Please select your home edition
Edition
Mackay Boats 728x90 TOP

Newcastle Bass Island Race start

by DJ Munro 12 Oct 2018 09:22 PDT 12 October 2018
Hugh Ellis' RP51 currently leads the chasing pack after a clean start in the Newcastle Bass Island Race © Hamish Hardy

2100: Comanche has once again led the fleet out of Sydney Heads after the start of the Newcastle Bass Island Race, The third event in the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's (CYCA) Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore (Audi Centre Sydney BWPS) series. A clean start saw 28 yachts make for the open ocean, before heading northwards to their first mark-rounding off Stockton Beach some 64 miles beyond.

Jim Cooney & Samantha Grant's super-maxi flew to the front of the fleet, however, all yachts were underway well, with Hugh Ellis' RP51 and Matt Allen's Botin-designed TP52 Ichi Ban leading the chasing pack. Matt Donald & Chris Townsend's TP52 Gweilo, as well as Sam Haynes same-design Celestial are also well-placed, shaping up an almost-inevitable battle of the ultra-competitive TP52 class.

Further back in the pack, current Audi Centre Sydney BWPS champion Tony Kirby's Ker 46 Patrice started well and maintains a good position, holding their own against larger 52 and 51 foot yachts. Seb Bohms Rogers 46 Smuggler and the Helsal 3 Syndicate's Adams 20 are currently battling it out, a mere 0.1 nautical mile off each other's beam.

The Audi Centre Sydney BWPS is the most prestigious series organised by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) and is widely considered the pinnacle of blue water racing in the southern hemisphere. Starting with the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race in June, and climaxing with the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, the 'Everest' of ocean racing, on 26 December this and every year.

You can stay up to date with this race, and every race of the series right here on the new Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore series website. This year as well, for the first time in history, Yacht Tracker technology has been expanded throughout the series, with live results appearing roughly three hours after the start signal sounded.

With Comanche currently zooming along at 16 knots, in a recorded 15 knots of easterly wind, it will be an exciting race to watch unfold. Stay locked on the Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore series website, use and follow #AudiCentreSydneyBWPS on social media, and join us on this Newcastle Bass Island Race journey.

Related Articles

Meet the CYCA's Admiral's Cup Team
Meet the skippers and sailors, get to know their roles and discover what makes their programs unique Meet the skippers and sailors, get to know their roles and discover what makes their programs unique. Posted today at 6:59 am
Admiral's Cup 2025 | Interview with the CYCA Team
A highly experienced team for the revived Admiral's Cup regatta from July 17 The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia is fielding a highly experienced team for the revived Admiral's Cup regatta that will be run from Cowes on the Isle of Wight in the UK, from 17th July 2025. Posted on 1 Jul
Introduction to the Admiral's Cup/Fastnet 2025
After a 22 year abscence, the renowned Admiral's Cup is back. After a break of 22 years, the renowned Admiral's Cup is returning to the international yacht racing scene in July 2025. One short ocean race, three days of inshore racing, and then the fabled Fastnet to finish Posted on 29 Jun
CYCA Publishes report reviewing 3 incidents
In the 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart and Commits to Implementing Safety Recommendations The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) has published the full independent review report into the three incidents in the 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, which tragically saw two fatalities and a man overboard (MOB) incident. Posted on 13 Jun
Admiral's Cup vs. Rolex Fastnet Interclub Trophy
CYCA is proud to be competing in two prestigious interclub competitions The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) is proud to be competing in two prestigious interclub competitions — the revived Admiral's Cup and the Martin Illingworth Trophy — as part of the 2025 Rolex Fastnet Race. Posted on 12 Jun
New Caledonian duo set sights on RSHYR
Two French sailors based in New Caledonia will take on the 2025 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race When Yann Rigal and Michel Quintin began sailing Double Handed in 2020, Rigal had his doubts. "When Michel called me and said, 'Are you in?' I was like, 'Wow, that's crazy but yes, let's go'," Rigal laughed. Posted on 11 Jun
Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race gathers steam
Over 50 registrations for the CYCA's event that starts on Saturday 26 July The Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race has received over 50 registrations, for the CYCA's event that starts on Saturday 26 July. Posted on 11 Jun
CYCA and RFBYC announce partnership
To host Australia's premier match racing events The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia and Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club are pleased to announce a joint partnership between the two Clubs to host Australia's premier match racing events in January each year. Posted on 5 Jun
The call of the mighty
See the words Admiral's Cup and you immediately think approachable, real, hardcore action See the words Admiral's Cup and you immediately think approachable, real, hardcore action, braving the elements, and glory for the victorious. As an Australian, you have King Louie (the late Lou Abrahams), and the late Sir Jim Hardy as the poster boys. Posted on 1 Jun
PONANT Sydney Noumea Yacht Race draws to a close
With all three competing yachts now officially retired The 2025 PONANT Sydney Noumea Yacht Race has concluded with all three competing yachts now officially retired. Posted on 1 Jun
Palm Beach Motor YachtsRooster 2025Hyde Sails 2024 - One Design