Wild Oats XI continues her lead in Land Rover Sydney GC Yacht Race

by Di Pearson on 31 Jul 2016 2016 Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race - Wild Oats XI continues to lead the 2016 Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race this afternoon, but in the absence of Scallywag, which retired this morning, Peter Harburg’s V70, Black Jack, is doing her utmost to keep the 100 footer honest, just five nautical miles behind her larger rival this afternoon.

The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s 384 nautical mile race is proving to be as tricky as it was forecast to be, and as Patrice’s navigator, Michael Bellingham warned, Coffs Harbour is where some tactical and navigational decisions will need to be made. And that is where the two lead boats are.

Wild Oats XI, skippered by Mark Richards on behalf of the Oatley family, was two nautical miles south east of Coffs Harbour at 3.30pm today. Meanwhile, Black Jack has romped away from the Kiwi V70, Giacomo (Jim Delegat), now 18 miles astern.

Jack Goluzd aboard David Gotze/Michael Cranitch’s Triton gave a run down on what this fleet is experiencing, where a special birthday celebration is the only bright light in the day.

“It’s very frustrating. The wind is all over the place and up and down, I guess that’s what the forecasters call ‘variable’, Goluzd said from 36th place overall.

“We’ve had 20 knots or so, and kept company with boats like Ichi Ban and Balance, but when it lightens off, they get away from us again. We’re currently 20 miles south of Coffs Harbour and our navigator doesn’t think it’s going to get any easier for the next while.

“Fortunately though, because of the conditions, the big boats aren’t getting away – it’s one of those races where everyone has their turn and you have to keep working hard. Our crew are doing a great job keeping on top of it.

“We are having some fun though. We’re on our second slab of birthday cake. Crew member Charlie Spence turned 50 today, so we’re celebrating at sea,” explained Goluzd of crew mate Spence, a Novocastrian who is regional manager for Yancoal.

It is too early to talk who may win the race, but at the afternoon sked, Steven Proud’s Kernan 44, Swish was the leading contender. Proud has been praying for light wind, as it suits Swish down to the ground.

Koa, the TP52 owned by Peter Wrigley and Andy Kearnan, is back up in second place, with Matt Allen’s TP52, Ichi Ban in third. They are followed by the Rogers 46, The Goat II (Sebastian Bohm/Bruce Foye) and two more TP52’s, M3 (Peter Hickson, WA) skippered by Brent Fowler and Balance (Paul Clitheroe) skippered by Mike Green.

A further retirement this afternoon, with the Elliott 13, Last Hurrah, reporting alternator problems. This was to be Peter Bush’s return to offshore racing after a sustained absence, but it has not worked out according to plan.

”We are heading back to the CYCA, with an ETA of 0600hrs (tomorrow morning),” a pragmatic Bush said from his yacht this afternoon.

Sixty nine yachts remain in the race, following the retirement of Scallywag this morning.

In a conversation with Scallywag skipper David Witt late this morning, he said: “It’s a long season – we will be back.”

All information on the Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race is on the official race website.