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Ray Roberts' team finally wins the IRC battle at Hahn Premium Race Week at Hamilton Island

Sydney yachtsman Ray Roberts and his crew finally put an end to the fight for the Hahn Premium Race Week IRC Racing trophy at Hamilton Island today, beating his nemesis Geoff Boettcher by one place and a matter of just over one minute on corrected time.

And although they did not win the final race today, finishing fourth to Boettcher’s fifth, Roberts and his DK46 Quantum Racing crew were thrilled all the same, as this is the third straight regatta they have won.

Roberts came to Hamilton Island having concurrently won the Sydney Mooloolaba Yacht Race in July and Airlie Beach Race Week which preceded this event - the trifecta and the first boat to claim the three titles in one year.

In the past year, Roberts has also won the Rolex Trophy Skandia Geelong Week and international regattas including the Kings Cup and Royal Langkawi International Regatta with second places in the Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race and Sailing South Week in Tasmania -– a rather impressive feat.

“It makes me and the crew sound like superstars,” Roberts said dockside this afternoon, “but we’re not - the wins have been close, like this one today. None of the wins came easy.”

“We knew to beat Geoff we had to get a good start and then match race him up the windward part of the course. We accomplished that and only just did enough downwind - it was close. At one stage a couple of our new guys panicked and we lost our bowman Gerard Smith over the side after rounding North Molle. He was dunked like a teabag, so we have nicknamed him Gerry Teabag Smith."

However, the smiles said it all. “Yes, we’re all very happy about our win - we had great racing, the competition was tough, especially against Hardys Secret Mens Business and XLR8.”

Roberts went on to compliment his core crew: “Steve McConaghy (on tactics), Jamie Wilmot, Stu Broom, Bryan Northcote (navigator) and Scott Hinton - they are the best. We are a tight knit crew and we add to that group at the various regattas.”

For Boettcher and his Reichel/Pugh 46 Hardys Secret Mens Business crew it was a very disappointing day. Coming all the way from Adelaide in South Australia, the Hardys crew had the early series advantage with 1-3-1 results.

However, as Boettcher pointed out, “unfortunately we didn’t get all the Island races in, there were courses shortened, almost windward/leewards and that’s when our chances went out the window - it suited the DK46s much better, we are better in the longer ocean races.”

However, Boettcher was complimentary of the winners: “Of course I congratulate Ray and his crew; they did a great job and although we are feeling a little down, we can’t complain, we came second overall – that’s something to be pleased about. The only competition we get in South Australia is against a Beneteau 40.7, so to come to Hamilton Island and finish second - well, that’s just great”.

The South Australian businessman also complimented his main crew, Steve Kemp, Sean Kirkjian and Brad Stephens. “They did a great job, actually they all did a great job on the boat, I couldn’t be happier.”

Both boats have the 2006 Rolex Sydney-Hobart on their agenda. “Last Hobart I beat Ray by 30 seconds in our division – so I guess it was his turn here at Hamilton Island.”

Hardys Secret Mens Business’ sistership, XLR8 owned by Victorian Graeme Troon and steered by Johnny Savage finished third in today’s final race to finish the regatta third overall. Their crew featured some of the best sailors around including Ross Lloyd and Olympic Gold medallist Tom King.