Victorian Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race nominations  Shogun and Chutzpah have starred in the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria’s Bass Strait race from Melbourne to Stanley, the historic port town on the north-west coast of Tasmania, sailed over the weekend.

In an exciting finish at 0218 Sunday morning, Shogun, Geelong yachtsman Rob Hanna’s recently acquired Cookson 50 (ex Living Doll), overtook John Williams and Graeme Ainley’s Farr 53 Georgia to snatch line honours by just five seconds.

However, handicap honours went to Bruce Taylor’s ILC40 Chutzpah which won both IMS and AMS divisions by impressive margins.

Georgia had led by up to three miles as the fleet sailed south across Bass Strait following the pre-dawn start from Queenscliff, just inside The Rip at the entrance to Port Phillip. 

Shogun steadily overhauled Georgia as the south-easterly breeze freshened last evening to snatch victory on the line off Stanley’s breakwater.  However, the smaller boats were close astern as they sailed into a 15-17 knot sou’easter across Bass Strait and past King Island to Stanley.

Chutzpah, a Reichel/Pugh design launched late last year, sailed an excellent tactical race to cross the finish line in fifth place.

On IRC corrected time, Chutzpah, from the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria, won from Martin Vaughan’s Wild Side, with third place going to Cinquante (Ian Murray).  Shogun placed seventh, Georgia eighth.

On AMS handicaps, Chutzpah won from Andrew Munro’s Godzilla and Wildside.

Thirtytwo of the 34 starters finished the 152 nautical mile race, which was a qualifying event for the Rolex Sydney Hobart and the Heemskirk Consolidated Westcoaster and Eastcoaster races to Hobart.  – Peter Campbell