Bavaria Match 38 Game Set keen to continue successes

by Sam Crichton on 31 Jul 2004 Bavaria's Match 38 Game Set is on her way north with the rest of the fleet in the 19th Ingles Sydney to Gold Coast race.

After a frustrating start, which had many boats take over 30 minutes to cross the start line, the crew on Game Set are settling in for their first night at sea.


‘Heading across to Nielsen Park and keeping to the southern side of the Harbour helped us,' commented skipper Tony Kirby, 'we are happy with our position and have settled into race mode.'

Once the tide turned and the breeze kicked in ever so slightly the Match 38 was able to set off on the 384-mile trip north.


After finally getting to North Head, Game Set was greeted with an eight-knot east-southeast breeze and flat seas. ‘We beat the Farr 40’s out the heads with a 47.7 Beneteau just off our bow, which we are happy with,’ reported Kirby earlier this afternoon.


The Bavaria Match 38 is proving to be a boat that will give the larger IRC boats a run for their money. Results since the October 2003 launch include third places in the Pittwater to Coffs IRC Division 3 and the Joico Regatta.

The FKP Sydney to Mooloolaba race had the Match 38 taking out second place in the IRC Overall and IRC Division B, being beaten to the top spot by John Walker's Impeccable.


Early this evening, Game Set is sixth in her IRC division behind their CYCA dockside neighbour, Andrew Cochrane’s Pendragon. Both boats are less than 20 miles south of Norah Head on Australia’s east coast.


‘We are looking for lighter conditions early in the race with the breeze strengthening to bring the fleet across the finish line off Main Beach said Kirby, we are in amongst the Sydney 38’s with fellow North South Yachting brand X Yachts Cyrene 3 close by.'