Maxi Zana to sail again in the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race

Zana (Rolex Challenge 2005) Rolex

Lahana, being unloaded from her shipping crate, after her arrival at Port Kembla - Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race © Andrea Francolini Photography http://www.afrancolini.com/

Millard and Honan have just seen Lahana arrive in Port Kembla and will spend the next couple of months having her overhauled and optimized for IRC racing at Noakes Boat and Shipyards at Woolwich.

Both Peter and John aim to participate in all the offshore passage races up and down the east coast including Rolex Sydney Hobart. It is anticipated that Lahana will also compete in Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, after completing the Gold Coast race.

Lahana is a 98 foot fixed keel water ballast yacht that was built in 2003 in NZ and designed by Brett Bakewell White. The modifications she will undergo will help the yacht perform to the best of her abilities under her IRC rating.

'We are excited to participate in offshore yacht races once again – this time as yacht owners and want to focus on IRC racing,' said Peter.

'It will be a family affair – with the name of the boat being developed from both our daughters names and it has a Hawaiian translation of ‘A Day at the Office’. Our crew will be made up of other CYCA members and some from Royal Queensland Yacht Club, who I have previously sailed with. We looked forward to competing with the likes of Skandia, which was built after Lahana.' concluded Peter.

The Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race is a 384 nautical mile race that marks the commencement of the CYCA’s prestigious Blue Water Pointscore Series. The race is also the third event that forms part of the Audi IRC National Championship and regularly attracts fleet sizes of 70-80 yachts. Many yachtsmen use the ‘Gold Coast’ race as a precursor to the other winter regattas in Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island.

The Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race was first sailed in 1986, following the construction of the $40 million Gold Coast Seaway, which opened the sheltered waters of Southport’s Broadwater and other coastal waterways with the open sea.

The inaugural race attracted a fleet of 86 of Australia’s leading ocean racing yachts, with colourful owner Jack Rooklyn bringing his famous 80-footer Apollo out of retirement for the race. She went on to take line honours and first place on handicap under the IOR system. Among the famous yachtsmen who sailed in that first race was Jock Sturrock, who skippered Gretel in Australia’s first challenge for the America’s Cup in 1962.

Ray Robert’s Quantum Racing, the line honours and overall winner for Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race 2008 - Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race © Andrea Francolini Photography http://www.afrancolini.com/

Other yachts to indicate their early interest include defending CYCA Blue Water Champion 2008/09 David Beak’s Mr Beaks Ribs, Rod Jones’ Algeria, Andrew Short’s Andrew Short Marine Shockwave 5, Paul Clitheroe’s Balance, Stephen Ainsworth’s Loki, Ray Robert’s Quantum Racing (last year’s line honours and overall winner), Bob Steel’s Quest, Syd Fischer’s Ragamuffin, Graeme Wood’s Wot Yot & Wot Now, and Geoff Ross’ Yendys.

The famous Brindabella holds the race record for the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race with a time of 27 hours, 35 minutes and three seconds, set in the 1999 race.

For more information log on to http://goldcoast.cyca.com.au

Bob Steel’s Quest, second across the line in Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race 2008 - Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race © Andrea Francolini Photography http://www.afrancolini.com/