Midnight Rambler dominates

ED Psaltis (Midnight Rambler) was a class act on the water in Saturday’s Combined Clubs Summer Pennant, winning Division One IRC, AMS and taking second in PHS on corrected time.

The 1998 Sydney-Hobart winner and 2019 entrant kept the Sydney 36 steady in the gusty conditions and never looked out of control, with the boat kept under the rig the entire race.

The fleet started the day in soft north-westerly conditions from Castray but the forecast 25-knot cold front hit just before the Iron Pot and did not let up with 30-plus knot bullets shooting down the River Derwent as the fleet battled home.

The Division One fleet sailed a new course down to Clifton Beach, while all other divisions went around Betsey Island.

The fleet battled a wind tunnel through the gap between Hope Beach and Betsey Island, but Derwent Sailing Squadron sailing manager Peter Watson noted the excellent seamanship in the difficult conditions.

“We had three retirements overall, not due to gear damage but with skippers being prudent in the conditions, but the seamanship on display in the tricky conditions was great,” Watson said.

Dr Who (Roger Jackman) revelled in the heavy conditions, winning PHS and finishing second in IRC behind Midnight Rambler, with Intrigue (Don Calvert) third. Division 1 results are provisional with two protests pending.

Natelle Two (Glenn Roper) won Division Two PHS and IRC, while Steve Chau’s Young Lion took Division Three IRC. Young One (N. Mills/J. Nibbs) took out Division Three PHS and Innovator (Smith Aberle) Division Four PHS.