Melbourne to Hobart East Coaster - Shamrock wins

2:12 AM Mon 29 Dec 2008 GMT

'Shamrock powers along a broad reach M2H East Winner' Teri Dodds &copy

'Shamrock' has just won the M2H East Coaster - well done! The Reichel Pugh 46 has just shown that she is very much still a fast boat. Indeed her Sister Ship, 'XLR8', lead the Cock of the Bay a few days ago right up until the last minutes when the all-conquering TP52 'Shortwave' just got up in time.

Indeed, 'Shamrock' and 'Shortwave' are very fast as you can see from the image, where 'Shamrock', resplendent with her black kite, is racing out Port Phillip Heads just behind the TP and her white kite. Had weather conditions been more favourable on the East Coaster race, it may well have been a more exciting two-sided affair to find out which is the faster route. No doubt the bars around all the country's sailing institutions will be discussing that one for a while to come.

Even more impressive is that this boat was 'Secret Men's Business 2' and had been officially written off after a massive incident at Hamilton Island Race Week. The narrow beamed, sensational looking RP had sustained significant hull damage and like any good restoration, she was not one for the faint hearted!

'Shamrock' only popped her head back out from Mornington Yacht Club in Melbourne a short while ago to get back into Division 0 racing after her rebuild. Congratulations all round to Anthony Donnellan and crew.

by john Curnow

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