Youth Brigade march home

WHEN the Australian 12metre yacht Gretel II made her second challenge for the America’s Cup at Newport, Rhode Island, in 1977 her crew dubbed themselves “Dad’s Army” because of their average age of near 40.

Skippered by veteran Gordon Ingate (now in his 90s) they didn’t reach the Challenge Match, but made their mark as a colourful team in the historic seaport.

Yesterday it was the “Youth Brigade” aboard GII that took line honours and first place on corrected time in the Port Cygnet Regatta passage race from Hobart to

Kettering. The beautifully restored Gretel II turned on a fine performance with five teenage Laser sailors joining owner Mike Maxwell, sailing master Stephen Shield and other experienced bigboat sailors.

Despite having to dip back after breaking the start, GII powered down the Derwent and D’Entrecasteaux Channel to sail the 22-nautical mile course in 2 hours and 33 minutes.

On corrected time GII won Division 1 from Jazz Player (John Dryden) and Breakaway (Victoria Logan) while Tara II (Derek Inglis) won Division 2 from Trevassa (Greg Muir).

In contrast, the passage race from Cygnet to Kettering gave the fleet a fast and spectacular downwind run up the Channel with the trimaran Fleetwing (Chris Wilson) finishing at Kettering in 2 hours 5 minutes.

On handicap, Fleetwing won Division 1 from Flying Skud (Lenny Holland) and Rad (Brad Mackay).

Division 2 went to Heritage (Dallas Carlson) from Catherine (Stephen Pile) and Bess (Christopher Holliday).

The two fleets will combine today in a race from Kettering to Port Cygnet with the main regatta race on Kangaroo Bay tomorrow.