Club Marine Brisbane to Keppel - Races within Races

by Mystery Yacht Racer on 19 May 2010 This year's Club Marine Brisbane to Keppel Tropical Yacht Race will see a number of races within the race. As is always the case in any yacht race there are certain yachts that match up evenly and are of special interest to each other. There is a number of interesting match ups, boats that may not get the headlines, glory or the winner's cup; but on those boats the competition will be intense and fierce. Whilst Black Jack, Wild Oats X will are the celebrity entries, you can bet there will be huge efforts, fine sailing and sometimes heart break in the smaller boats behind.

The 36 foot battle will be on with Geoff and Todd Anderson's Farr 36 Corum out to continue its recent run of good results against the ever consistent Andrew Knights and crew on Georgia Express. To stiffen this stoush up. the rumour has it that David 'Rosie' Rose has just purchased another Farr 36, Mean Machine and will be entering the race. This three way battle will be gate crashed by the Clayton Debenhams and Craig Ellis owned Sydney 36 Gauntlet. Corum has the pedigree to win this little battle and the race, but don't discount Rosie in a tight finish.

Look a little further up the list of length and things get really hot. Rick Morgan's Dream Lover, Bruce Mackay's Wasabi, John Moore on the ultra quick reaching lightship, Stomp, the always hard charging Murray Bucknall's Ryu-gin FGI will all be pushing and possibly leading the Farr 40 rat pack of Bribie Star, Cracklin Rosie, e11even, Lambourndini and Night Nurse.

Can any of them beat the Dave Lambourne's superbly sailed and super quick Lamboundini across the line? History says they can't. Don't discount the crafty Lucas Down sailing Bribie Starr or Dave Elliott's dark horse e11even. Cracklin Rosie went close to the overall win last year and will be aiming to be there again too. However you can bet that all these yachts will flog them selves mercilessly in the attempt to be up there. In so doing one could well be standing tall on the dais at Rosalyn Bay.

Further up the list; slightly bigger and faster again and the battle will be huge between Rod Jone's new toy, the modified GP42 Alegria and the classy 42 foot Wellbourne designed Wedgetail. There is no doubt that Bill Wild will want to add the 2010 Keppel trophy to his 2010 Gladstone win. These two yachts will be in the same patch of water as the ultracompetitive and combative Stewie Lewis on his Marten's 49 Ocean Affinity. A boat that is said combines a fine Gin and Tonic or perfect espresso with race winning speed. Once again an intense segment that may well produce the overall IRC winner.

Maybe a little slower through the water but the battle between Jobie's Southern Cross Yachting, the pretty First 45 Carbon Credits, Tam Farraghers' First 44.7 Ultimate Positioning, Mondo sailed by Ray Sweeny and his gang of villains, Tony Love's Patriot and his old boat Sweetheart now owned by Lawrence Pigeon (there is nothing worse than being beaten by your old boat after you have spent the big dollars on the new boat). This will be well worth watching on the yacht tracker. There is now doubt that bragging rights will big at the finish amongst these guys.

These are the battles are from boats entered; and its still eighty days to the start. There will be other entries to come and they will only intensify the competition by those who don't care about overall line honours. Let the big boats take the line honours tag. It won't matter to the bulk of the fleet; however we will still clap as the crew of Black Jack accepts the line honours trophy over the representative of Wild Oats X; after all its always good to see a Queenslander beat a blue boy!

Mystery Yacht Racer

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The Club Marine Brisbane to Keppel Tropical Yacht Race is hosted by Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron with the cooperation of Keppel Bay Marina.

Now in it's fourth year, the race has already attracted 29 entries.

For more information log onto www.brisbanetokeppel.com