New sailing champions in the 21st Banjo's Shoreline Crown Series Bellerive Regatta
by Jane Austin 26 Feb 03:21 PST
21-23 February 2025
Close racing in Performance Cruising - 21st Banjo's Shoreline Crown Series Bellerive Regatta © Jane Austin
Intrigue, skippered by David Calvert from the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, and Saga, skippered by Troy Grafton from the Bellerive Yacht Club (BYC), had comprehensive victories in the Tasmanian Yachting Championship in Hobart on Sunday.
After a break of several years, the Tasmanian Yachting Championship has been resurrected by Australian Sailing-Tasmania in a four-year deal with the Bellerive Yacht Club to host the event as part of the Banjo's Crown Series Bellerive Regatta, with racing keelboats fighting it out on IRC and ORC handicap in two racing group divisions.
Calvert, one of Tasmania's most respected sailors, was a happy and relaxed skipper on Sunday, winning five from seven races in Racing Group One, while Hooligan (Jeff Cordell), won on PHS.
"The conditions really suited Intrigue, she was designed for flat water, being an older boat, it really suited us - I'm so, lucky to have a really tested crew that work really hard together, and we were very lucky at the starts, we had a great day," said Calvert.
It was a similar story for Grafton with five wins securing their place as the top boat on IRC and ORC in Racing Group Two while also taking out the PHS handicap.
Steven Shield, Race Officer for the Racing Group boats, was impressed with the fleet's performance.
"We were running the most southern course of the regatta, which was the IRC Tasmanian titles, Groups One and Two - it was very competitive, they loved the starts, they tried to infringe but luckily, we didn't have to get the 'U flag' out... it was good racing," said Shield.
The Racing Groups managed well in the last race on the final day when the breeze picked up and turned the River into chaos.
"In the last long race, by the time they got down to White Rock and came back it was pretty fresh, it was pushing 25 knots, maybe gusting 30 [knots], but they all coped, it was a really great sail, spectacular," said Shield.
Matt Keal, skipper of Heatwave, took out the unofficial Mumm 36 'World Cup' in a hot contest with Hooligan and Joint Custody (Ian Stewart).
In Performance Cruising Division One, Zephyr, skippered by Ian 'Jono' Johnston, won both the ORC and IRC handicaps, and Flyin' Scud (Adam Goode) had success on PHS.
Johnston also raised $10,000 for prostate cancer awareness by shaving his head at the end of the regatta as part of the onshore festivities.
Pelon (Alf Doedens/Ben Ward) took out Division Two in Performance Cruising on PHS, while the team from Invincible (Bryan Walpole) had a great regatta winning on IRC and ORC, and Yarindi III (Danny Cunningham) took out Division Four.
Chris Boon was victorious in the Sabre Class while fellow Sabre sailor Jo-Anne Verrier won the Crown Series prize for determination and good spirit, which was a testament to her efforts in the tough conditions that tested the fleet on the final day of racing.
Verrier, who's been sailing for 58 years, started sailing Sabres a few years ago and "just loves it." She spent a few minutes reflecting upon her great regatta.
"It's just so awesome being out on the water, the guys were really great, I'm the only woman at the moment that sails the Sabres and, today [Sunday], was exhilarating, scary, and just awesome, it just makes you feel like you want to live another day," said Verrier.
George Pilkington (Send It) and Fredi O'Donoghue (Salty) each had a cracker of a regatta, with Pilkington winning the Optimist Class with a perfect score after one discard while O'Donoghue won the ILCA 4s with three wins.
Tom Fader (Short King) was all class and unbeatable across five races in the ILCA 6s, and Henry McQuillen and Thomas Pitt won in a tight tussle in the International Cadet Class.
Rounding out the Off-the-Beach Classes, Fletcher McCormack and Tom Males (Skiff Happens) won in the 49ers, Edward Steedman (Down on the Upside) in the WASZPs, and Atlas Miller and Rory Spinaze-Littlejohn (Boatiful Idoits) [sic] won in the 29ers.
Vice Commodore Troy Grafton thanked Race Officer Nick Hutton and his committee, all the volunteers, parents and participants for their efforts over what was a truly fantastic weekend.
View full results here.