El Toro cound take honours in Lindauer Coastal race

by Lesley Grant on 25 Oct 2002 The spectacular ‘no-holds-barred’ racing yacht, El Toro 2, owned by Tony Ruiterman is a hot favourite to take line honours in the Lindauer Coastal Classic Yacht Race starting this Friday off Devonport Wharf.

Designed by Brett Brett Bakewell-White, the 20.5metre Bakewell-White design Pocket Maxi is champing at the bit to make her maiden coastal race in the 21st Lindauer Coastal Classic starting at 10 a.m. tomorrow.

El Toro II is the 25th boat that her owner Tony Ruiterman has built and his brief for the designer was a yacht that would sail fast, could be sailed short-handed and suit a family of four. He is happy with the end result and El Toro II proved last Saturday that she can certainly sail fast by taking the top places in the Gold Cup.

The initial design was developed around the Volvo 60 rig and she carries an extensive sail wardrobe from the Illbruick racer from Germany.

With challenging weather forecast for the Lindauer Coastal Classic Race, this will be a great test for El Toro II and if she gets 15-20 knots of wind, with the wind just ahead of the beam she will certainly give NZL 40 and NZL 41, not to mention the notorious Georgia, a run for their money.

The Lindauer Coastal Classic is shaping up to be another exciting race.