Royal Geelong Yacht Club has three members in Transatlantic Race

by Andrew Neilson on 1 Jul 2011 Royal Geelong Yacht Club members Brendan Garner , Jake Newman and Tim Davis are competing in the 2011 Transatlantic yacht race.

The race covers some 2975 miles and is equivalent in length to nearly five Sydney to Hobart’s races. The yacht club members are sailing on a Australian entry ‘Jazz’ which is a Cookson 50 with canting keel. Their division started on June 29th.

The boat has 12 crew with two other Aussies on the crew. They are Stuart Pollard (RSYS) and Andy Hudson, (RPAYC).

All five Aussies were on the boat ‘Jazz’ in the 2010 Sydney -Hobart race where it won division zero and finished second overall on I.R.C handicap to ‘Secret Men’s Business 3.5’ by approximately 30 minutes.

Regarded by many as one of the worlds great yacht races the Geelong contingent are joined by most of the crew from the 2010 Sydney –Hobart with a mix of Australians and British filling the 12 spots.

Jazz was called over the line at the start but made a successful return for a re start.

Jake Newman and Tim Davis from Royal Geelong were already in America doing lead up races with Brendan Garner flying over recently to join the team for last minute preparations.

Vice Commodore of the Royal Geelong Yacht Club Andrew Neilson said he was thrilled that three members of Royal Geelong Yacht Club were chosen to sail at this elite level and it is testament to the home grown skills achieved by Royal Geelong Yacht Club members. The trio have competed together at major regatta around the world .

They know each other very well and are a similar age and as crew compatibility is key factor in this race, I’m sure they will make a great team , Neilson said

Brendan Garner works as the senior shipwright at Power Drive Marine with Tim and Jake following the professional yachting circuit around the world.


The race can be followed live at http://www.transatlanticrace.org/