Alegria goes Troppo !
by Rod Jones on 26 Nov 2009
Audi Hamilton Island Race Week 2009, 28/08/09
ALEGRIA Andrea Francolini / Audi
http://www.afrancolini.com
Australian IRC Champion yacht , 'Alegria' heads north next week to a new home in the tropics as well known Yeppoon yachting identities , Tim and Catriona McCall, take delivery of their new IRC racer/cruiser.
The yet to be renamed Archambault A40rc will continue to race in the East Coast IRC races with plans to be amongst the starters for the 2010 Brisbane to Gladstone.
Tim, a previous Australian Trailer Yacht Champion with his team, will spend a few months working the boat up and getting to know her, before he heads south in late March on the campaign trail. Sailing in his team will be his sons Josh and Bronson as well as his regular Yeppoon ‘mates’ who sail aboard his Beale 850.
The Archambault A40rc offers cruising capabilities to enhance its race pedigree and the McCall’s will take advantage of that to enjoy the picturesque tropical coast that they call home.
Launched in June 2008, the A40rc has achieved considerable success in Australia and overseas in IRC and with its new owners, will be a boat to keep on the radar for podium positions in any race she enters.
The name Alegria will not be lost to the offshore scene for long. The Alegria sailing team will likely hit the start lines later in 2010 in their new yacht.
The team is changing direction, with a new focus on One Design racing in SB3s ( the SB3 worlds are in Australia in late January 2012 in Geelong ) as well as targeting the northbound east coast offshore races such as the Brisbane to Gladstone, Brisbane to Keppel, Sydney to Gold Coast and Pittwater Coffs in 2010/11.
The new Alegria should arrive in Queensland waters in June 2010. For more information on the SB3 worlds, please visit www.oceanburo.com.au or www.audivictoriaweek.com
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