The battle of Brisbane is approaching fast

by Lulu Rsoeman on 29 Jul 2016 Entries in the 2016 Club Marine Brisbane to Keppel Tropical Race have now closed and the fleet stands at 36 with 35 monohulls and just one single multihull.

Race Director Richard Matterson is delighted with the quality of this year’s fleet that includes some of Australia’s leading ocean racing yachts.

“This is one the most competitive fleets we’ve ever had and there will be plenty of races within the race. Wild Oats XI, Black Jack and Alive will try to outsmart each other tactically. There are three DK46 entries, one each from Victoria, New South Wales and Victoria and they are set for a royal battle among themselves.” Matterson said.

“Swish and The Goat will continue their ongoing rivalry after Swish was victorious in their recent CYCA Winter Series tussle. There are a few Mumm 36’s and also a swag of Benteau 40s and 45’s that all eying off the overall handicap spoils,” he added.

Paul Buchholz, owner of the DK46 Extasea from the Royal Geelong Yacht Club can’t wait to leave the chilly Melbourne winter to race in the warmer Queensland waters.

“This is our debut Brisbane to Keppel race and we are really looking forward to it as my work commitments don’t allow me to go further north to do the Australian IRC Championships at Hamilton Island this year,” Buchholz said.

“We have got a trio of top Queensland sailors on our crew including Bruce Meithke, Ben Mann and Damon Fealy so we’re hoping that having some local knowledge aboard will be to our advantage.”

For Mark Richards, Skipper of Wild Oats XI (Cruising Yacht Club of Australia/Hamilton Island Yacht Club) it is an excellent opportunity for him and his crew to familiarise themselves again with the eight times Rolex Sydney Hobart Race line honours winner owned by the Oatley family. The Reichel Pugh 100 super maxi underwent major modifications prior to last year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart Race including having a new section of her hull replaced.

“It’s a really good race for us and spending more time on the water at this time of year is always great. Keppel Bay is a fantastic destination, it’s a really fun race and a great way for us to get the boat up to Hamilton Island for Race Week,” Richards said.

“The more time on the boat and learning more about how to get the best performance out of her is crucial for us especially after our disastrous experience in last year’s Hobart race after we were forced to retire with mainsail damage,” he added.

Amongst the Wild Oats XI crew is leading Spanish navigator Juan Vila, America’s Cup Regatta Director, Iain Murray, the yacht’s builder Jono Morris of McConaghy Boats and Josh Whittaker, a WOXI stalwart (and expectant father) now based in San Diego.

The starting gun will be fired at 11:00 on Friday 5th August for the 343 nautical mile race that commences just east of Green Island on Brisbane’s Moreton Bay. The yachts will power up the coast along the shorelines of Fraser Island before crossing the Tropic of Capricorn towards the finish line at Keppel Bay Marina.