Combined Hobart Clubs Summer Pennant Series - Race 3

Midnight Rambler skippered by Ed Psaltis - Combined Clubs Summer Pennant Series Race 3 © Jane Austin

Conditions proved frustrating for Hobart sailors in the third race of the Combined Clubs Summer Pennant Series sailed on the River Derwent on Saturday.

Gavin Adamson and Janene Frawley, co-skippers of the Mumm 36, Madness, and winners on PHS in Division One, made the most of the unpredictable gusty south westerly wind.

"The breezes were tricky - there was strong pressure under the rain squalls and then big, light patches, but the shortened course definitely favoured boats with lower handicaps," said Adamson.

Midnight Rambler (Ed Psaltis) continued her consistent racing winning Division One on IRC and AMS handicaps. Psaltis leads the series on IRC (five points) and AMS (four points) from Intrigue (Don Calvert) while Fork in the Road (Gary Smith) and Intrigue are equal on PHS on 17 points.

While several of the heavier boats parked in the holes on the racecourse, Ian Snape, sailing his Elan S4 Frontline in Division 2, had the perfect race plan.

"We had a cracking race. We got a good start and tacked early into clean air and decided to just keep playing the shifts working up the west side of the river. Everyone worked hard through the fluky winds to keep the boat healed and moving through the light stuff," said Snape. Frontline was second across the line in Division 2 and won on IRC, AMS and PHS handicaps. Frontline leads the series on IRC (four points) from Natelle Two (Glenn Roper) on eight points and is equal with Illusion (David Brett) on PHS on 12 points, while Southern Swordfish (Ian Stewart) leads AMS on 10 points.

Frontline skippered by Ian Snape - Combined Clubs Summer Pennant Series Race 3 - photo © Jane Austin

Young Lion (Steve Chau) has another excellent day of sailing winning Division Three on IRC and AMS while Miss Conduct (Brian Fleming) won on performance. Chau leads the series on IRC and AMS on three points and Fleming leads on PHS on three points.

In Division Four, Peter Bosworth sailed Astrolabe to victory on PHS from Spinner (Peter Limb) and Ingenue (Nigel Johnston). Ingenue currently leads the series on six points from Peter Alcock's Kindred Spirit on eight points.

The 73rd TasPorts Maria Island Race gets under way next Friday night with the 180 nautical mile race a qualifier for the Sydney to Hobart event.

Find complete results here.