Champion: Sapphire was the winner in this year’s Southern 80, finishing with a time of 30 minutes and 9.2 seconds. Photo: Steve Huntley
Sapphire was the crown jewel of the Southern 80 in May, winning the prestigious race with a blistering time of 30 minutes and 9.2 seconds.
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Driver Tim Pickford, observer Brian Griffin and skiers Lachy Nix and Aiden Cuff were the fastest to complete the 80km course, clinching their first Southern 80 victory.
It was a spectacular moment for Sapphire, one that was certainly a long time coming.
There was a huge sense of anticipation ahead of the race, the first in over two years.
The COVID-19 pandemic saw the 2021 race scrapped, while the 2022 edition was pushed back from February to May.
But at long, long last, the competitors and boats finally got to take to the water in May, more than 800 days since the last Southern 80.
Sapphire and its crew had established themselves as the pre-race favourite after a stellar run in Saturday’s Baker’s Blitz that saw them claim pole position.
The boat completed the shorter qualifying course in 6:42, a time that earned it the benefit of being the first superclass boat to depart in the big race.
But on Sunday when Sapphire set off, there was some initial confusion over whether it was in fact running at all.
A mishap with the on-board timing mechanism meant the boat’s split times were not being broadcast to commentators and fans and the finishing line — suggesting that the boat may have stopped along the course.
But word soon reached the awaiting crowd that Sapphire was indeed still in the race. In fact, it was churning down the river at a blistering pace.
After crossing the line in just over 30 minutes, the Sapphire team had to wait for the other superclass boats to cross the line before they knew the end result.
For the crew, it was an agonising stretch of minutes that must have felt more like hours.
2020 race winner Superman — considered Sapphire’s closest rival — was still out on the water with a chance of spoiling the party.
The reigning Southern 80 champion after its win in 2020, Superman was on the hunt for back-to-back titles.
But as the seconds ticked by, it soon became clear that Superman would not reach the finish line in time.
In fact, it crossed the line in 30:58.8 – 49 seconds slower than Sapphire.
Superman’s time was actually faster than the one that won it the race back in 2020, but this year it was only good enough for second place.
Temper 2 took the third and final spot on the podium, completing the course in 31:33.8.
Winners: Russell Johnson, left, presents the Leigh Johnson trophy to the Sapphire crew of Aiden Cuff, Tim Pickford, Lachy Nix and Brian Griffin after they won the Southern 80. Photo: Steve Huntley
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