Anstey).
Division 4 competed for the Rawson Cup, with Steve Sweeney skippering now Hobart-based Peter Campbell’s Hornblower to a comfortable corrected time win from Ron O’Connor’s Salubrious, both boats being Bonbridge 27s.
Third place went to line honours winner Therapy (Tom Cehak).
Saturday was heat two of the Dragon Gold Cup with Carl Ryves maintaining his unbeaten record this season with Sidewinder. However, Sidewinder was hard-pressed by Riga (Martin Burke) and Wizzardry (David Mason & Andrew York).
The Etchells fleet contested a three-heat Mini Regatta which produced three different winners – Carabella IV (Matthew McCann), Shindig (David Sturrock & Richard Chapman) and Bushfire (Jervis Tilly) with only seconds between the top three boats in each heat.
Heat one saw three Etchells black flagged, with one of them, Shindig making no mistake in heat two, scoring a win, followed by a close third in heat three.
However, the most consistent boat on the day was Fathom (Rupert Henry/Tim Molchanoff/David Albert) with placings of 3-4-7 while 3 Gone Missing (David Richard & Todd Trevillian) placed 2-5-11 and Carabella IV with a 1-11-7 scorecard.
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