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A colorful start to the 23rd Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race

Home 2008 A colorful start to the 23rd Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race

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Mark Richards skipper of Wild Oats X commented on his retirement from the race “We aren’t having much luck in the 66ft class this week! We broke the bobstay and that caused the bowsprit to break just after we had cleared the heads – but that’s ocean racing for you.”

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Racing is under way in the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race with the first boats to clear the heads being Quest, Ragamuffin, Wot Now and Quantum Racing.

Two minutes after the warning signal, PRO Richard Grubb, was forced to delay the start due to a large tanker needing to use the harbour.  This delayed the official start time by 20 minutes. 

Once the race got under way Ragamuffin got away to wonderful start in front of Quest, Wot Now and Quantum Racing.

Boats choosing the start boat end of the start line were affected by a huge knock with many having no pressure at all. This allowed the yachts placed on the pin end of the line to get away under good pressure.

By the time the leading yachts reached Sow & Pigs Reef, Quest had over taken Ragamuffin closely followed by Wot Now, Quantum Racing and Secret Mens Business 3.  Quest continued to lead the fleet as they passed through the heads.

Unfortunately shortly after Wild Oats X cleared the heads, the yacht reported gear failure and has retired from the race.

Mark Richards skipper of Wild Oats X commented on his retirement from the race “We aren’t having much luck in the 66ft class this week!  We broke the bobstay and that caused the bowsprit to break just after we had cleared the heads – but that’s ocean racing for you.”

“It was a tricky start to the race – we were on starboard tack and the rest of the fleet was on port tack and we got locked out of the start. We decided that it was better to hang back rather than getting the boat damaged.  We had a good couple of tacks and we had just about caught the leaders as they reached the heads. Soon after we got through the heads, that’s when the gear broke – so it was retirement and back to the marina for us.  We were looking forward to this race – I wish the fleet a safe journey and we’ll see some of them in Hamilton Island after we get Wild Oats X fixed” concluded Mark

For the yachts at the back half of the fleet they were met with a 180 degree wind shift at the heads forcing them to quickly drop spinnakers and raise headsails to deal with the east to NE breeze encountered.

For Phillips Foote Witchdoctor, an unfortunate rip in its spinnaker at South Head required the crew to act quickly to get it down and get things under control.