Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race 2024

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2012
Wild Oats XI on her way to a new Audi Sydney Gold Coast record

Wild Oats XI on her way to a new Audi Sydney Gold Coast record

NEWS
29 Jul, 2012 06:46:00 AM

Wild Oats XI on her way to a new Audi Sydney Gold Coast record

As Bob Oatley’s two granddaughters Kristy and Lyndal steady their nerves as they prepare to compete at the London Olympic Games in Equestrian Dressage, his super maxi Wild Oats XI, with Mark Richards at the helm, is near to smashing the 13 year-old Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race record set by Brindabella in 1999.

It will be a case of third time lucky for Richards, who has been stymied by the weather in recent years. The 100 foot yacht is expected at the Main Beach, Southport finish line shortly after 10.30am this morning.

The Sydney skipper gave an early indication of the chase, getting off the start line in perfect timing and not looking back in the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s annual 384 nautical mile race that signals the start of the offshore series for 2012-2013.

This morning at 6.45am, Wild Oats XI was skimming along at 8.6 knots in a west-north-westerly breeze around 20 miles off the coast at Evans Head with 72 nautical miles to sail to the finish line.

Richards and his crew are set to knock up to six hours of the of 27 hours 35 minutes 43 seconds set by the conventionally ballasted Brindabella, which is south-east of Solitary Island and not in a position to better her record.

The Mark Bradford helmed RP66, Black Jack, owned by Peter Harburg from Queensland, remains in second place, 35 nautical miles behind the leader, with a further 10nm to Stephen Ainsworth’s RP63, Loki, 15 to defending champion, Living Doll, the Farr 55 owned by Victorian Michael Hiatt.

Next is Syd Fischer’s TP52 Ragamuffin, all the same order as they left Sydney Heads yesterday at 1.00pm. All of these yachts could also finish inside the record.

A new player has emerged in sixth on line, with 2010 Rolex Sydney Hobart winner, Secret Mens Business 3.5, the RP51 owned and skippered by South Australian Geoff Boettcher taking up the challenge again after a 20 month break from offshore racing.

Four yachts of the original 63 boat-fleet have retired from the race; Occasional Coarse Language (Warwick Sherman), Wave Sweeper (Morgan Rogers), Equinox II (Anthony Dunn) and Frantic (Michael Martin), all except Equinox II (sea-sickness) reporting damaged gear.

Follow the race action on http://goldcoast.cyca.com.au or on Twitter http://twitter.com/asgcyr