Hall honour for Tassie trio
YACHTING Tasmania’s Hall of Fame each year recognises several of the state’s finest sailors, innovative race and club management officers and tireless club volunteers who are the backbone of the sport.
At last weekend’s Tasmanian Sailing Awards there were three more inductees into the Hall of Fame: Paralympic silver medallist Matt Bugg (Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania/ Derwent Sailing Squadron), race officer Gilbert Leitch (DSS), and longtime club volunteer Michael Darby (Wynyard Yacht Club).
Each richly deserved this honour, with Gilbert recognised for his outstanding contribution to yacht racing on the River Derwent, at both a club and overall level.
The tribute to Gilbert made at the sailing awards function read in part: “Gilbert has been a member of the Derwent Sailing Squadron since 1972 and was elected as a Life Member in 1989. He has played an active role in the DSS sailing program for most of his time at the club.
“He has been on the sailing committee on the Combined Clubs working group committee, served as race officer for the DSS twilight races, Combined Clubs harbour and long races, Sunset Series races and the Hansa Class and other class championships and, of course, the ‘Two Handed Worlds’, which he introduced to the DSS and stood by when there was only a fleet of five boats.
“Through his support and persistence it has now grown to be one of the most popular series run by the DSS, averaging 50 to 60 competitors each series over the last five years.
“Gilbert was also the officer of the day for the very first King of the Derwent race in 1978. For many years he would also start the Friday night race of the Pipe Opener before driving down to Gordon to sit on the jetty taking finish times for most of the night.
“It would be safe to say that in any race that the DSS has put on, Gilbert has played a part.
“He is always thinking about how he can improve the racing, whether it be new courses or races, regularly providing the Derwent Sailing Squadron’s sailing manager and committee with novel ideas, that most of the time have resulted in improved racing for all sailors.
“Gilbert has long been a driving force for innovation in sailing in Hobart, not only for those things already mentioned, but in a range of other activities. For example, he was involved in the organisation of the earliest East Coast classics, and the permanent buoys on the western side of the river are a result of Gilbert’s forward thinking.
“Gilbert has chaired the selection panel for the annual Tasmanian Yachting Awards and Hall of Fame since its inception.
“His input and information was key to ensuring that the Hall of Fame is representative of the highest level of contribution and achievement in sailing within Tasmania.
“Which meant that other members of the selection panel had to keep secret their choice of Gilbert to himself become a member of the prestigious Hall of Fame”.
Riches to Rambler
AMERICAN George David’s Rambler 88 has taken line honours in Britain’s famous ocean race, the 605-nauticalmile Fastnet Race
The silver maxi crossed the finish line off Plymouth breakwater on Tuesday (UK time) in a time of two days, nine hours, 34 minutes and 21 seconds.
This was more than six hours faster than it had managed in 2015 when it ghosted in just four minutes astern of Jim Clark’s maxi, Comanche.
However, Rambler 88’s winning time was considerably outside of the monohull race record of one day, 18 hours and 39 minutes, set in 2011 by the Ian Walker-skippered VO70, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing.
The win had special significance for David. In 2011, the Fastnet Race nearly claimed his life when the keel broke off his 100 maxi, causing the boat to capsize shortly after rounding the Fastnet rock.
David and four others were washed away from their boat, and it was only thanks to a near miraculous set of circumstances that they were rescued shortly before dusk.
Passing the same area this time, David said they had touched base with the Irish rescue services who had saved them six years ago.
“We called the Valentia MSRC, the search and rescue unit for Ireland, and had a talk to them on the radio and the Baltimore RNLI,’’ he said.
“They knew we were there by looking on the tracker.
“We know those people very well, having met them in the direst of circumstances.
“They are wonderful people and it was nice to connect with them.”
The second monohull to finish was Ludde Ingvall’s CQS.