Sail-World.com : Audi Hamilton Island Race Week

News Home

Text Only News

Powerboat-World

MarineBusiness World

Video Gallery

Animated Knots

Cruising

2013 America's Cup

Sail-World.com : Audi Hamilton Island Race Week - South Pacific Trophy contest

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week - South Pacific Trophy contest

On day 6 of Audi Hamilton Island Race Week there is an ever-present rivalry simmering away. The contest is on for the South Pacific Trophy, and three boat teams from New Zealand and Australia are going head-to-head.

Australia’s team line-up are all IRC class A grand prix division yachts and include Hooligan, the current defending Race Week champion, and Yendys in the TP52 category as well as the Victorian 50-footer Terra Firma.

New Zealand is the defending team, this year represented by two TP52s, Jim Farmer and Chris Meads’ Georgia and Chris Hornell’s Kia Kaha, and their smaller Kiwi cousin, Connel McLaren’s Ker 40, Ice Breaker.

As it stands the current pointscore has Australia convincingly on top with 44 points to New Zealand’s 83 points.
Despite all the rivalry on the track the ANZAC spirit is very alive off the water.

Australian skipper of Terra Firma, Nicholas Bartels, says the rivalry is a friendly one, and at the end of the day they all ‘have a drink together’.

In the Kiwi’s defence, Bartels concedes that the New Zealand team has ‘one of the smallest boats in Ice Breaker, which makes it more challenging’.

For Georgia’s New Zealand mainsail trimmer, Harry Dodson, the competition may be on once the gun goes at Race Week, but he was happy to join with the mostly Australian crowd who cheered the Aussie Olympic sailing team when they came to the Island on Tuesday.

‘When push comes to shove, we Kiwis feel a part of your success.’

Dodson says the alleged trans-Tasman rivalry is ‘superficial’ and likens the Aussies to long lost cousins.

The trophy on the line is an original design commissioned by Hamilton Island’s brand and event manager, Nicky Tindill. Its concept is elegant, simple and concise, three glass sails each one symbolising a team yacht.

While not part of the South Pacific Trophy, the fascinating Orma 60 trimaran showdown that has played out between Team Australia sailed by Sean Langman, and Team Vodafone Sailing, skippered by Simon Hull, has been claimed by the Australians.

Langman’s Team Australia can’t be beaten on the bullet count, even though he’s had to switch to his delivery main following a tear in his racing mainsail that is irreparable.

Hull says the rivalry between the two sailing nations is light-hearted, but still exists.

‘The competition between the two trimarans is no different to the rivalry between any other boat’.

Australia might have the final say on the water at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, but when it comes to rugby field Hull has the last word.

‘Tell the Aussie’s to have another look at last Saturday night’s game.’

South Pacific Trophy pointscore here.

Hamilton Island Race Week website

by Stephanie Hobbs

Tweet

Click on the FB Like link to post this story to your FB wall

http://www.sail-world.com/index.cfm?nid=101283

1:22 PM Thu 23 Aug 2012GMT

Click here for printer friendly version
Click here to send us feedback or comments about this story.

Click for further information on
2012 Audi Hamilton Island Race Week

Related News Stories:

23 Aug 2012	Audi Hamilton Island Race week day 6 images by Andrea Francolini
23 Aug 2012	Hamilton Island Race Week - Black Jack scores second overall win
23 Aug 2012	Audi Hamilton island Race Week - A change of plans
23 Aug 2012	Audi Hamilton island Race Week - Melges 32 competition
23 Aug 2012	Audi Hamilton Island Race Week day 5 weather
23 Aug 2012	Audi Hamiton Island Race Week day 6 - Light wind forecast
22 Aug 2012	Audi Hamilton Island Race Week - Long day at the office for some
22 Aug 2012	Audi Hamilton Island Race Week - Happy on the F-arm
22 Aug 2012	Audi Hamilton Island Race Week - Day 4 images by Craig Greenhill
22 Aug 2012	Audi Hamilton Island Race Week - Australian Sailing Team parade images