Please select your home edition
Edition
Henri-Lloyd Dynamic Range

Matador charges to win first Act of Pallas Capital Gold Cup

by Nic Douglass 17 Mar 2024 05:20 PDT 16-17 March 2024

David Doherty's Matador took the win in a closely fought Act 1 of the Pallas Capital Gold Cup over the ten boat fleet this weekend, sailed from the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.

The tight racing, mini-battles throughout the fleet, and great tests of boat handling were the perfect start to what is set to be a hard raced Pallas Capital Gold Cup with just six points separating the top six boats under the TPR rule.

"It has come so far, just from the three years I have been involved. And a boat that's last in one race might be third in the next one, and it's just really compressed the field, it's really good", said Doherty of the TPR racing.

Koa, owned and skippered by Andy Kearnan was second on TPR, with Craig Neil's Quest placing third.

On IRC, it was also Matador with the top honours, followed by Marcus Blackmore's new Hooligan, and again Andy Kearnan's Koa.

Day 1

Saturday's opening race saw the ten-strong fleet head south from the Clarke Island start/finish line in Sydney Harbour start line to Port Hacking for a 36 nautical mile passage race.

The shared start line captured a few of the fleet up at the favoured boat end in the weak easterly breeze.

Koa won the start, nailing the shared line and finding clear air in a hole that opened up to leeward of the main pack, with Zen a few boat lengths to leeward, and Hooligan well towards the pin end of the line also starting well.

The lead changed on the way out of the harbour, with Zen pushing through to lead out of the heads with Matador close by, who passed on the inside as the two boats went through the heads. Zen went for the early drop on their Code Zero, and they were able to again take the lead from to leeward while Matador tried to drop theirs.

There were different tactics for the route south, with some opting to hug the shore, and others going a little wider. Ultimately, Matador won out with a wider approach, and they were able to unfurl their Code to inch forward again on Hooligan and Zen.

After several changes through the fleet Matador took first place on TPR, a perfect start to their campaign.

Day 2

Sunday's racing saw the windward-leeward course moved inside Sydney Harbour. After a lengthy delay waiting for the breeze to fill in, the first race of the day got away in 8 knots at 105 degrees with a two lap, nautical mile course about two hours after the scheduled time thanks to a patient race committee.

Zen were clear leaders from the start and managed the shifty part of the course under Bradley's Head to extend around the first top mark. Hooligan made big gains downwind and managed to sneak inside Zen at the bottom gate. Quest followed, and immediately tacked to take advantage of the left-hand shift that had filled in across the course.

Quest sailed a fantastic race pushing on to second place across the line and took the same position on TPR to Koa who continued to add to their good start in race one, with Peter White's First Light in third. Matador made an excellent recovery after getting caught up at the start to finish fourth on TPR.

Race two saw the course reset to 110 degrees and once again the start line was a tough contest for the ten TP52's. Koa was again the winner of the start, and led around the top mark. Unfortunately they had a mechanical issue with their winches from there on, and went backwards for the remainder of the final race, but salvaged a third position on TPR to take second overall behind Matador, who again took fourth for the race.

Meanwhile, Hooligan extended down the first run to put daylight in between themselves and the fleet, and even with the most harsh handicap of the bunch, took the win on TPR in the final race to secure 5th on TPR overall.

First Light, the most improved of the regatta, finished in second place, following multiple ducks and weaves up the works with the fastest boats in the fleet. They were elated with their performance as one of the newcomers to the fleet, finishing fourth overall.

"Super boost to the crew", commented White on the result. "Just on top of the world".

"The class is terrific, the camaraderie is wonderful. Look here we are mixing it up, and a year ago I found it hard to even talk to them [meaning the leaders], because they are just above our level, so to be up here now is just a reward for all the hard work that we have put in over the past year, and our learning in the class", concluded White.

There is plenty more to come for the four-act Pallas Capital Gold Cup, with Act 2 part of SailFest Newcastle and the IRC National Championship 5-7 April, then Act 3 as part of Sail Port Stephens and the IRC State Championship 19-21 April, with the final Act 4, to be sailed in Pittwater from the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club on 18-19 May 2024.

Thanks to sponsors Pallas Capital and Zhik for their support.

Related Articles

Rolex TP52 Worlds in Cascais day 3
French tour de force gives Paprec world championship lead As the Rolex TP52 World Championship passed its midway point today in Cascais, Portugal it is the French underdogs on Paprec, led by ocean racing legend Loïck Peyron, which has taken the overall lead. Posted on 4 Jul
Rolex TP52 Worlds in Cascais Day 2
Consistent American Magic Quantum Racing move clear ahead American Magic Quantum Racing stepped three points clear at the top of the 2025 Rolex TP52 World Championship leaderboard today in Cascais, Portugal on the strength of a first and third from two breezy races. Posted on 3 Jul
Rolex TP52 Worlds in Cascais Day 1
Sled sparkle in Cascais' Atlantic surf to lead After seemingly being starved of boisterous top end conditions for some years now Okura's Sled crew have been relishing a return to big breezes and big waves. Posted on 2 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
Rolex TP52 Worlds in Cascais - Practice Day
Will Platoon Aviation's big breeze, big pressure experience prove key to their fourth world title? Of the three past and present world championship winning crews which completed their final practice today in typically muscular 25 knot breezes and big waves out of Cascais, Portugal it was Harm Müller-Spreer's Platoon Aviation which showed best today. 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
Rolex TP52 Worlds in Cascais preview
Eleven teams hoping the Portuguese venue lives up to its reputation Given that it is a long time since the 52 SUPER SERIES fleet raced in big winds and waves, a breezy final few training days before the start of next week's Rolex TP52 World Championship in Cascais would be universally welcomed by the 11 teams. Posted on 23 Jun
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez preview
Looking ahead to the 27th edition The elegance of the Classics, the power of the Moderns, the majesty of the Maxis. This dreamlike combination, a legacy of the Nioulargue, will once again come together in the stunning setting of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez from September 27 to October 5. Posted on 22 Jun
Rolex TP52 World Championship preview
The pinnacle event of the 52 SUPER SERIES will be held at Cascais The annual Rolex TP52 World Championship represents the top tier of monohull grand prix sailing. Held as the pinnacle event of the 52 SUPER SERIES, of which Rolex is also Official Timepiece, the regatta is one of the most revered in the sport. Posted on 19 Jun
Sailing with Matt Cornwell
From youth sailing in Lymington to the America's Cup and TP52 Worlds From youth sailing in Lymington to the America's Cup and TP52 Worlds, Matt's journey has been shaped by resilience, big moments, and life at the bow. We caught up with him to talk favourite races and what he'd be doing if he weren't a sailor. Posted on 13 Jun
V-DRY-XRS Sailing 2021 - FOOTERHyde Sails 2024 - One Design