Triple success for Crusader’s young crew
BRETT Cooper had one of the smallest boats and the youngest crew in the fleet, but it was a recipe for success as Crusader grabbed line honours and won two divisions in the annual Pipe Open race to open a new season of competition at the weekend.
With five of its seven crew aged between 14 and 17, Crusader not only took the gun, it won both divisions on IRC and AMS handicap.
For the first time in Pipe Opener history, the Derwent Sailing Squadron created a cruising division, which included the former-America’s Cup boat Gretel II, helmed by Steven Shield, which took both line honours and PHS in Friday night’s race from Hobart to Kettering.
Saturday’s race got off to a fantastic start, with Kettering Yacht Club crews joining the action in a 15-25 knot northeasterly. The sight of spinnakers running down the Bruny Island shore provided the spectator fleet with a colourful display in ideal sprint conditions. After three races, which included a run back to Hobart, PHS division one went to Richard Grant’s Cromarty Magellan, with Tony Lagden’s Ripper winning division two.
The cruising division saw Catheryn Kerr’s Almalela take the series in a tightly-contested competition. AMS division one went to Ed Psaltis’ Midnight Rambler and Mike Church’s RQ Six won division two.
Midnight Rambler also won IRC division one, closely contended by past Commodore Steve Chau’s Young Lion, which following its success in the Combined Clubs Winter Series, continued its winning streak, taking top honours in division two.
Opening day is October 3.