Please select your home edition
Edition
Palm Beach Motor Yachts

TP52 Southern Cross Cup - Weather conspires against Newcastle skipper

by Lisa Ratcliff on 26 Apr 2013
Frantic racing during Round One - TP52 Southern Cross Cup 2013 Teri Dodds
Weather conspires against the Newcastle skipper, Mick Martin to making today’s opening three races of stage two of the TP52 Southern Cross Cup.

Foul weather cost the delivery crew a day-and-a-half waiting at the popular coastal port of Eden, plus a mainsail that has been torn to shreds. Now the boat is now limping under storm jib to Sandringham with 80 nautical miles to go at 9am this morning.

The boat is low on diesel after beating into headwinds and lumpy seas, the reason the engine isn’t running, and the crew were this morning looking at refuelling options between Cape Patterson and Sandringham on Port Phillip, Victoria, where the remaining seven TP52s are about to commence the first of today’s three scheduled races.

Frantic’s helmsman Ken Saladine and the remainder of the race crew are at Sandringham Yacht Club having arrived by various means; five drove from Newcastle, two flew and one rode his motor bike to meet up with a couple of local Melbourne sailors.

This morning they were circumspect about their predicament, 'It is what it is,' said Saladine.

Sandringham Yacht Club has offered Frantic’s shore-bound crew the use of a couple of club Beneteau 7.5 metres so they can watch the racing close-up.

When Frantic does finally arrive, the four exhausted delivery crew will be put to bed while the remainder strip the delivery gear off and try out a new mainsail, which has been driven from Newcastle but not yet fitted.

If it’s a misfit a local sail maker will be sought to either modify the new main or try and repair the torn mainsail.
Calm 2’s skipper Jason Van Der Slot has offered to lend Frantic’s crew a main so they can join the rest of the fleet for the remaining two days of the regatta.

'We’ve had great support from all the other guys,' added a thankful Saladine.

Frantic was given a special mention at last night’s welcome function with all the other TP owners appreciating the effort Martin, a former Wallaby who played six Tests for Australia in the 1980s, and his crew are making by undertaking back-to-back events.

Frantic won the recent Gosford to Lord Howe ocean race on IRC and ORCi then headed back to Sydney for the final coastal leg to Melbourne. It was always going to be tight but Martin, who likes to squeeze the most out of life, figured on a late Wednesday arrival.

'Why do you think the boat’s called Frantic?' joked crewman Gary Waterson last night.

At an owner’s meeting this morning at the host club the decision was made to stick with the centre gate start with the option of an on-water amendment if the owners decide they want to revert to a traditional bottom gate windward/leeward format.

For the remaining two stages Sydney will host, there will be multiple course options offered, depending on the venue and conditions.

Owners also agreed for this round to maintain the upper limit of 24 knots, to avoid breakages. This means the fleet won’t race if the wind is blowing consistently above 24 knots, subject to sea state.

Tomorrow’s forecast is for mild temperatures and northerly winds 15 to 25 knots increasing to 20 to 30 knots in the morning.

List of entries:

Boat name

Skipper’s name

Yacht club

Frantic

Michael Martin

LMYC / NCYC

Calm 2

Jason Van Der Slot

SYC

Team Beau Geste

Karl Kwok

RHKYC

Scarlet Runner

Rob Date

SYC

Shogun V

Rob Hanna

RGYV / RYCV

Calm

John Williams

SYC

Hooligan

Marcus Blackmore

RPAYC

Cougar II

Anthony Lyall

RYCT

Zhik 2024 DecemberDoyle_SailWorld_728X90px_SY BOTTOMPredictWind - GO! exec 728x90 BOTTOM

Related Articles

Rolex Fastnet Race: IRC Two Preview
With 73 entries in IRC Two, the Rolex Fastnet Race is set to deliver a striking display. Could two new JPK 1050s upset the apple cart in IRC Two? Jean-Pierre Kelbert has a habit of breaking the mould in IRC racing, and his new 34-footer may well be a game changer in this competitive division with 73 entries.
Posted today at 10:36 am
Dragon Edinburgh Cup in Torbay overall
Tight Racing and Tactical Brilliance The final day of the 2025 Edinburgh Cup brought sunshine, shifting breeze, and two exciting races that kept the championship wide open until the very last run.
Posted today at 8:13 am
Seldén Rodkicker 50 - manual rigid vang
Specifically sized for yachts between 50 and 55 feet A Rodkicker rigid vang is designed to enhance sail handling during reefing and allows for greater sail trim control.
Posted today at 8:00 am
WASZP Games 2025: Talent & fun descend on Weymouth
Poised to be the largest and most competitive in the class's history The 2025 International WASZP Games, set to take place from July 19–25 at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy, are poised to be the largest and most competitive in the class's history.
Posted today at 7:23 am
Transpac 2025 Update: Moon River Tonight!
The magic of offshore racing in the 2025 Transpac A vast ocean separates Los Angeles, California, from Honolulu, Hawaii, but the boats racing in this year's Transpac have now crossed the halfway mark. Race leaders are in the tradewinds and making their approach to the Aloha State.
Posted today at 12:26 am
20 Canadians set for Long Beach Grand Slam Event
The Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta will be held July 12-20 20 Canadian sailors will take part in the fourth and next-to-last event of the 2025 Sailing Grand Slam Series, the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta, to be held July 12-20 at one of the two Olympic venues for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Posted on 10 Jul
All smiles among first finishers of the AEGEAN 600
The fastest teams crossed the finish line today at Cape Sounion As the fastest teams crossed the finish line today at Cape Sounion and made their way to the harbour at Olympic Marine, there were exhausted smiles all around.
Posted on 10 Jul
British Classic Week day 4
It was a classic Solent day in Cowes for the OneSails inshore race It was a classic Solent day in Cowes for day 4 of British Classic Week with hot temperatures, sunshine and no breeze in the morning before the sea breeze kicked in from the west and it was time to go racing.
Posted on 10 Jul
iQFOiL Worlds a Aarhus day 5
Finalists locked in for new Medal Series format With the sea breeze stubbornly refusing to make an appearance, Day 5 of the iQFOiL World Championship turned into a long waiting game both ashore and on the water.
Posted on 10 Jul
Jazz Turner Video Interview
How she Faced Everything And Rose during Project FEAR I travelled to Brighton Marina to catch up with Jazz, talking about her own sailing, the challenges she faced during the circumnavigation, how the money raised will be used, and a glimpse of her future projects!
Posted on 10 Jul