Disko Trooper and RumChaser scooped the handicap wins in the CYCA’s 2022/23 Two-Handed Pointscore.

The pointscore featured eight boats, competing across six races:

• Disko Trooper (Jules Hall and Matt Wenke)
• Jupiter (Ian Smith and Anssi Paatero/Royce Brennan)
• Likalizard (Chris Warren and Marrie van der Plas)
• Philosopher (David Henry and Stephen Prince)
• RumChaser (Andrew Butler and Anssi Paatero/Andrew Ebbott/Peter Just)
• Salt Shaker (Peter Franki and Drew Jones/Greta Quealy)
• Sine Wave (Greg Mason and Clifford Fairbrass)
• Tumbleweed (Graham Biehl and Nigel Nattrass)

Frustrating light breeze led all boats to retire from the opening Lion Island Race, so the first race wins went to Disko Trooper (Line Honours, IRC and ORC) and RumChaser (PHS) in the Botany Bay Race on Saturday 29 October.

Both boats made it back-to-back wins on various handicaps in the Port Hacking Race on Saturday 19 November – Disko Trooper on IRC and ORC, RumChaser on PHS.

Philosopher (PHS), Salt Shaker (IRC) and Disko Trooper (ORC) claimed the handicap wins in Race 4, the Botany Bay Race on Australia Day.

Tumbleweed won Line Honours, IRC and PHS in the Shellharbour Race (Race 5), while Disko Trooper won on ORC.

Light breeze in the final race (the Newcastle Race on Saturday 11 March) led all competing yachts to retire.

Disko Trooper claimed top spot in the overall pointscore standings on IRC, ORC and Line Honours.

RumChaser finished top on PHS.

Salt Shaker (IRC, ORC and Line Honours), Sine Wave (IRC) and Philosopher (ORC) were also on the podiums.

Placegetters will be celebrated at the CYCA’s Summer Season Prizegiving on Friday 12 May 2023.

RumChaser reflections

Andrew Butler moved into the two-handed racing scene with his J122E RumChaser three years ago.

He competed in his first two-handed Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race with co-skipper Jason Antill in 2022.

To move from fully-crewed to two-handed racing, RumChaser underwent a number of changes, including setting up a Furling Code Zero, Furling J1 and Furling J4, along with upgraded reefing systems for the mainsail and other modifications designed to keep the two crew safe and minimise the effort required to sail in all conditions.

Andrew notes that “with 150m² of spinnaker area”, the 12.2m RumChaser can “be a handful for two crew at times”.

RumChaser was second on PHS and ORC in the 2021/22 Two-Handed Pointscore and was delighted to get the PHS win this year!

Next up for Andrew and RumChaser is getting the boat ready for some cruising with his wife Amber and their two girls Ruby and Indigo on Pittwater over the Easter break.

Enjoy, Andrew and family! Thanks for sharing your story.

Overall Pointscore

IRC

1. Disko Trooper – 13 points
2. Salt Shaker – 19 points
3. Sine Wave – 24 points

PHS

1. Rumchaser – 15 points
2. Philosopher – 21 points
3. Salt Shaker – 23 points

ORC

1. Disko Trooper – 11 points
2. Salt Shaker – 19 points
3. Philosopher – 22 points

Line Honours

1. Disko Trooper – 17 points
2. Rumchaser – 18 points
3. Salt Shaker – 19 points