Maria Island Race - Good race for Sydney Hobart entrants

10:52 AM Sun 22 Nov 2009 GMT

'David Bean’s Auch and Andrew Hunns’ Mr Kite beating into a 30 knot southerly. - RYCT Maria Island Race 2009' Jane Austin Click Here to view large photo

Tasmanian entrants for the 2009 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, Auch, Archie, She's the Culprit and Dekadence each filled a top handicap place in the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania's Tasports Maria Island Race sailed off the East Coast over the weekend.

Auch, David Bean's Beneteau 44.7, won the premier IRC division on corrected time; Archie, Sally Rattle's Archambault 35 took out the new AMS handicap division' while She's the Culprit, Todd Leary's newly modified Jones 39, placed second, with Auch third.

Line honours winner Mr Kite, Andrew Hunn's Cape 40, which features a canting keel and canard for'ward centreboard, took out the double of line honours and first in the PHS Division in an impressive lead-up to the Launceston to Hobart Race in late December.

Dekadence, David Rees' DK46 and another Sydney Hobart contender, placed second to Mr Kite on PHS corrected time after finishing third across the line astern of Mr Kite and Gary Smith's Marineline/Focal.

The fifth Tasmanian Sydney Hobart entrant in the fleet, Tony Lyall's Eliott 43 Valheru, also sailed impressively, finishing fourth in fleet and fifth in the PHS division.

Rod Jackman's veteran Davidson 52 Dr Who continued her remarkable form in this race, placing third on corrected time in the IRC division and third in the PHS Division.

by Peter Campbell