Editorial-Is this the Best IRC fleet in the World?

by Rob Kothe on 16 Nov 2008
This week one of Australia’s best known Regatta organisers Doug Jarvis, who runs the 160 plus year old Skandia Geelong Week ventured the opinion that Australia has the best IRC fleets in the World.

He said 'Just look at the fleet lining up for the Rolex Sydney to Hobart race and then at Skandia Geelong Week, you’d have to think that these are probably the best IRC fleets in the world.

'With the two new Reichel Pugh 63’s, the new Limit, the new Loki, the new Living Doll, all of these new boats out there, Black Jack, Shockwave and of course Wild Oats XI

'Someone could correct me there, but I’ve looked at the Cowes fleets, I’ve looked at the European fleets, and I think our IRC fleet nationwide is just awesome.'

Jarvis is not alone in his opinion, top Kiwi match racer and BMW Oracle tactician Gavin Brady said at Hamilton Island ‘There are no Grand Prix fleets to match those in Australia.’

If recent years the hottest part of the fleet was in the high 40 ( footer's) then its moved with the Cookson 50's TP52s and the Geoff Ross' RP 55 Yendys it was moving upwards , now with Michael Hiatt's Cookson built Farr 55, the two new Reichel Pugh 63's and Blackjack, the RP canting keel 66 footer and Andrew Shorts 80 footer Andrew Short Marine Shockwave continue to push the average up.

Today, as the build up to Boxing Day (December 26th) continues we take a sneak peak at Alan Brierty's new Limit and next week we will have news from her almost sistership Stephen Ainsworth's new Loki.

Run your eye over the IRC fleet for the Rolex Sydney to Hobart listed below... What do you think? Is the best IRC fleet so far assembled anywhere in the world?