sail-world.com -- Zoe-Millar combination enters Gosford to Lord Howe Island Race
Zoe-Millar combination enters Gosford to Lord Howe Island Race
Fri, 1 Mar 2013
The 39th Hempel Gosford to Lord Howe Island Race, to be hosted by Gosford Sailing Club, gets underway on the 6th April 2013.
When Townsville sailor Wayne Millar contacted this year’s Hempel Gosford to Lord Howe Island Race Director Tony Evans in early January, it brought back memories of the event from 10 years before.
Millar is one of six previous winners of the Lord Howe set to contest the revamped event for 2013.
Millar won the 2003 race, which was then run under IMS conditions with his Murray 41 Zoe beating Terry Mullens’ Farr 49, Sting (formerly Yendys) and Matt Allen’s gold Farr 52 Ichi Ban.
'We had a lot of fun with the Zoe entry that year' Evans said. 'Several Gosford guys, who are all mates of mine joined Wayne and his core regular crew, which included Navigator Will Oxley and they sailed the perfect race for a deserved win'.
Neither Millar or Evans have been back to Lord Howe Island since the 2003 race and they are looking forward to something of a reunion this year.
It was well publicised after the 2003 race that Oxley’s reading of the sea surface temperatures, currents and weather patterns meant that Zoe was always on course to beat the handicapper and the rest of the 16 strong fleet.
Will Oxley, a Townsville based Marine Scientist is one of Australia’s most accomplished long ocean racing sailor/navigators and has completed in excess of 200,000 ocean racing miles. His achievements include four Round the World Ocean races, more than a dozen Sydney-Hobarts, he was navigator in the 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race aboard Camper and is presently with Emirates Team New Zealand for the America’s Cup.
Oxley and Millar are close friends who sail together in Townsville whenever their schedules permit and they will be together in this year’s return to Lord Howe.
Built in 1998 and designed for IMS racing, Zoe will find it tough in this year’s Hempel Gosford to Lord Howe Island Yacht Race as she is not treated well under the IRC handicapping system. However, if Oxley does his thing as expected, Millar can hope that Zoe can take advantage of every possible short cut in the 414nm journey across the Tasman Sea to Lord Howe.
Fortunately for Millar and Zoe, a few early high profile withdrawals meant that one of the prized deep moorings became available at the island for the conclusion of the event.
The Zoe-Millar combination is now one of six confirmed entries for 2013 that has previously won the race and joins AFR Midnight Rambler, Balance, Wild Rose and Merlin in the pursuit of becoming the first skipper or yacht to win the race overall twice.
For further information on the 39th Hempel Gosford to Lord Howe Island Race click here.
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