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30 Plus Entries and Counting for Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race 2008

Home 2008 30 Plus Entries and Counting for Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race 2008

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“We have learnt a lot about the new boat since its launch in January and as a result improved our boat speed dramatically. As a result we are now starting to challenge the TP52s and Cookson 50s and the Gold Coast Race is a great opportunity to again sail against some of the best 50 footers in the world,” said Flirt’s owner Chris Dare

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With the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Race only 29 days away, entries have been coming in at a rate of knots with a current total of 33 entries received.  This year, the 23rd Audi Sydney Gold Coast Race is shaping up to be a year of ‘firsts’.

Currently, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia has received entries for four brand new boats that will undertake the 384 nautical mile race north.  The Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht race is a significant event that marks the start of the CYCA’s Bluewater pointscore championship and is the third event in the Audi IRC Australian Championship, with the final event being Audi Hamilton Island Race Week.

Secret Mens Business III is a brand new Reichel/Pugh 47 that will make her ocean-racing debut at the Audi Sydney Gold Coast race.  She will officially be launched in Melbourne in early July for Adelaide yachtsman Geoff Boettcher.  Secret Mens Business III is a development of Beau Geste, the Reichel /Pugh design for prominent HK yachtsmen Karl Kwok.  “It’s a beamy boat, with a little degree of chine like that on the latest Chutzpah and with a personalised interior developed from my previous boats,” as Boettcher told OffShore Yachting.

Geoff has chosen the Audi Sydney Gold Coast to debut his latest yacht, describing it as a “Hobart Race that goes north and gets warmer all the time.”

Boettcher commissioned his third Secret Mens Business’ to replace the boat that was severely damaged in a collision on the first day of the 2007 Hamilton Island Race Week.

Flirt, was launched in January 2008 and is a Corby IRC 49, based at the Sandringham Yacht Club.  This will mark her introduction to serious ocean racing and the first race with the new keel that has been fitted in the past week.  Since January 2008 Flirt’s results have rapidly improved including 1st (line honours and IRC) in Queenscliff to Apollo Bay Race, 2nd Sail Sandy Regatta and 3rd Audi Top of the Bay Regatta.

“We have learnt a lot about the new boat since its launch in January and as a result improved our boat speed dramatically.  As a result we are now starting to challenge the TP52s and Cookson 50s and the Gold Coast Race is a great opportunity to again sail against some of the best 50 footers in the world,” said Flirt’s owner Chris Dare

Other ‘new’ boats for this year’s Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race are Peter Harburg’s Black Jack and Graeme Wood’s Wot Now.

The official start of the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race, will be at 1pm on Saturday 26 July.  When the race concludes at the Gold Coast, boats will be welcomed by key local sponsor of the Southport Yacht Club, Audi Centre Gold Coast.

This event also marks the third event in the four part Audi IRC Australian Championship series that will be decided at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week.  Now in its second year, the Audi IRC Australian Championship sees the winner drive home in a sporty Audi Q7 SUV, as well as an Australian Championship title.

The Notice of Race for the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht race is available at the official race website www.goldcoast.cyca.com.au. Entries close on Friday 11 July, 5pm. - Jennifer Crooks