Battle for Courier-Mail Cup heats up

by Ian Grant on 10 Apr 2004 Gladstone sloop Wistari aided with freshening winds continued to surf towards a possible overall IRC class handicap win in the 2004 Brisbane to Gladstone ocean race this afternoon.

Wistari built to a shoe-string budget and launched by her designer builder Noel Patrick for her first race 39 years ago was proving to be a Golden Oldie amongst the modern yachts.

The four times race winner Wistari now raced by Scott and Ross Patrick sons of the builder designer was looming as the ‘party pooper’ for provisional handicap leader Sean Langman and his AAPT crew.

Wistari had enough time and distance to sail the final 70 n/mls with a faster handicap adjusted time.

Langman, a triple line honours winner showed his determination to force Grant Wharington’s new super maxi Skandia to a desperately close match race over the final miles of the 308-n/ml race.

The 18m AAPT and the 30m Skandia entered into the line honours match race after AAPT snatched the lead off Fraser Island and continued to match race with Skandia before the maxi secured a nail biting 11 minute 58 second win.

Both yachts completed the course with impressively high average speeds with Skandia averaging 15.9 knots while AAPT eclipsed her previous record by 1hour 7 minutes 51 seconds with a 14.94 knot average.

However these two outstanding course times may not be enough for AAPT and Skandia to save their handicap rating ahead of the fast finishing Wistari.

The latest radio sked commenced at 1705, however it will not be posted before 1830