Trans Tasman Win for Bavaria 46 Cruiser
by Jane Pares on 28 Apr 2007
Pebble Rebel seen here sailing two-handed at the start of the 2006 HSBC Coastal Classic, is first home in the TDN Tasman race. Richard Gladwell
www.photosport.co.nz
Bill Byford and Duthie Lidgard sailing a Bavaria 46, Pebble Rebel, took line honours and 1st place in the 2007 New Plymouth – Mooloolaba Race, sailed in April of this year. They covered the 1283 miles (as the crow flies) in 7 days, 7 hours 37 minutes and were as much as two days ahead of the next monohull home.
'I think I’ll retire from ocean racing after this,' commented Duthie, who has spent a life on the water. 'It just can’t get any better.. ! We had 8 plus knots of boat speed in just 10 knots of SSW. Pebble Rebel is a fast and very comfortable boat.'
Their win is a great achievement for Bill, who has increasingly difficult mobility problems. It is also very exciting for a Bavaria to win such a prestigious race and speaks volumes for their performance as both ocean cruisers and racers.
Pebble Rebel is currently cruising the Whitsundays.
The first race was in 1970, when the only other solo race in the world was one from Plymouth (UK) to Newport in the US. After a lull of 9 years the race was revived for 2007.
www.solo-tasman.com
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