Weekly Sailing Summary

KEEL BOATS & MULTIHULLS

Addiction, an Inglis 37, was returning home to Melbourne, having taken part in the Melbourne to Port Fairy race. Early Sunday morning she pulled in at Apollo Bay to get out of the weather in Bass Strait. The crew checked with the Harbour Master to ensure there was enough water in the channel at the entrance but after coming in on the leads, they ran aground and lost way immediately. As a result the boat was pushed towards the beach and firmly shoved into the sand. They deployed their anchor immediately and then made efforts to leave the vessel in the "duck" that had come out to assist them. At 1500hrs Addiction was afloat on the higher tide and inside the breakwater, alongside the quay. The vessel sustained damage, most notably to the keel bolts and is to be removed from the water at Apollo Bay for inspection. This year, the ORCV Melbourne to Port Fairy race raised $1500 for the Good Friday appeal. Check out ORCV.org.au for more details.

Peter Harburg’s Black Jack won line honours in the Brisbane to Gladstone Race. The 20 metre maxi, sailed by skipper Mark Bradford, was hampered by unfavourable winds on the final 85 miles and missed beating the record by over an hour. All yachts have completed the race, which started on Good Friday. Brisbane to Gladstone.com.au.

The Hydro Tasmania Three Peaks Race is Australia's premier short-handed sailing and endurance mountain running race and is held every Easter in Tasmania. Team Whistler, skippered by David Rees, was the first to finish with a total time of three days, eight hours, 41 minutes and seven seconds. Three Peaks.org.au.

Former world champion Nick Rogers and his crew of Leigh Behrens and Simon Burrows from Hobart, won the pre-world regatta for the International Dragon class on Melbourne’s Port Phillip, a dress rehearsal for the 2011 world championships to be sailed there next January.

Thirteen yachts started the 11th Solo Tasman Challenge from New Plymouth, New Zealand to Mooloolaba, Australia on April 4. Solo-Tasman.co.nz.

Eighty three boats are set to compete across five different courses at Sail Port Stephens 2010, and with a few late entries still trickling in, organisers anticipate that the fleet could finish in the high eighties in the event's third year. Sail Port Stephens.com.au.

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week has been launched for 2010 with the promise of exciting new activities both on and off the water from August 21 to 28. Superyachts and SB3s will be making their debut and the social agenda will include the inaugural ‘Barefoot & Black Tie’ function at the award winning qualia. All information regarding the 27th Audi Hamilton Island Race Week can be found on Hamilton Island Race Week.com.au.

AROUND THE WORLD

Cape Breton Island claimed their second line honours win of the Clipper Round the World Race passing under the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco with their spinnaker flying at the end of their 5,600-mile journey from Qingdao in China. Qingdao was the second boat to arrive in San Francisco, but they will be awarded third place for Race 7 as the next finisher, Jamaica Lightning Bolt, received a 32 hour and 15 minute redress after going to the assistance of the dismasted California in storm force conditions in the North Pacific. California has arrived in San Francisco with a jury rig. Clipper round the world.com.

Jessica Watson on Ella’s Pink Lady is still in light winds in the Indian Ocean on her way to Australia. She congratulates Abby Sunderland, who is also attempting to break the record for the youngest person to sail solo, unassisted, non-stop around the world, for rounding Cape Horn. Jessica Watson.com.au.

OLYMPIC CLASSES

The Australian Women’s Match Racing crew of Nicky Souter, Nina Curtis and Jessica Eastwell won a silver medal at round three of the ISAF Sailing World Cup after losing a close, hard fought final against Dutch sailor Renee Groeneveld in Spain. The Australian Sailing Team’s Mathew Belcher and Malcolm Page finished fourth in the 470 men’s fleet after a tough medal race where they crossed the line in ninth position. Yachting.org.au.

NEW PRODUCTS

The ACR AquaLink View is a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) with a digital display screen. It provides three levels of integrated emergency signal technology - GPS positioning, a powerful 406 MHz satellite detectable signal and 121.5 MHz homing capability. The AquaLink View fixes the location to within 100 meters and a powerful integrated LED strobe light guides rescuers to an exact location. When activated, the digital display provides the user with reassuring tips on optimizing the use of the beacon. The ACR PLB is available at quality marine retailers and chandleries.

NEWS BRIEFS

Terry and Margaret O’Hare have announced their retirement after nearly 30 years at the helm of the Anchorage Marina and Restaurant in Williamstown, Victoria. Plans have been approved for the development of the nearby Knights Slipway site into a boutique marine centre and all are for sale via expressions of interest. Terry has entered the round Australia race in 2011, which will be his second circumnavigation of Australia by yacht.

New releases in the sail section at Sanctuary Cove Boat Show on 20-23 May include the Dragonfly 35 Swing Wing Trimaran, Fountaine Pajot’s Lipari 41, the Bavaria Cruiser 32, Hanse 375 and Hunter 39. Wichard Pacific is showcasing Profurl’s new generation of flying sail furlers called NEX and Wichard’s MX halyard shackle.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

April 12 - Long Distance Offshore Sailing Seminar - Sail Repairs at UK Halsey Loft, Beach Road Sandringham. ORCV.org.au.

April 12 – 18 -- Sail Port Stephens - Includes the NSW IRC Championship, Commodores Cup (PHS), SB3 National Championship, Sports Boats and the Port Stephens Trophy which has a racing and cruising division. Feeder races for the event are RPAYC’s Pittwater to Newcastle on 10 April and NCYC’s Newcastle to Port Stephens race on 11 April. Sail Port Stephens.com.au.

April 18 - ORCV's Rip Tour on Port Phillip. ORCV.org.au.

April 27 - Long Distance Offshore Sailing Seminar - Medical and Dentistry with Rosie Colahan at Royal Brighton Yacht Club at 7pm. ORCV.org.au.

April 28 - Don McIntyre and crew depart Tonga to re-create Captain William Bligh’s 4,000 mile open boat ‘Mutiny on the Bounty’ voyage. Talisker Bounty Boat.com.

May 4 - Information night at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Rushcutters Bay, Sydney on electrical maintenance with Rob Starkey. All welcome. Please book at CYCA reception on 8292-7800 or reception@cyca.com.au

May 9 - Butlers Business and Law Round Lord Howe Island Yacht Race - The Ocean Racing Club of Victoria is assisting the Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club with their hosting of the 770 nautical mile Category 1 race. ORCV.org.au.

May 11 - Long Distance Offshore Sailing Seminar - Communications with Neville Rose at Royal Brighton Yacht Club at 7pm. ORCV.org.au.

May 20 - 23 -- Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, Gold Coast. Sanctuary Cove Boat Show.com.au.

May 20 – 23 -- 1770 Festival, Town of Seventeen-Seventy, Queensland. Celebrating the "Birth Place of Queensland", this commemorates the visit of the Endeavour and landing of Lt. James Cook and his crew in May 1770. 1770 Festival.com.au.

May 21 – 30 -- Port Douglas Carnivale, Tropical North Queensland. The seaside resort village of Port Douglas sets aside ten days each year to celebrate music, arts, sport, food culture and entertainment. Carnivale.com.au.

May 27 – June 21 -- Vivid Sydney, a festival of light, music and ideas, featuring the spectacular illumination of the Sydney Opera House sails. Events NSW.com.au.

June 8 - Long Distance Offshore Sailing Seminar - Search and Rescue at Royal Brighton Yacht Club at 7pm. ORCV.org.au.

Photograph: Addiction at Apollo Bay by Marc Tracy from Mrs Overnewton, from the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron.