Veteran skipper, yacht go for hat-trick

EIGHTY-YEAR-OLD Hobart yachtsman Frank Chatterton and his 34-year-old yacht Kamehameha are lining for a hat-trick of handicap wins in today’s Combined Clubs pennant race on the Derwent.

Kamehameha has placed first on PHS scoring in the two previous pennant races this summer, the first a river race, the second a long day race to Little Betsey Island return.

A fleet of 55 yachts has entered today’s river race, conducted by the Derwent Sailing Squadron and starting from 1.30pm off Castray Esplanade.

The Tasmanian designed and built Knoop 31, Kamehameha has had an extensive and successful racing career, including twice winning the Half Ton division of the Maria Island Race in the late 1980s.

Kamehameha has competed in several Sydney-Hobart and Maria Island races, and the Launceston to Hobart.

“A syndicate owned Kamehameha when she sailed in the Sydney Hobart and Maria Island races but we have sailed her in four L2H races, including last year,” Chatterton said. “However, at the age of 80 I no longer want to sail in long offshore races; instead we are en- joying then new format pennant races in Group 3.

The new format Combined Clubs summer pennant is obviously pleasing yacht owners and crews, with 45 starters in the first pennant race and 46 in the second. “We hope to crack 50 for today’s race,” said DSS sailing manager Mike Denney.