Defending line honours winner in mix for Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race
by Di Pearson / RPAYC media 20 Feb 17:49 AEDT
11 April 2025
Excitement abounds at the regatta - Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race © Andrea Francolini / MHYC
In the assortment of early entries for the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club's 2025 Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race is the defending line honours champion, XS Moment, along with boats that will be lining up for the Club's Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race later this year.
Ray Hudson's XS Moment was one of just three boats to finish the frustratingly slow and fickle east coast classic last year. She took line honours and placed third overall behind the double-handed crews of Jupiter and Transcendence Rudy Project, whose boats were tailor made for the conditions.
Hudson is hopeful that the 39th running of the 226 nautical mile race will provide more kindly weather for his XP44 designed XS Moment and her crew than it did last year. He no doubt echoes the thoughts of all others who did the race last year.
"Despite the fact we got light weather last year, we are hoping for a somewhat faster race this time. XS Moment's ideal wind range is 12-20 knots, from any direction, as boat works well into the breeze and square to the breeze."
On lessons others could learn from the 2024 race, Hudson mentions, "Perseverance. If you stay long enough the breeze will come. Patience - with enough, you will succeed. And watch the current. Tactically the race is a good challenge. The big swinger is will there or will there not be a land breeze overnight - and making decisions around that," Hudson said.
The Pittwater yachtsman also noted that super maxis Comanche and Black Jack are the last two names inscribed on the race's trophy. "Then ours (a 44 footer). Most unusual."
Weather at this time of year can be very tricky, so it will be interesting to see who goes the distance if it is light on for breeze again. It is also a tactically challenging race - hug the coast or take a punt and go out to sea?
Ready for the 1pm start on 11 April, off Barrenjoey Headland, are three boats also entered for the 1250 nautical mile Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race that starts exactly six months later on 11 October: Richard Hudson's Pretty Woman, the Sharon Ferris Choat skippered IMOCA 60, Awen and Darren Drew's multihull Wind Cheetah.
"Every race is training for the next one," Hudson commented. "After last year's Pittwater to Coffs race, which we didn't finish and only three boats did, I won' be retiring and there will be wind," an adamant Hudson declared.
"I've rarely retired from a race. I can't remember the last time I retired from this one. I don't like retiring. To not finish last year and then having to retire from the Sydney Hobart with a damaged headstay foil, we will finish this race. I'm going to my youngest grandchild's 1st birthday at Crescent Head on the Sunday (two days after the start), so we will be finished it by then!"
Others who have thrown their hats in the ring early are James Murchison's Hick 40 Avalanche and Central Coast entrants, Darren Cooney's IOR Farr 40, Inner Circle and Paul Beath's J/99, Verite.
Verite, sailed double-handed by Beath and Teresa Michell, was also on the retired list last year, something Beath would rather not be reminded about.
"We only got to Seal Rocks. We spent a whole day between Port Stephens and Seal Rocks... Teresa and I are hoping for redemption - and wind - this year," Beath said.
"It's a nice distance race and after our disappointment of pulling out of the Sydney Hobart after the auto pilot failed, we want to finish the season with a good race; one that we finish.
"We're really looking forward to it," ended Beath, who with Michell, will prepare by contesting a double-handed three-race series in Newcastle beforehand.
The Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race is open to monohulls and multihulls in IRC, ORC, OMR and Short Handed categories. Entries close at 1700 hours 28 March 2025. Entries received after that time will attract a late entry fee.
For all information, NoR and entry go to www.pittwatertocoffs.com.au.