British Defender thunders through

Ian Grant reports on the 2004 Festival Of Sails at the Whitsunday Sailing Club

British Defender, the former Whitbread Round the World Race maxi sloop expressed her all angle sailing speed to clinch an impressive line honours win in the final race of the 2004 Festival Of Sails over the Whitsunday Sailing Club course today.

The 24m maxi cleverly skippered by sailing master Terry Hudson was far too classy on all sailing angles completing The GreatHot FM Whitsunday trophy race with the impressive time of 1 hour 25 minutes 33 seconds creating the second fastest time in the 28 year history of the event.

Most of the credit for this performance should be credited to her crew who never made a mistake with sail handling or race strategy over the 15n/ml triangular course

British Defender racing with some of the race weary sails she carried in the Whitbread was narrowly beaten by Boomerang (David Haines) out of the start but soon gained the ascendancy when she sailed into uncontested wind and sea room.

From there the race became a procession with British Defender leaving a white water wake for the rest to follow eventually logging a race average speed of 10.49 knots in a 10-12 knot breeze to clinch a runaway 10 minute 10 second win over Boomerang with the Scott Juston-designed 60 Millennium (John Clayton) another 25 minutes 11 seconds away third.

The performance of British Defender became the talk of the Whitsunday waterfront when the crews of the 78 yacht fleet and their supporters gathered on the lawn of the Whitsunday Sailing Club to enjoy the traditional ‘sundowner celebration’.

As expected the Gaffers, Luggers and Tall Ships also created a spectacular sight when they set their huge sail area to capture the prevailing breeze.

Their race sailed over a 12 n/ml reach out - reach back type course resulted in a popular win for the Southport Yacht Club registered Herreshoff gaff ketch Francis (Jon Fleming) with the Whitsunday schooner Atlanta (Laurie Piper) and 27m Steel tall ship Solway Lass (Mark Edwards) filling the minor places.

Results: 2004 Whitsunday Festival of Sails Great HOT FM Fun race:

Class over 50ft.
1. British Defender (T Hudson, Qld)
2. Boomerang (D Haines, Qld),
3. Millennium (J Clayton, NSW)

Class 2 A 30-50ft Cruising:
1. Sumasilk (T Woodcock, Qld)
2. Schooner Friendship (C Hesketh, Qld)
3. Magani (B Manson, Qld)

Class 2 B 30-50ft Racing:
1. Alex (H Macadie, Vic)
2. Zulu Chief (D Simpson, Qld)
3. Sandpiper (C Nicoll, Qld)

Div 3A Under 30ft Cruising:
1. Ariadne (D Foy, Qld)
2. Quantum Leap (G Hammon, Qld)
3.Rafran (D Illman, Qld)

Div 3 B Under 30ft Racing:
1. Goofly (P Mitchell, Qld)
2. Wobbly Boot (C Piccinelli, Qld)

Div 4A Cruising Multihulls:
1. Trident (C Henry, NSW)
2. Predator (B Anstee, Qld)
3. Swavy (W Dwyer, Qld) 3.

Div 4B Multihulls Racing:
1. Triple Vision (V Applegate, Qld)

Div 5A: Traditional Yachts pre-1960:
1. Nila (I Duncan, Qld)
2. Tui of Opua (B Morley, NZL)
3. Ileola (M Bochini, Vic)

Class 5B Luggers Gaffers and Square Riggers:
1. Francis (J Fleming, Qld)
2. Atlanta (L Piper, Qld)
3. Solway Lass (M Edwards, Qld)