Wild Oats XI going for the Double

by Damian Devine on 20 Dec 2006 Bob Oatley’s ‘Wild Oats X1’, the 30m super maxi Reichel Pugh skippered by Mark Richards, will again attempt to complete back to back starts in the Sydney to Hobart (triple crown winner in 2005) and Pittwater to Coffs races. The current race record of 18hrs 29mins will be under serious threat if Wild Oatx XI does indeed make it back for the race and southerly conditions are in it’s favour.

With the official close of entries on December 17th, a strong fleet of 59 yachts will line up on the 2nd January 2007 for the start of the 26th Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht race, hosted by The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club.

With only two weeks to the start of the 'warm water' yacht race, a few late withdrawals and a few late entries has seen the fleet settle at 59 yachts for the 226 nautical mile race north.

Bob Oatley’s ‘Wild Oats X1’, the 30m super maxi Reichel Pugh skippered by Mark Richards, will again attempt to complete back to back starts in the Sydney to Hobart (triple crown winner in 2005) and Pittwater to Coffs races. The current race record of 18hrs 29mins will be under serious threat if it does indeed make it back for the race and southerly conditions are in it’s favour.

The super maxi ran into some trouble as it neared the end of the Hobart race last year preventing it returning for the Coffs race. It was replaced by it’s little sister, the 20m Wild Oats X, who went onto take line honours in the passage race.

Skipper Mark Richards said that, 'the whole crew are really looking forward to competing in back to back races and given conditions racing to Hobart and minimal gear breakages, the whole race crew bar one or two will sail the boat out of Hobart back for the start of the Pittwater to Coffs race. There’s plenty of time for us to get back for the start'.

Obviously, we would love to have a crack at the race record and given the right conditions from the south, the race record can and will be smashed but the main aim is to have some fun and compete with owner Bob Oatley on board, he really enjoys the offshore race to Coffs as does the rest of the crew.

If like last year, Wild Oats XI can’t make it back from Hobart, Wild Oats X will definitely start the Coffs race. See you at the start!', says Mark.

Last year’s series winner and current race record holder, ‘Wild Joe’ will also be sailing north to defend her IRC title and race record. Two other yachts, the rebadged ‘Coffs Harbour Quest’, Kevin Miller’s Nelson Marek 46 and Ginger, Leslie Green’s Swan 60 have also posted late entries for the race.

‘Quest’s’ prolific career includes a first and a second overall in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race, the 2003 IRC national offshore champion and wins in the 2003 Sydney Mooloolaba and 2004 Sydney Gold Coast Races. After a major refit this year, she also competed in the 2006 Hamilton Island Race Week and Sydney to Gold Coast race.

Coffs Harbour Quest will be under the helm of Commodore of the CHYC, Darren Digney who commented; 'Kevin Miller, the owner has generously given us the keys to his yacht and we intend to be extremely competitive in the IRC Division and do the CHYC proud.

‘Coffs Harbour Quest’ will race with a crew of 12 and 10 of them are Coffs Harbour locals and members of the Coffs Harbour Yacht Club (CHYC).'We are fortunate to have the experience of Ray Benson, a veteran of 23 Pittwater to Coffs Harbour yacht races. He knows all the short cuts so hopefully he will be able to show us the quickest way home,' says Digney.

At 9.45m, ‘Carats ‘n’ Kilos’, a Hick 31 is the smallest yacht in the fleet with Martin and Anna Cross’ Sydney 32 ‘If’, not far behind who finished a credible second in its Division in last year’s series. ‘Pendragon’, a 10.2 mtr yacht built in 1982 and sailed by Andrew Cochrane rounds out the small boat section of the fleet. ‘Pendragon’ was the overall IRC winner in the 2005 Southport race.

Strong competition in the Sydney 38 One Design Division with 6 entrants signed up including last year’s Syd 38 series winner Estate Master (CYCA), winning on a countback from second placed Eye Candy (RPAYC). Chris Dawson, co-owner and skipper of Eye Candy hopes to go one better this year ' Rule Number One is to have a great time , we know we are capable of beating the best on our day. We are definitely going for the win.' Other Sydney 38 OD in the fleet include Conspiracy, Easy Tiger, Swish and Risk.

The receiving club is Coffs Harbour Yacht Club who provide warm hospitality and a great opportunity for the competitors and their families to enjoy the carnival feeling in and around the marina and the atmosphere provided by the Coffs locals and volunteers to the welcoming yachts.

As with past year’s the Coffs race is part of the overall Pittwater and Coffs Series which includes 4 races off Palm Beach on the 29th and 30th December, the passage race from Pittwater to Coffs Harbour on the 2nd January and the final race around the South Solitary Islands in Coffs Harbour on the 5th January.