TP52 Battle Continues at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week

After leaving the rolling mist behind and moving to a new course area in the Whitsunday Passage, the IRC classes contesting Audi Hamilton Island Race Week managed one windward/leeward race this afternoon in a light southerly breeze before being granted an early mark by the race committee.

Photo: Andrea Francolini/AUDI

Peter Harburg’s RP 66, Black Jack, scored a second overall win today to be third on the Class A series pointscore at the business end of the regatta.

Black Jack Photo: Andrea Francolini/AUDI

"Well we’d rather be first at this stage, but we’re still within striking distance so we’re not unhappy. We’ve done our best and we’ve had two wins, which is a good thing for a big boat. We’ve tried to optimise the boat for the handicap and these changes along with the crew work are paying off," Harburg said.

Photo: Andrea Francolini/AUDI

Now that the most of Australian Sailing Team have left Hamilton Island, Harburg’s superstar tactician, Olympic gold medallist Tom Slingsby, can settle back into his role on the boat. 

Photo: Andrea Francolini/AUDI

‘We just did the simple things right, good starts and good first leg speed. Downwind the boat really performs well in light winds so we were able to shoot away. Tomorrow it’s game on," Slingsby said.

When asked if he’s sick of sailing coming off the back of a four-year Olympic campaign Slingsby never hesitated, ‘Nope, I love it’.

Photo: Andrea Francolini/AUDI

Rob Hanna’s eighth placing with his TP52 Shogun V today was out of character and this has allowed the TP52 Yendys chartered by Geoff Ross to jump back into the top spot, with both boats equal on 12 points.

Lisa Ratcliff