Local Hero owner ecstatic winner of Audi at Hamilton Island Race Week

by Julie Hodder on 4 Sep 2010 Peter Mosely topped his winning streak on his ventures travelling on the Northern racing circuit by winning the hotly contest IRC Passage 2 Division and then the Audi A5 Sportsback at the presentation.

Speaking to him yesterday he said he was speechless at the presentation he was so elated. He still felt 'on top of the World' and was taking his wife down to see the new sportscar.

The ultimate winner of the Audi from all the first placed division boats was chosen by the best time trial in the Audi Car Challenge at Hamilton Island.

The IRC Passage 2 winner came down to the last race, and Peter and his crew managed to beat the Harvey Milne’s Archambault 31 Aroona from Sydney by just 17 seconds in the Lindeman Island race. This put them in first place by one point. Aroona at the time was winning the Audi IRC National Championships, and just lost to Loki (Peter Ainsworth) by a fraction of a point.

'Not a bad result for a 15 year old boat' said Peter Mosely.

Peter sailed with mostly a Canberra crew at Hamilton Island. However Peter had other local Middle Harbour sailors including Mitch Miller, Mat Bassett, Mat Daniels and Simon Firth during their 'Amazing Northern Exposure Tour'.

On the Audi Sydney to Southport race, they were in the lead most of the way and unlucky to lose. Peter Mosely said 'The boys were amazing and Mat Bassett only slept a couple hours'. However 40nm from the finish, they fell into a hole for four hours with the rest of the smaller boats and that cost them the race.

On the Brisbane to Great Keppel Island Tropical Yacht Race Peter and his enthusiastic crew were delighted to win both their division and the overall PHS category. 'We had a beautiful sail up the coast and enjoyed the live video skyping with the race committee. We had the laptop on deck so they could check out our sailing,' said Mosely

At Airlie Beach Race Week, they were tired first up to the last race. On the last race Local Hero was winning until the race was abandoned due to lack of wind and on a count back just lost to obtain a second. Local Hero had to drop a seventh and Ocean Affinity from RQYS a sixth. Peter said 'It was a pity that a Navigation error cost them the overall series'.

This is not the first time Local Hero has won its division, two years ago they were first in the PHS division at Hamilton Island and have been on the winner’s platform a number of times. We look forward to welcoming the boat back to Middle Harbour Yacht Club.

http://www.mhyc.com.au