Hardys Secret Mens Business does the Business

by Rob Kothe on 19 Aug 2006 South Australian Geoff Boettcher, after a major revamp of his Reichel Pugh 46 Hardy's Secret Mens Business, had only enough time left to truck her to the 23rd annual Hahn Premium Hamilton Island Race Week. Today the 'restful ride' paid off, she won the first race in the very competitive IRC class.

Her sister ship, Graeme Troon's XLR8 led the IRC fleet away from the Island end of the line. However Hardys Secret Men's Business, crossed the bow of XLR8 and led to the corner, followed by Michael Hiatt's Cookson 50 Living Doll.

Her rival Cookson 50, Anatole Masfen's Pussy Galore was close behind, followed by XLR8, with Aero, Eoin Fehsenfeld's Cookson 50 was well back in the fleet. Pussy Galore was hit by a gust and rounded up at the top of Dent Island.

Bill Wild's Wedgetail flew past Ray Roberts' Quantum Racing, with Phillip Coombes' DK46 Dekadence following. Behind them, Kato, the little Mumm 30 helmed by Bruce Eddington was riding the stern waves of the bigger boats, enjoying the surf.

Quantum Racing came up to Wedgetail's line and Kato stayed on their tow.

Behind them it was not a good day for Kevin Miller's Nelson Marek 46 Quest of Queensland. Quest rounded up in spectacular fashion and blew their white Travelscene kite to shreds.

As the fleet approached the tip of South Molle, Pussy Galore was still holding out Aero, ahead of Quantum Racing and Living Doll, the three Cookson 50’s all flying staysails inside their spinnakers.

Next was Hardys Secret Men's Business with six boat lengths back to XLR8.

Up past Daydream Island, the lighter XLR8 came at her rival and she sailed ahead by two boat lengths, with both boats closing on Living Doll. All three boats rounded the top of North Molle well, sailing fast, with their kites held to the last second.

Geoff Boettcher: ‘We did not know what to expect from XLR8, both of us having had keel modifications, but they owe us time so to finish right with them was all we needed to do.

'It’s a great team we have now, Sean Kirkjian is calling tactics, with Steve Kemp working with him and young Brad Stephens on main keeps my boat speed on the pace. It’s just the first day of what is going to be great week's sailing.’

Auckland sailor Anatole Masfen was pleased with the much improved down wind performance of his Pussy Galore today. ‘We’ve added the staysail to our down wind inventory and that was a giant improvement. We just pleased to be up there after the first day.’

Ray Roberts commented on Quantum Racing's day. ‘The fast reach conditions just don’t suit the DK46, we will be mid-fleet, it will be our turn on another day.’

Eoin Fehsenfeld a Kiwi anaesthetist, now Geelong based, had a little Thompson 30. He is enjoying his new Cookson 50, sailing with a Kiwi crew, including Mick Cookson and Rodney Keenan from Quantum Sails, New Zealand. ‘Pleased to take line honours, we had a few minor issues. We were a little late for the start and were boxed in, but once we were clear of the Island, we were away. We had some headsail track issues on the beat, but these are easily fixed and we are looking forward to tomorrow.'

Michael Hiatt: 'The reach across was tough for Living Doll, with our fixed keel; it suited Pussy Galore more than us.’

Full results:
http://www.hiyc.org.au/results06/html/home.html