David Griffith’s 62-foot Chinese Whisper has set a new race record in the 2020 Teakle Classic Adelaide to Port Lincoln Yacht Race over there weekend, finishing at 01:34:17hrs in a total time of 10 hours, 34 minutes, 17 seconds.

Griffith held off Sean Langman’s fast-finishing Naval Group by a little more than two minutes, rekindling a rivalry from the 2019 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race that saw the two same boats battling it out up the Derwent River in December.

Previously, the fastest time recorded in the race by a monohull yacht was 12 hours, 3 minutes, 17 seconds, with Chinese Whisper shaving an impressive one hour and 29 minutes off that previous record.

“We were lucky that Wild Oats XI and the really big boats weren’t there but it was great to beat a 70-footer, our friends on Naval Group,” Griffith said after arriving on the docks in Port Lincoln.

“We had a great battle down the last few miles in the dark.”

Griffith said there was a lot of enthusiasm to come to South Australia and compete in the Teakle Classic, having heard great things about it at regattas on the east coast.

He said he and his team were especially looking forward to the Eyre Peninsula hospitality and the famous local seafood.

“None of us have really ever done [the Adelaide-Lincoln race] before, but everyone has said it’s a great race and Port Lincoln’s a wonderful race week to come and do,” he said.

“We’ve never been down this part of the country so it’s exciting to be here.”

Closely following the first two boats was reigning Rolex Sydney Hobart champion, Matt Allen and his TP52 Ichi Ban, followed by Geoff Boettcher’s Secret Men’s Business, which was the first South Australian boat to cross the line.

Weather conditions were described as “glamour” by many of the sailors with consistently strong winds giving teams downwind action all the way to the finish line.

Matt Allen and his team on Ichi Ban were able to come away with the overall race win (IRC Overall) continuing their fine form after winning the 2019 Rolex Sydney Hobart. They will now ramp up for inshore racing over the coming days where it will all be to play for but in some much tighter fast-paced racing.

“It has been a great race and it is great to see so many interstate boats from Melbourne and Sydney. I would really like to congratulate and thank Peter and Ben Teakle for your support of the race which has made a huge difference. A good old fashion regatta, lots of good sailing, lots of stories and lost of camaraderie off the water,” said Allen.

“Thanks to my crew, thanks to all the people that have made this such an enjoyable race and we look forward to the regatta starting tomorrow.”

The remainder of the yachts had fast races as well, with the majority of the fleet finished before midday the following day.

The Club had a great showing in the race with many yachts making the trip down with results including:

• Chinese Whisper – New Race Record, 1st PHS Div 1 and PHS Overall, 3rd IRC Div 1
• Ichi Ban – 1st IRC Div 1 and Overall Race Win, 1st AMS Div 1, 3rd PHS Div 1
• Quest – 3rd AMS Div 1, 5th IRC Div 1
• Naval Group – 2nd Line Honours, 4th IRC Div 1

Click here for the full list of results.