Please select your home edition
Edition
Maritimo M600

SOLAS Big Boat Challenge to decide 2022 Australian Maxi Championship

by Cruising Yacht Club of Australia 5 Dec 2022 07:43 EST 6 December 2022
A riveting SOLAS Big Boat Challenge awaits © CYCA / Andrea Francolini

The 2022 Australian Maxi Championship will be decided by the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge after an enthralling day of racing in Sydney.

Following the Championship-opening Cabbage Tree Island Race over the weekend, the 10 boats (four in the Maxi Division and six in the Mini Maxi Division) completed two passage races on Monday.

Andoo Comanche, skippered by John Winning Jr, finished the day with three Line Honours wins from as many races to take control of the Maxi Division.

But a protest by LawConnect saw Andoo Comanche (on port tack) disqualified from Race 3 after failing to keep clear of LawConnect (on starboard tack).

Andoo Comanche also protested Hamilton Island Wild Oats over the same incident, but no rule was broken by the latter, meaning the Mark Richards-skippered Hamilton Island Wild Oats was awarded the Line Honours win for Race 3.

The result of the protest sees Hamilton Island Wild Oats, Andoo Comanche and LawConnect all level on seven points atop the Maxi Division (Line Honours) heading into the decisive SOLAS Big Boat Challenge on Tuesday 6 December.

Hamilton Island Wild Oats leads the way on handicap with six points, one clear of LawConnect and a further point clear of third-placed Black Jack. Andoo Comanche drops into fourth place.

Race 2 of the Championship started at 10am, taking the fleet on a 23nm combination course. The race started in a 15 knot nor'easter, with light to moderate breeze off Long Reef Beach.

Race 3 was an 18nm course from the start line near Shark Island, north to Long Reef and back to finish in Watsons Bay. A building breeze from the nor'east set up some exciting finishes on the Harbour.

In the Mini Maxi Division, Anthony and David Johnston's Reichel/Pugh 72 URM Group, skippered by Marcus Ashley-Jones, moved into a five-point lead atop the standings.

URM Group was the division's highest-placed finisher on corrected time in the Cabbage Tree Island Race, finishing 12th overall.

Another win in Race 2 and a second-placed finish in Race 3 has her well-placed to take out the Mini Maxi Division, with a five-point cushion over second-placed Alive (Philip Turner's Reichel/Pugh 66, skippered by Duncan Hine).

Jim Cooney's Volvo 70 Willow is in third spot, thanks to a win in Race 3, while Whisper (David Griffith), Moneypenny (Sean Langman) and No Limit (David Gotze) round out the division.

The SOLAS Big Boat Challenge begins at 12.30pm on Tuesday 6 December 2022.

View full results here

Related Articles

Noakes Sydney GC Yacht Race: Don't stop me now
Corinthian sailor Elizabeth Tucker takes on the world Elizabeth Tucker had barely stepped on board a yacht before 2021. Fast forward four years to 2025 and the English-born, Sydney-based sailor has sailed her Class40 yacht, First Light, from Spain to Australia. Posted on 9 Jul
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 on 9 Jul
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
Armstrong 728x90 - Wing FG Board Range - BOTTOMAllen Dynamic 40 FooterSea Sure 2025