Sensation in Sydney Southport Race as Radio sked penalties kick in

by Jennifer Crooks on 29 Jul 2009
The National Jury heard four protests and three statutory declarations. Rod Jones’ Archambault 40 Algeria was given a 20% scoring penalty of their placing for failing to report during a radio sked. Ray Sweeney’s Sydney 38 Mondo and Bruce Mackay’s Sayer 12 Wasabi were also given the same penalty for failing to report during a radio sked, breaching Sailing Instruction 24 and 34-37, which meant all three yachts were effectively penalised places in the overall standings. Tony Levett’s Sydney 38 Eleni was disqualified from the race after missing several radio skeds breaching Sailing Instructions 24 and 34-37 inclusive.

Bernie van’t Hof’s Swan 45 Tulip was penalised 10% scoring penalty for use of their engine to clear an obstruction. Bruce Foye’s Sydney 38 The Sub Zero Goat was also penalised 20% for use of their engine. Both of these were breaches of the Racing Rules 44 and Sailing Instruction 22.

The 384 nautical race, which began at 1pm on Saturday 25 July from Sydney Harbour, had everything – a light start with different wind conditions at either end of the start line, tacking and gybing across the harbour to get to the heads with yachts becalmed as they tried to exit the heads of Sydney Harbour, hard on the nose wind conditions during the day with a relatively calm but cold first evening, inshore nor’westerlies and offshore conditions that were very tough which forced make or break decisions by the tacticians; and lastly, a fresh south to south sou’west breeze which picked up the remainder of the fleet and helped them to Southport. Whales, dolphins and flying fish provided momentary distractions from racing but the big decision all skippers and navigators had to make was whether to go offshore or stay inside the rhumbline. Those that took the offshore decision got some gains but also rough conditions on the second night. Those that stayed inside benefited from some of the land breezes in the evenings.

The original fleet of 80 representing Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, New South Wales and New Zealand set off with light air spinnakers hoisted in a blaze of colour on Saturday afternoon and just over 80 hours later 69 boats had finished. Five boats retired due to damage sustained on the first day and night with gear and boat damage.

A further six boats retired from the race due to minor damage and conditions.

At midnight last night Ian Kiernan and Tiare Tomaszewski’s Tasman Seabird Sanyo Maris retired just south of Cape Byron due to wind conditions. Sanyo Maris was expected to arrive at Southport at approx. 8.25am this morning. This meant that The Rum Consortium’s Davidson 12 Phillips Foote Witchdoctor was the last yacht to finish the 24th Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race at 9.31pm on 28 July 2009.

Robert Oatley’s Reichel Pugh 66 Wild Oats X claimed another line honours victory in a time of 2 days, 1 hr, 29 mins, and 23 seconds.

Ed Psaltis & Rob Thomas’ modified Farr 40 AFR Midnight Rambler was declared the IRC Overall Winner.

Cruising Yacht Club of Australia Commodore Matt Allen said this morning that the race had been full of colour and a very tough battle for crews. 'I have spoken with a few owners and they have all said that this was a tough race. Some are saying they feel like they have done a Hobart race rather than a nice race to the Gold Coast.'

'This race had many contests to watch – the line honours battle between Wild Oats X, Loki, Pricewaterhouse Coopers and Black Jack, the IRC Overall battle which could have gone to any number of yachts and the battle of the 50 footers such as Wot Now, Ragamuffin, Scarlett Runner and Shortwave. My congratulations to the crew of Wild Oats X and AFR Midnight Rambler on their wins and to all divisional winners and place getters,' concluded Matt.

The trophy presentation for the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race was conducted at Southport Yacht Club at 10am this morning.

Results

Line Honours

Wild Oats X (Reichel Pugh 66), Robert Oatley, NSW Elapsed Time 02:01:29:23

IRC Overall
AFR Midnight Rambler (Farr 40 MOD) Ed Psaltis & Bob Thomas, NSW

IRC Division O
1st - Wild Oats X (Reichel Pugh 66) Bob Oatley, NSW
2nd – Black Jack (Reichel Pugh 66) Peter Harburg, QLD

IRC Division 1
1st – Scarlett Runner (Reichel Pugh 52) Robert Date, VIC
2nd – Yendys (Reichel Pugh 55) Geoff Ross, NSW
3rd – Wot Now (Judel Vrolijik 52) Graeme Wood, NSW

IRC Division 2
1st – AFR Midnight Rambler (Farr 40 MOD) Ed Psaltis & Bob Thomas, NSW
2nd – Tow Truck (Kerr 11.3) Anthony Paterson, NSW
3rd – Fresh (Sydney 47), Kym Clarke , SA

IRC Division 3
1st – Swish (Sydney 38) Steven Proud, NSW
2nd – Typhoon (Farr 395) Barry Kelly, NSW
3rd – Imagination (First 47.4) Annette & Robin Hawthorn, NSW

IRC Division 4
1st – Aileron (Sydney 36CR) Henk Wellemen, NSW
2nd – Copernicus (Radford 12m) Greg Zyner, NSW
3rd – Zephyr (Sea Nymph 33) James Connell and Alex Brandon, NSW

PHS Division 1
1st - Mahligai (Sydney 46) Murray Owens and Jenny King, NSW
2nd – UBS Wild Thing (Inglis 50) Geoff Lavis, NSW
3rd – Vivacite (Beneteau 44.7) Darryl Hodgkinson, NSW

PHS Division 2
1st – SES Inch by Winch (Peterson 44), Andrew Wenham, NSW
2nd – Frantic (Sayer 40) Michael Martin, NSW
3rd – Zora 1 (Salona 45) Phil King, NSW

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