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  • Calibre 12 Aims for Top Marks in Upcoming Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race

Calibre 12 Aims for Top Marks in Upcoming Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race

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  • 26 Jul, 2024 09:37:00 AM
Calibre 12 Aims for Top Marks in Upcoming Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race

Calibre 12 Aims for Top Marks in Upcoming Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race

The crew of *Calibre 12*, skippered by Richard Williams, is gearing up for another challenging Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race. After a year of great performances and significant upgrades, Williams and his team are ready to take on the competition with renewed vigor and a finely-tuned yacht.

Reflecting on their past season, Williams shared, “We had a busy last year with the Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore. We started the year off with the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race, where we came fifth overall and second in our division. We were the first yacht under 40-foot across the line.” This result marked a significant milestone for Calibre 12.

Despite a minor setback when the boat hit South Head, Calibre 12 quickly bounced back. “We did Cabbage Tree pretty well, and then we took on the 78th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, where we finished 19th overall and 3rd Corinthian boat,” Williams recounted. "Fourth in our division was unfortunate, but we were still pleased with our performance.”

Preparation for the upcoming race has been meticulous. Over the winter, the crew focused on several upgrades and fine-tuning the boat. “We’ve been doing electrical upgrades and we put on electric winches last year. It’s been great,” said Williams. They team also invested in new sails, adapting their wardrobe to the IRC rule changes on the number of jibs. “We now have a light, medium, and a medium heavy, but the medium heavy reefs to a four. So, we’re only carrying two jibs,” he explained.

Innovation is a key part of Calibre 12’s strategy. Williams highlighted their use of a triple-headed setup, a feature uncommon for boats of their size. “We’ve got the jib, the BRO (Blast Reaching Zero) out the front off the bowsprit, and the genoa staysail inside that. All the big boats have got three sails at the front instead of one big one. It makes the boat capable of doing wind speeds and not slower than the wind.”

The crew composition has also seen changes, with new members joining and seasoned sailors remaining steadfast. “We’ve lost three people from our last race series and gained three,” said Williams. Among the new crew is Aymeric Motte, who brings valuable experience from racing TP52s, and Mckeira Cumming, who has been racing in Europe and is the youngest at 25.

Looking ahead to the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race, Williams is optimistic. “We’re looking for a good race. Our main goal would be to win IRC Corinthian, and we’d like to be the first 40-footer across the line again. Winning our division would be great, and if everything pans out, winning the whole thing would be fantastic.”

With a blend of experience, innovation, and a spirit of determination, Calibre 12 is poised to make a strong showing in the upcoming race, aiming to build on their past successes and achieve new heights.

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