1999 Hobart winner Yendys hits top gear again in Ord Minnett

by Peter Campbell on 5 Dec 2000 Hong Kong based Australian businessman and yachtsman Geoff Ross has underlined his strong prospects for a back-to-back IMS overall win with his Farr 49, Yendys, in this year’s Telstra Sydney to Hobart Race with a convincing victory in the Ord Minnett Regatta sailed off Sydney over the weekend.

Yendys was a model of consistency in Middle Harbour Yacht Club’s offshore regatta, placing 1-3-3-2 over the two days of sailing in light to moderate breezes on the Manly Circle just north of the Heads.

This has been the yacht’s first regatta since undergoing an optimising refit after returning from Hawaii where she was a member of the second-placed Australian team at the Kenwood Cup.

Finishing with nine points on the board, Yendys was well clear of runner-up, Davenet, the Sydney 40 skippered by Jamie McPhael, which as Loco won the 1999 Ord Minnett Regatta.

Davenet finished on 14 points while the MBD 62, Bumblebee 5, steered by designer Iain Murray for owner John Kahlbetzer, finished on 15 points.

However, Yendys was perhaps somewhat lucky as fourth-placed Loco, the US built Farr 52 owned by David Coe and helmed by Michael Coxon, was unable to start in yesterday’s race two.

After a third in race one, a not-start in race two, Loco finished the regatta with a fourth and a win today and both she and Bumblebee 5 must pose strong threats for Yendys in the Telstra Cup and the Telstra Sydney to Hobart.

Sean Langman’s Open 60, Xena, again led the fleet around the course in both races today, the radical red-hulled flyer surfing down the waves even in the 15 knot nor’easter.

With two recent line honours win in medium distance offshore races over maxi yacht Brindabella, the water-ballasted Xena should be one of the front runners in the 630 nautical mile Telstra Sydney to Hobart.

Racing on the Manly Circle for the handicap division yachts was delayed for an hour until the north-easterly sea breeze had settled in, with race officials sending the big fleet off on two short windward/leeward races.

The first race of the day (race three of the regatta) was marred by resounding collision at the leeward mark between True North, racing in the IMS division and Gonenumbyet racing in the PHS division.

Both yachts retired from the race, Gonenumbyet being holed in the stern.