The Line Honours winners in the big races consistently get feted for their achievements. The public and Media struggle to understand the concept of Handicap. Not so with yachties. We all know that this is the great leveller, just how well did you sail your boat in these conditions on this day against this field of competitors?
The Hobsons Bay yacht club may not hold the cache of some of their bigger rivals but the celebrations will be good and long as two of their number head home with wheelbarrow loads of silverware.
Angus Fletcher skipper of Tevake II is a stalwart of the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria and past commodore. He has won various divisions of this West Coast race previously and sailed an absolute blinder of a race this year. With Gale winds and huge swells on the West Coast he not just managed to get the boat consistently moving but mile by mile ran down the well performed eXtasea.
Today the crew walk away with a second on line honours but more importantly a win on both AMS and PHS. AMS is the premier handicap division this year for this race. Congratulations Angus and Crew.
Whilst the weather conditions this year favoured the West coast the East coast fleet slogged through heavy weather and none, on the nose and none. Through all this Merlion skippered by Eddie Mackevicus the latest Hobsons Bay YC competitor to join the ORCV’s racing, played a consistent race. From the start at Portsea Merlion managed to keep a tenuous hold on the leading group. Again sailing with great consistency over a long slow race Merlion acquitted them beautifully.
Just to add to the clean up Robert Bradley's Escapade stamped their authority on the AMS Handicap almost from the start. They walked away with that prestigious honour today.
Today they take away from Tasmania the handicap honours for both the IRC and PHS divisions. The IRC division is the premier division for this race this year.
The ORCV would encourage more participation from Hobsons bay and recommend either of these skippers as possible mentors.
Jennifer McGuigan
