Please select your home edition
Edition
A+T Instruments BFD 2024 Leaderboard

Exciting start to Cabbage Tree Island Race at Cruising Yacht Club of Australia

by Cruising Yacht Club of Australia 8 Nov 2019 03:34 PST 8-9 November 2019
Black Jack takes the lead with the race record in their sight - Cabbage Tree Island Race, Day 1 © CYCA

The Cabbage Tree Island Race, the fourth race in the Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore, got off to a flying start this evening, with the fleet surging down the harbour in the twenty knot westerly winds.

Fifty-eight yachts started the race in Sydney Harbour this evening, with gusty and shifty conditions giving crews a tough reach north towards Cabbage Tree Island.

The fleet put on a spectacular show for the multitude of spectators out to watch the largest edition of this race in its history, while the three super maxis achieved extreme speeds inside the harbour.

Not much separated the three 100 foot super maxis as they exited the harbour, though InfoTrack blew out their reaching spinnaker near Watson's Bay while Wild Oats XI and Black Jack furled theirs at similar times. It was a tussle that was too close to call between Wild Oats XI and Black Jack for first boat out of the heads, closely followed by InfoTrack. TP52 Gweilo was pulling well above their weight, sitting on the 100 footer's tails out of Sydney Harbour.

The rest of the fleet had a show-stopping battle as they hoisted spinnakers and completed a few gybes in the gusty conditions.

The current race record set by Wild Oats XI in 2012 of 12 hours, 12 minutes and 55 seconds looks to be under threat, as the fleet make their way to the NSW mid-north coast. Though with two big-name retirements in Wild Oats XI and InfoTrack, it is now playing in Peter Harburg's Black Jack's hands.

Seven yachts have retired in the 180nm race including gear failure and sail damage; Wild Oats XI, InfoTrack, No Limit, About Time, XS Moment, Sticky and Carrera S.

More information at bwps.cyca.com.au

Related Articles

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
Ponant Sydney Noumea Race Start in Images
A light and variable breeze got the three-boat fleet away in the afternoon light It was a quiet start to the Ponant Sydney Noumea Race, with the fleet the leaving Sydney Harbour in a light and variable breeze. Grant Wharington and Adrian Seiffert's Wild Thing 100 led the fleet of three down the harbour on a close reach Posted on 31 May
Ponant Sydney Noumea Yacht Race pre-start overview
Returning this weekend, rekindling an offshore classic that has tested sailors for generations The historic PONANT Sydney Noumea Yacht Race returns this weekend, rekindling an offshore classic that has tested sailors for generations. Posted on 30 May
America's Cup Power Plays
And Growing Sailing Through Learning There's always so much speculation and intrigue in-between each edition of the America's Cup. Everyone wants to know what is happening behind closed doors, inside the teams, and when the Challengers meet with the Defender. Posted on 28 May
CYCA team to take best shot at the Admiral's Cup
The Australian flag will fly proud on Zen and Back 2 Black The Australian flag will fly proud on Zen and Back 2 Black during the Admiral's Cup to be held in Cowes from the Isle of Wight from 17 July - 1 August. Posted on 28 May
Southern Cross Series entries open
Australia's offshore racing scene is setting a bold new course. Australia's offshore racing scene is setting a bold new course. The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) has launched the Southern Cross Series — a world-class, three-race challenge designed to unite sailors from every hemisphere. Posted on 22 May
The appeal of offshore
Is there still appeal? Have we made it too onerous? Why would someone take it up now? I had been pondering. Yes. Marquee events have no issue attracting entrants. Middle Sea, Transpac, Cape to Rio, Fastnet, and Hobart all spring to mind instantly, but what of the ‘lesser' races? Lots of boats in pens (slips) a lot of the time Posted on 18 May
For the love of slightly larger, even faster boats
Bring it on. No chicken chutes allowed. Celestial, the newest Cape 31 in Oz is up and racing Thank you. You have let For the love of small, fast boats run before the breeze like a superlight planning hull under way too big a kite, with immense sheep in the paddock, and the Sailing Master grasping the flare gun in his pocket... No chicken chutes. Posted on 4 May
Vaikobi 2024 DecemberMackay Boats 728x90 BOTTOMSea Sure 2025