Wedgetail flies on handicap

by Ian Grant on 19 Mar 2006 Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron skipper Bill Wild has entered Wedgetail, one of Australia’s fastest maxi chasers in the Brisbane to Gladstone blue water classic starting off the historical Sandgate Pier at 11 am on Good Friday (April 14).

Skipper Wild justified the expense of building the 12.8m sloop Wedgetail when the crew recorded the second fastest knot/ per metre average speed on handicap in her maiden Rolex Sydney Hobart Race in late December.

Wedgetail with a waterline length of 12.8 metres averaged 9.08 knots for the 628 n/ml race while the record breaking race winner Bob Oatley’s 30 metre Super Maxi Wild Oats averaged 14.72 knots.

However in terms of waterline length Anthony Paterson’s dual Sydney to Mooloolaba race winner Tow Truck emerged as the star performer in the physically gruelling battle against the Tasman Sea elements.

The smaller 9.4m Lake Macquarie yacht Tow Truck (.79knot/metre) and Wedgetail (.71knot/metre) were statistically much faster than the (.49 knot/metre) time recorded by Wild Oats.

Noted sailors skipper Ed Psaltis and navigator Bob Thomas who won the 1998 Hobart race claimed third fastest (.67 knot/metre) with the 12.9m sloop AFR Midnight Rambler.

All three crews have accepted the official Notice Of Race for the Easter classic however while Bill Wild has already lodged his official race documents Queensland Cruising Yacht Club officials are expecting both Tow Truck and AFR Midnight Rambler who raced in 2005 to be on the starting line on Good Friday.

A strong fleet of 41 yachts representing New Zealand and Australian clubs including the 2003 Sydney Hobart champion Michael Spies, who has entered a Beneteau 44.7 (Sirromet Fine Wines) one of the early entries to duel for the prestigious 58 year old race trophy, the Courier Mail Cup..
Skipper Spies has included the experienced Gladstone offshore sailor Murray Hughes in his crew.

‘Muzza (Murray Hughes) was a tower of strength when we won the Hobart and his knowledge of the Gladstone Race course particularly the final 10 nautical miles up Gladstone Harbour will be a tactical asset’.
‘I make no secret about my personal desire to become a Gladstone Race winner, we have finished second before but near enough is never good enough’ Spies said.

The Sunshine Coast will be well represented with the Mooloolaba yachts Amity (Ian Griffiths) and Corum (Michael Balkin).

Corum has finished third before with her previous owner Bill Wild and her enthusiastic crew including experienced sailing master Greg Gilliam will not be sitting on the weather rail admiring the view.

In fact the ride on the windward rail could well be wet and cold as the new Corum crew chases a career best result.

Skipper Balkin and watch captain Gilliam racing their second season with the former Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club Admirals Cup Mumm 36 class sloop have a better understanding of their peak speed on all sailing angles and are hoping for a fresh downwind forecast.