Quest named IRC Provisional Winner

by Lisa Ratcliff on 4 Aug 2004 Bob Steel's Quest has pipped Andrew Cochrane's Stewart 34 Pendragon for provisional IRC handicap honours in the 19th annual Ingles Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race.

The northerly breeze faded this evening, leaving Pendragon stranded as they struggled to finish before their deadline of 10.00pm.

'The crew is exhausted but we never gave up,' admitted Cochrane as they completed the final miles of the 384 nautical mile course in just 8 knots of northerly breeze.

He has managed to keep his sense of humour despite getting so close to his first major win in this race.

'Perhaps we should have kept the velour curtains on,' he joked, referring to the boat's usual cruising set up.

Pendragon is provisionally second Overall on IRC handicap and Bob Thomas and Ed Psaltis' AFR Midnight Rambler is third.

Bob Steel has enjoyed extraordinary success with his Nelson Marek 46 Quest including Overall honours in the 2002 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's 2002-2003 Bluewater Championship and being named CYCA Ocean Racing Yachtsman of the Year last year.

John Cameron's More Witchcraft has been named provisional PHS Overall winner ahead of Geoff Hill's Strewth and Russel Pieters' Sting.

Fifty yachts have now crossed the finish line off Southport's Main Beach with 12 still at sea.

The last boat due is Mark Davies' Lucifarr, which is due before lunchtime tomorrow.

The official prize giving for this year's Ingles Sydney Gold Coast Race will be held at Southport Yacht Club at 1.00pm tomorrow, August 4.