Whisper’s Montague record
David Griffith and the crew of Whisper won the Montague Island Race and set a new race record.
21 March 2022
Advertisement
Congratulations to David Griffith and the crew of Whisper for winning the 320 nautical mile Montague Island Race in a new record time of 1 day, 5 hours, 7 mins and 34 seconds. The win bettered the previous record set by Helsal II back in 1981 by 98 mins, 41 seconds.
Arriving home just after midnight, the achievement was particularly impressive given the thunderstorm the fleet faced on Friday night.
After a fast exit from the Harbour, Whisper had a few hours of clean sailing in a light E/SE with J3 and full main before the storm hit when they reefed and dropped back to a J4. In conditions comparable to the recent Rolex Sydney Hobart’s first night, the sea state was unpleasant – short and choppy.
Rounding Montague Island off Narooma in sunshine and sparkling conditions, Whisper averaged 14 to 22 knots for much of Saturday before the breeze dropped around Wollongong and they faced a slow grind home.
Advertisement
As at 1300hrs Sunday, seven boats were still on the water with two others, Rum Rebellion and Rum Chaser having retired.
The diminishing breeze had clocked from 150 to 180 degrees on the run home, so it looked like a slow trip back for the fleet, punching into current.
David Griffith said afterwards that they have “built a fabulous crew from Sydney and Lake Macquarie with exceptional talent and camaraderie.”
He particularly wanted to acknowledge the navigational contributions of Michael Bellingham for “putting us in the right parts of the racetrack at all times” and to thank the many volunteers who made the race possible.”
The Montague Island Race is the third and final race in the 2022 Summer Offshore Series.
Whisper’s next hit-out will be RPAYC’s 2022 Club Marine Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Race.
2022 Montague Island Race Results
2022 Summer Offshore Series Results
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement