Pendragon's Quest, the Gold Coast prize

by Lisa Ratcliff on 3 Aug 2004 While most of the crews from the 33 yachts that have now finished the Ingles Sydney Gold Coast relax and unwind at Southport Yacht Club, there are some keeping a close eye on the remaining fleet.

One of those is Bob Steel and his crew off the Nelson Marek 46 Quest, the 2002 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race Overall winner.

They are nervously watching the clock as Andrew Cochrane’s Stewart 34 Pendragon reaches the last 20 mile stretch averaging 5.5 knots, just fast enough to put her provisionally in first place on IRC overall handicap results.

Pendragon, which needs to finish by 10.00pm tonight, has led on handicap for most of this 384 nautical mile race, which began from Sydney Harbour on Saturday at 1.00pm, and the crew are agonizingly close to completing the job.

Thirteen yachts have now retired, the latest David Kent’s Gillawa, which has been bringing up the rear of the fleet and wasn’t due to finish until August 8.