Tassie women on podium in dramatic keelboat finale

TASMANIA’S two teams contesting the Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta have finished with a third overall and a last race win on a drama-filled final day of heavy weather sailing on Melbourne’s Port Phillip Bay.

Chutzpah38, sailed by Jo Breen and her crew drawn from Hobart’s three major clubs, led the fleet in 25-35 knot winds but the Sydney 38’ high AMS rating dropped them to second on corrected time in race six and third overall.

Ocean Respect Racing, skippered by Katie Spithill, was forced to withdraw after a prestart collision, but with five earlier wins they easily won the regatta from Jungle Juice (Claire Heenan) and Chutzpah38. They also won a first place score in race six after seeking redress for the collision, with the other boat involved being disqualified.

In the AMS scoring, Ocean Respect Racing (NSW) finished with a net 5 point, Jungle Juice 10.5 (NSW) and Chutzpah38 (Tas) 11.5 points.

In IRC, Jungle Juice (NSW) won with a net 6.5 points from Ocean Respect Racing (NSW) on 7.2, Serious Yahoo (Vic) and Chutzpah38 (Tas) both on 15 points. West Australian team Sunshine (Sandy Anderson) won EHC with 19 points from Ocean Respect Racing (NSW) on 20.8 and Rage (T Richardson, NSW) 22.5 and Chutzpah38 (Tas) on 24 points.

In the S80 one-design division, Bellerive Yacht Club’s entry, Assailant, skippered by Judy Marshall and her “Bellerive Bandits” handled the heavy weather sailing with great skill to win the final race. Assailant .finished seventh overall in the S80s.