Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race 2024

News
2023
Mercury rising for sailing mates from RPAYC

Mercury rising for sailing mates from RPAYC

NEWS
27 Jul, 2023 09:56:00 AM

Mercury rising for sailing mates from RPAYC

Mark Waterhouse and Mark Tinworth will enter the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast this week after a few year's hiatus from the race. Representing the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club this pair of friends have jointly owned race boats for almost two decades. Two years ago they decided to upgrade from their Beneteau 44.7 Le Billet to Mercury. Mercury is a modified Farr 40 with a heavier keel, twin wheels and modified rudder and boom. All mods have been done with a good IRC number in mind.

Mark Tinworth has been sailing for many decades and has done numerous Gold Coast and Coffs Harbour races. Mark Waterhouse has been sailing for about fifteen years. “After selling my hobby farm and looking for something to do to keep me out of the office, my son and I learned how to sail together,” says Mark Waterhouse. “Mark Tinworth and I have always had a good boat partnership. We have never had an argument and we’re both on the same page about keeping the boat highly maintained and competitive.”

As the race approaches, this weekend we caught up with Mark Waterhouse to ask him a few questions, about their preparation for the race.

CYCA: Can you tell us a bit about the new boat?

Mark Waterhouse: She is a beautiful boat to sail, light on the helm with good upwind speed and a great hull design for downwind sailing. Mercury was previously known as 2 Unlimited which competed in two Rolex Sydney to Hobart races.

CYCA: What prompted you to do the Sydney-Gold Coast race? The course, the journey, the finish? Is there any on aspect you look forward to or maybe dread?

MW: “We have done numerous Southport races in Le Billet and thought it was about time to tackle the race in the new boat. We like the tactical aspect. This races poses questions- ‘Do you stay in close to the beaches?’ or, ‘Do you risk going wide and fight the current?’ With this year’s forecast it will be a difficult decision.

CYCA: Who will your crew be for this race? Anyone new to it? How many on board for this?

MW: We have ten crew all from Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club. Ages on the boat range from 18 to 64. We encourage youth development and invite kids to join us, we like to have a mix of male and female crew. This race I am racing with my son Josh and we have a father and daughter and a husband and wife.

We also have the RPA sailing manager Nick Elliott and RPA sailing coach Niall onboard.

CYCA: Do you have any traditions or rituals on the boat we should know about?

MW: Of course, any crew doing their first Gold Coast race has to take a swim off the jetty on arrival. We have priorities on the boat. safety first then have some fun and thirdly try to win. Everyone is very committed, happy to sleep on the rail at night and push the boat hard. There is not a lot of yelling on our boat, every crew member has a job to do and we just get on with it. We try to teach the younger ones a bit along the way.

CYCA: How was last year’s race, if you took part?

MW: We haven’t entered this race for a few years, but er had some good results in the previous boat and expect Mercury to be more competitive.

CYCA: What are your plans for after you finish the race?

MW: Due to work commitments most of Mercury’s crew are flying home. Mark Tinworth and I will be delivering boat back home with some helpers.