A battle of the Supermaxis set for Audi Hamilton Island Race Week 2016

by Rob Mundle on 6 Jul 2016 2016 Audi Hamilton Island Race Week - The entry of the 100-footer, Scallywag, has set the scene for a spectacular showdown with rival Supermaxi Wild Oats XI at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week 2016.

Previously owned by Australian ocean racing legend Syd Fischer and named Ragamuffin100, Scallywag has been purchased by prominent Hong Kong-based businessman, Seng Huang Lee. His sailing master will be the hard-driving ex-18ft skiff sailor, and now offshore campaigner, David Witt, who held the same position for Fischer.

Born and educated in Australia, Lee is a newcomer to offshore racing, but he has already hit the ground running – big time! After competing in this month’s Sydney to Gold Coast race, Scallywag will head north to Audi Hamilton Island Race Week before continuing on into Asian waters for a series of major events. She will then return to Sydney.

For Witt, racing Scallywag against Wild Oats XI on superbly scenic courses around the tropical Whitsunday islands during Race Week will be an invaluable part of the yacht’s preparation for this year’s Hobart race. Wild Oats XI, owned by the Oatley family and skippered by Mark Richards, is the Hobart race record holder.

“Fortunately, I’ve managed to retain the majority of the Ragamuffin100 crew for the Scallywag campaign,” Witt said. “Consequently, we are really looking forward to lining up against Wild Oats XI at Race Week. We have increased the area of the mainsail and improved the water ballast system, so it will be very interesting to see how we go.”

As well as racing to win Grand Prix Division trophies, Wild Oats XI and Scallywag will be competing for top honours in their class in the prestigious Australian Yachting Championships, which will also be decided at Race Week.

Scallywag and Wild Oats XI, both measuring 30.5 metres overall, are the largest yachts entered to date, while Monkey Business (Jon Rowe) and Hydraplay (Justin Hickey) are the smallest at a mere 6.5 metres in length.

Organisers of Audi Hamilton Island Race Week – which will be staged from August 20 to 27 – continue to be impressed by the rapid escalation in fleet size. The number of entries, which is destined to top 200 this week, is 38 per cent up on the previous best in the regatta’s remarkable history. The multihull fleet also stands at a record number with 36 entries.

Exciting tradewind racing, exceptional dockside camaraderie among competitors, and an unprecedented party agenda across the entire week combine to make Audi Hamilton Island Race Week unlike any other local or international regatta.

The Notice of Race and entry form for the 33rd staging of Audi Hamilton Island Race Week are now posted on the website. The regatta – Australia’s largest offshore sailing series – caters for a remarkably wide range of sailboats: from sportboats and trailables through to Grand Prix level keelboats, maxi and supermaxi yachts, cruising yachts of all sizes and configuration, and multihulls.

Audi Australia returns as the naming right sponsor of Audi Hamilton Island Race Week for an incredible eleventh year. Throughout the past decade of partnership, Audi and Hamilton Island have worked hand-in-hand to create the most impressive sailing regatta in Australia, with even more activities on offer for sailors and onshore guests alike. This shared vision is based on a joint passion for winning performance, technological innovation and spirited competition.