Audi Sydney Gold Coast Race - Nice guys finish last

by Lisa Ratcliff, CYCA Event Media on 3 Aug 2010
The arrival of Tony Purkiss and his five Newcastle and Lake Macquarie mates on the Swanson 36 Mister Christian has signalled the end of the 25th Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race.

Their finish time off Main Beach was 3.52pm this afternoon, during the trophy presentation for the silver jubilee race at Southport Yacht Club. During proceedings MC and recently elected SYC Commodore Rob Mundle took a moment to acknowledge the efforts of the one remaining boat still at sea.

'It’s a pity it’s over as soon as it was,' remarked Purkiss this evening at the marina.

'We were 25th boat out of Sydney Heads, we weren’t out there to muck around. Monday was a slow day, we parked up for eight hours off Coffs Harbour but then we were off again, making excellent time for the final 11 hours to the Gold Coast.

'There might not be toothbrushes cut in half on this boat to save weight, but we always aim for a win.'

Built in 1982 as a one-off by one of the shipwrights working for Swanson Bros., Mister Christian was generously lent to Purkiss by the owner for this race.

'The owner very graciously allowed me the use of his boat so I could celebrate two milestones, my 20th Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race and the event’s 25th anniversary.'

Seventy one yachts from a fleet of 75 successfully completed the 384 nautical miler and this afternoon competitors gathered at SYC to recognise the winners and placegetters and drink to their own safe arrival.

Audi Australia together with ONE HD, Australia’s only dedicated free-to-air digital sports channel, will show highlights from the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race on Monday 23 August at 8.30pm on ONE HD, as part of the four episode wrap of the Audi IRC Australian Championship.

To view the full race results log on to http://goldcoast.cyca.com.au