Brindabella makes quick time to Coogee and back

by Peter Campbell on 24 Nov 2007
Australia's best known maxi yacht, Andrew Short Marine Brindabella, made quick time to take line honours today in the Coogee race for the IRC/PHS Race/Cruiser division of the Savills 30th Short Ocean Racing Championship.

Andrew Short Marine Brindabella, which is heading to Hobart again this year, cleared out from the 39 boat fleet right from the harbour start.

Once clear of South Head, the Jutson 79 powered to windward down the coast in a 15-18 knot southerly to the rounding mark, then surfed back to the Heads in a little over an hour and a half.

Second to finish was Scooter, the former AAPT now owned by Peter Harburg.

Out on the Manly Circle, several other yachts using the Savills as key tune-up for the Rolex Sydney Hobart and Pittwater to Coffs Harbour races, showed their paces in the IRC Racing division.

Stephen David's powerful Reichel/Pugh 60 Wild Joe, as expected led the fleet home in the first two races to get the gun from Geoff Ross' Reichel/Pugh 55. Wild Joe will be racing to Coffs, Yendys to Hobart.

Another Rolex Sydney Hobart contender, Splash Gordon, Stephen Ellis' modified Farr 40 impressed by leading the fleet in both races for IRC Racing division 2, with Rob Reynolds' DK43 La Ploma IV also sailing well at the front of the division.

In the Sydney 32 OD class, winner of the race one was Martin and Anna Cross' If.

With the weather clearing this afternoon, the wind eased away initially, then freshened again to provide excellent sailing conditions for the 86 boats.