Please select your home edition
Edition
Maritimo 2023 M600 LEADERBOARD

Rex sets new record in Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race

by Di Pearson / RPAYC media 31 Mar 2023 17:35 PDT 1 April 2023
New record for Dale Mitchell and Rex - Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race © Bow Caddy Media

Dale Mitchell and his crew on Rex, the ORMA 60 multihull from Queensland, early this morning broke the multihull record in the 2023 Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race - by 5 seconds - it seemed to suit the occasion - April Fools' Day!

It suits the occasion because the pre-race weather forecast spelt disaster as far as records were concerned. However, Mitchell and his crew worked hard and took all available opportunities in the Royal Prince Alfred's 226 nautical mile race.

"We weren't even game to tell the Club, because we weren't sure if we were right or not," Mitchell said after finishing the race at 6.08am in the time of 17 hours 3 minutes. Rex beat the 2014 record set by another ORMA 60, Team Australia (Sean Langman), of 17hrs 3mins 5secs.

"Obviously it was meant to be light winds, but we got out of the start fairly quickly," the Airlie Beach sailor said. "We worked towards the coast and did nicely, then hooked into a south-easterly quite well.

"Last night we saw we were slightly ahead of record and kept working hard. When we came into Seal Rocks we were greeted by the expected shutdown. I thought we'd be there for hours, but it was only half an hour, then we hooked into 12-14 knot westerly all the way to Smoky Cape," he said.

Mitchell said the breeze became quite fickle from that point and they experienced agonising moments of thinking they would, then wouldn't, break the record, before 12 knots came to save them.

"Then it decreased, came back a bit and oh my god, we broke the record! We were all laughing about it because we were quite amazed," Mitchell said.

"We had a couple of hours this morning when we were sitting on early 20s (knots), we had a nice south-easterly swell, which the boat responded to. It helped us get to Coffs Harbour quickly."

The well-known Whitsunday Sailing Club sailor said Rex looked after them: "Nothing major broke. We're all keen for a sleep now. None of us got much during the race.

"It's pretty awesome breaking the record. We turn up trying to set records. To have a week of preparation and to look at the forecast thinking we had no chance. When I think of the guys putting in the work they did during the race...," he said of the nine regulars on board.

Mitchell said the race did have its funny moments. "Off Port Macquarie, a couple of jet skis towing a sailboarder came out alongside us for half an hour or so. Turned out they were friends of Brett Van Munster's (a crew member)," Mitchell said.

Rex and the crew are sailing to Brisbane to undertake routine maintenance ahead of Easter's Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race, where they will try for another record.

Andoo Comanche (John Winning Jr), the super maxi skippered in this race by Iain Murray, finished the race at 8.46.40am, in 19hrs 46mins 40secs. The Rolex Sydney Hobart record holder finished outside the record of 17hrs 10 minutes 31 seconds record set by Peter Harburg's Black Jack last year.

Iain Murray skippered the boat in John Winning Jr's absence. "The first three hours of the race were slow and frustrating and they pretty much cost us a chance at the record. After that, it was slow but enjoyable sailing - full moon, clear skies, crisp night," Murray said as the 100 footer headed back to Sydney.

In a further nod to April Fools' Day, Mistral (Rupert Henry/Greg O'Shea) and Disko Trooper Contender Sailcloth (Jules Hall/Jan 'Clogs' Scholten), both two-handed crews, are at the top of the overall standings to win the race.

Meanwhile, Popeye (Craig Douglas), along with regular friendly rivals, LCE Old School Racing (Mark Griffith) and Pretty Woman (Richard Hudson), are scrambling to attack the pair's lead, with another two-handed crew, Shane Connelly/Tony Sutton (Rum Rebellion) between them. There is still over 100 nautical miles to go, though.

The 37th Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race started off Barrenjoey Headland at 1pm on Friday.

Follow the Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race on the tracker at: yb.tl/pittwater2023.

All information, including entries, on the official website: www.pittwatertocoffs.com.au.

Related Articles

30% off Vaikobi puffers - this weekend only!
There's never been a better time to zip up and stay warm There's never been a better time to Zip up and stay warm in Vaikobi. Our quality-made Vaikobi Down Vests and Jackets are NOW 30% OFF UNTIL 22 JUNE! Posted on 20 Jun
Finn World Masters in Medemblik overall
'Incredible' Finn World Masters closes after epic week Pieter-Jan Postma, from The Netherlands, has won his second Finn World Masters title as the 2025 Finn World Masters drew to a close in Medemblik on Friday, after having won the title on Thursday with a day to spare. Posted on 20 Jun
24th Argentario Sailing Week day 2
Ideal wind conditions, breath-taking sea, and nothing but smiles on the docks Peter Isler (SPARTAN), Mark Faulkner (LEONORE), Roberto Lacorte (LULUNIKKA) Ariella Cattai (CRIVIZZA), Inigo Strez (HALLOWE'EN) and Rafael Pereira Aragón (MATRERO) continue to charge ahead in the overall rankings. Posted on 20 Jun
Cup Spy: "Burling Rule" unlikely to be changed
The Defender is unlikely to soften the Rules and allow open season on its sailing team. Despite the shift of three times America's Cup winner, Peter Burling it is understood that there is unlikely to be any softening of the Nationality rule to enable Burling to compete in the 38th America's Cup. Posted on 20 Jun
Top quality fleet ready for Course des Caps
2025 IMOCA Globe Series begins this weekend The Course des Caps-Boulogne sur Mer-Banque Populaire du Nord starts from Boulogne-sur-Mer in the Pas-de-Calais on June 29th and circumnavigates the British Isles via the northern tip of the Shetland Islands. Posted on 20 Jun
2025 GL52 Big Red Regatta gallery
The photos show some of the people of the class The photos show some of the people of the GL52 class at the 2025 Big Red Regatta. They are skilled, dedicated, athletes whose enthusiasm and ongoing commitment to improvement is unparalleled. Posted on 20 Jun
iQFOiL International Games set at Kieler Woche
The first time this cutting-edge Olympic windsurfing class takes a leading role at the festival All eyes will be on Kiel this week as the iQFOiL International Games begin tomorrow, Saturday, June 21, at Kieler Woche, marking the first time this cutting-edge Olympic windsurfing class takes a leading role at the iconic German sailing festival. Posted on 20 Jun
44Cup Marstrand 2025 preview
3rd event of the season in Sweden next week Historically this is the most consistently visited venue for the high performance owner-driver RC44 one designs and their owners, which have visited the remote picture postcard island on Sweden's west coast since 2011, with the sole exception of 2016. Posted on 20 Jun
Aspen renews sponsorship for Women's Match Race
As title sponsor of the 2025 Bermuda Women's Match Racing Regatta The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club and World Match Racing Tour has announced the return of leading speciality insurer and re-insurer ASPEN as title sponsor of the 2025 Bermuda Women's Match Racing Regatta to be held from 21-26 October. Posted on 20 Jun
Burling "excited' by Italian move
In a media statement issued by his Media Team, Burling says he remains fully committed to his role w In a media statement issued by his Media Team, Burling says he remains fully committed to his role with Black Foils, the New Zealand SailGP Team. Posted on 20 Jun
PredictWind - Wave Routing 728x90 BOTTOMSelden 2020 - FOOTERSea Sure 2025