This year’s Hobart and Coffs races have featured great performances across the board by North Sails powered yachts.
The Hobart favourite, Bob Oatley’s Wild Oats, and the Coffs favourite Syd Fischer’s Ragamuffin, both streaked to convincing wins using our latest 3DI and 3DL working and reaching sails. Wild Oats went on to take the triple of line hours, first IRC and a new race record, while Ragamuffin secured a double by also taking out first on IRC and ORCi.
Throughout the various divisions where we find the dedicated sailors who represent the backbone of our sport, North Sails powered yachts continued to dominate with outstanding results.
Due to favourable forecasts both races were tests of boat speed where superior cutting edge sail design and construction technology combined with skilled crews were put to the test.
In the Hobart we saw in Division 1 Stephen Ainsworth’s Loki RP 63 and Jason Vanderslot’s Calm TP 52 take first and second place respectively. North Sail’s staff member Billy Sykes, sailing on Loki commented:
'24 hours of hard running with our Cuban fibre A4 allowed us to maintain average speeds in the high 20 kts range thereby allowing us to stay in the more favoured pressure system as we headed south.'
Other outstanding performances in the Hobart included that of the wonderfully determined Warwick Sherman in his new GTS 43, Occasional Course Language taking first place in Division 2 and in ORCi with Black Jack RP 66 taking out first place.
The North Sail’s tradition of staff participation and quality customer service to every customer regardless of yacht size was also a feature in both races. Billy Sykes, Noel Drennan, Aaron Cole, Peter Antill, Mark Bradford, Vaughan Prentice and David O’Connor all notched up successful passages. We take this active hands-on approach throughout the whole of the season out of a passion for the sport and our desire to ensure that all our clients’ yachts performance with our products is maximised.
Turning to the other divisions in the Coff’s race, outstanding performances by North Sails powered boats were recorded by Wedgetail taking out line honours and a close second to Ragamuffin overall on IRC. David Forbes Merlin Kaiko 52 taking third overall with each of these yachts sporting North 3Di sail technology, and Phil Dash’s Benateau First 40 Just a dash winning Division 2 with his new North Sails Code Zero making a significant difference to a class of yacht that would otherwise struggle in lighter tight reaching conditions.
Further solid performances were recorded by Bruce Hogan and Tina Clifton’s Perpetual Mocean placing fifth overall along with Bob Cox’s Nine Dragons taking sixth place. An impressive six out of 10 North Sails powered yachts featured in the top 10 places in IRC.
Looking forward, the next major event is Geelong Race Week and the team from North Sails will be there sailing a range of boats across the divisions. To find out more on how we can help you maximise the performance of your yacht make sure you contact your local North Sails representative today.
Burke Marine
Burke Marine, suppliers of international quality marine clothing and equipment, was founded by Martin Burke on the shores of Sydney Harbour in 1971. Visit our website for your nearest stockist. [More info]
http://www.burkemarine.com.au
Ensign Ship Brokers
Ensign Ship Brokers was established in 1980 and has spent the last 28 years expanding our marine knowledge and developing our reputation! We strive to provide the very best service! [More info]
http://www.ensignbrokers.com.au/
GME Standard Communications Pty Ltd
Leaders in communications and navigation. Their goal has always been to make products whose innovation, convenience and peace of mind can help improve the lives of their customers. [More info]
http://www.gme.net.au
Hamilton Island Luxury Accommodation
Full range of private apartments, villas and houses on Hamilton Island. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 bedroom options available. All include buggy and island airport or marina transfers. [More info]
http://www.whitsundayholidays.com.au
Multihull Solutions
Multihull Solutions is Australia and New Zealand’s premier offshore and cruising catamaran and trimaran specialist, offering sales and servicing of the world’s finest multihull brands.
[More info]
http://www.multihullsolutions.com.au
Navionics Australia
Navionics is proud of its superb cartographic database comprising more than 25,000 charts and port plans; the largest privately owned database of its kind, the only one using full seamless technology [More info]
http://www.navionics.com.au
OziOpti
OziOpti is all about 'getting kids in boats' and the Australian company supporting the introduction to of the world’s most popular junior sailing yacht, the 'International Optimist Dinghy' [More info]
http://www.oziopti.com.au
Performance Sailcraft Australia (Asia Pacific)
Laser builder Performance Sailcraft Australia has taken on the successful RS Sailboat range from Britain, and is now licensed to build and distribute all of the RS range in the Asia Pacific region. [More info]
http://www.lasersailing.com.au
Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show
2013 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show is Australasia's most significant marine lifestyle event. We look forward to welcoming you to the 25th annual event. [More info]
http://www.sanctuarycoveboatshow.com.au/
Sealink Magnetic Island Race Week
Entries for the fourth annual Sealink Magnetic Island Race Week have opened! 4 days of racing, 5 days of fun – that is what you can look forward to from 3-7 September at Magnetic Island. [More info]
http://www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au
Ullman Sails
For over 45 years, Ullman Sails has been devoted to helping our customers reach their sailing goals. [More info]
http://www.ullmansails.com
VicSail Sydney
Vicsail Sydney Pty Ltd, launched into the Australian sailing fraternity in 1983 and has been sailing strong ever since. At Vicsail, “We Sail the Boats We Sell”. [More info]
http://www.vicsailsydney.com.au