Edge closes the gap heading into LGT Wealth Management Australia Cup finale
by Nic Douglass 31 Oct 04:20 PDT
28 October - 1 November 2026
Edge, helmed by Craig Neil, has cut Beau Ideal's Super 40 SFR lead to five points, while David Doherty's Matador takes the lead on both TPR and IRC into the final day of the LGT Wealth Management Australia Cup.
Four windward-leeward races on Saturday 31 October brought the series to nine races, following three evenings of twilight racing on Sydney Harbour. Sixteen Grand Prix teams are contesting the TP52 and Super 40 divisions at the regatta, organised by the Australian TP52 Sailing Association and hosted by the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron.
With no discards, every score counts ahead of the final day on Sunday 1 November, meaning many teams across both fleets will be fighting for every place in the final three races.
Edge produced the strongest Super 40 SFR scoreline of Saturday, finishing second, first, second and first. The six-point day moved the Dunning 44 from fifth to second overall, reducing Beau Ideal's advantage from seven points to five.
Neil is helming John Bacon's Edge, with Murrary Jones calling tactics and Alice Tarnawski navigating. The lineup combines roughly half Bacon's crew and half the Quest crew, with Neil saying a few days of racing and training had helped the combinations come together.
"I think these conditions really suited the boat," said Edge helm and Australian TP52 Sailing Association president Craig Neil.
"It was an absolute weapon downwind and a lot of fun."
The team's two SFR wins came in races seven and nine, while Chris Dare's Ambition won race six and Grant Pocklington's Anarchy won race eight.
Karl Kwok's Beau Ideal remained consistent on SFR with three thirds and a second, taking its total to 24 points. Edge follows on 29, ahead of Anarchy on 34, Scott Lawson's Mittere on 44 and Ross Hennessy's Condor on 48.
On IRC and ORC, Beau Ideal won all four Saturday races, with Gavin Brady on helm and Dean Barker on tactics. The Botin design now has nine wins from nine on IRC giving a commanding lead on nine points, ahead of Edge on 26 and Condor on 39. Anarchy is one point behind Condor on 40.
Edge took second place in all of Saturday's races on both IRC and ORC. Beau Ideal leads the ORC standings on 10 points, ahead of Edge on 28, Anarchy on 40 and Mittere on 43.
Condor continued its strong form after Friday's passage race, recording fourth, third, third and third on IRC on Saturday to move from equal fifth to third overall under that system.
"Four races, 20 to 25 knots. Doing 20 knots downwind, yeah, you can't ask for better than that," said Condor crew member Jack Andrew.
Andrew said the stronger breeze across Friday and Saturday had suited Condor after the team struggled against some of the fleet in the lighter twilight conditions.
He described starts where being bounced by one boat could quickly leave the team ducking four or five others.
"Racing is that tight. It's a lot of fun."
Andrew said clean starts and finding a lane to take advantage of shifts would be the focus for Sunday 1 November.
In the TP52 class Mark Spring's Highly Sprung opened Saturday with victory on both TPR and IRC, with Congressional Cup-winning skipper Cole Tapper on helm and Dean Williams calling tactics.
Tapper joined Highly Sprung for his first day of racing at the regatta on Saturday, following Kairos Racing's Team of the Year win at the Australian Sailing Awards on Friday 30 October. He described a packed harbour and more breeze than he would normally expect at this time of year.
"Races were super quick and the team loved it, and did a really good job," said Highly Sprung helm Cole Tapper.
The 14 sailors aboard Highly Sprung, includes five youth under 26. The crew includes Tapper's Congressional Cup-winning teammates Max Brennan, Nathan Gulliksen and Hamish Vass.
Highly Sprung followed its opening win with three second places to be boat of the day on TPR. Its seven-point Saturday moved the team from fifth to third overall on TPR, one point ahead of Lee Hawksley's Gusto.
Matador was OCS in race six before responding with three consecutive wins on both TPR and IRC. The TP52 leads both overall standings on 15 points.
Virago is second on TPR with 25 points, followed by Highly Sprung on 34, Gusto on 35 and Peter White's First Light on 39.
On IRC, Virago is also second, on 22 points. First Light is third on 36, with Highly Sprung on 37 and Gusto on 38.
Neil also welcomed the mix of twilight, passage and weekend racing, and the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron's hosting of the fleet.
"The racing's close. They have 11 boats on the course. It's just fantastic," he said of the Super 40 fleet.
"We've had some beautiful sunsets and a really nice mix of racing."
Up to three windward-leeward races are scheduled for Sunday 1 November, with the first warning signal at 10:55am AEDT.
Live coverage will continue on the TP52 Australia YouTube channel, with commentary from Nic Douglass, Peter Shipway and Katie Spithill.
Saturday's full replay and Sunday's live coverage will be linked through the event website.
Results, replays and how to watch: www.australiacup.org