S

List of Entries and Boat Profiles*

* Subject to change, crew details as per information provided to theCYCA by 30 July, 2016

For up to date crew lists, please refer to http://goldcoast.cyca.com.au/the-yachts/

Compiled by Di Pearson

ABRACADABRASAIL NO: 5612LOA: 14.3mCLASS: PHSDESIGNER: Bill Tripp (USA)YEAR BUILT: 1991TYPE: Tripp 47OWNER: James Murchison CLUB: Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, NSWCREW: J Murchison – Skipper/Navigator, A Martin, P Loxton, P Stratton, M Formosa, T Gango, P Craig

James Murchison sailed Abracadabra to PHS 10th overall in the 2015 Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race. He must have rustled up some magic later on, as Abracadabra, a PHS Division 2 yacht, won PHS overall in the Rolex Sydney Hobart, defeating all Division 1 entrants in the process, so she comes to the race in good form. The Tripp 47 has shown form before, winning PHS overall in the 2013 Gold Coast race after placing third in 2012. Other past events include the Melbourne Osaka double handed, Pittwater Coffs and Sydney Mooloolaba races. This yacht also competes in Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron races.

AFTER MIDNIGHTSAIL NO: 8778LOA: 12.4mCLASS: IRC/ORCi DESIGNER: Farr Yacht Design (USA)YEAR BUILT: 2002TYPE: Farr 40 ModOWNER: Mark and Greg TobinCLUB: Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, NSWCREW: M Tobin – Skipper, G Tobin - Navigator, J Rae, M T Johnston, M Linhart, D Stewart, A Ravell, M Watson, N Carroll

In the 2015 race, brothers Mark and Greg Tobin finished 13th overall for third in Division 2, beating their 22nd

overall/sixth in Division 2 of 2014. The same year, After Midnight was second overall in IRC and ORCi in the Brisbane Keppel race, sixth in Division 2 at the Australian IRC Championship, then fourth overall and second in Division 3 and winning ORCi Division 2 in the Hobart. They were not satisfied, because a 68 knot squall drove the boat backwards down the Derwent and arguably cost them the win. The Tobins purchased the modified Farr 40 in March 2014 from John Newbold, who owned her for two years after buying the boat from Ed Psaltis and Bob Thomas. The latter two modified her in 2004 and sailed her as ‘AFR Midnight Rambler’, winning the 2006/2007 BWPS and OPS and the 2009 Gold Coast race overall, a race in which were divisional winners three times. In fact they won every major race on the east coast with this yacht.

AMANTE SAIL NO: 6609 LOA: 11.0mCLASS: IRC/ORCiDESIGNER: Murray Burns Dovell (AUS)YEAR BUILT: 2006TYPE: Sydney 36CROWNER: Dennis CooperCLUB: Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, NSWCREW: D Cooper – Skipper/Navigator, J Neuhaus, M Hardiman, A Belford, S Giugni, N Greenhill, B McAdams

A competent performer in coastal races, Dennis Cooper sailed Amante to PHS sixth overall in the 2015 Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race. Sailing under IRC in 2014, was 37th overall and third in a tough Division 4, won by L’Altra Donna with 2014 Sydney Hobart winner Wild Rose second. The trio were top three the previous year too, only the top two were reversed, with Wild Rose winning. Cooper is a regular in CYCA events, sailing to seventh overall in the 2014/2015 OPS, with a fourth in ORCi. He also finished eighth overall and second in Division 2 of the 2015 Pittwater Coffs race after finishing divisional second in the 2013 race. On returning home after finishing PHS 15th overall in January’s Pittwater Coffs race, Amante suffered a fatality when Mal Lennon was tragically washed overboard in foul weather.

Amante returned to racing in the 2016 Land Rover Winter Series, finishing third overall in Division D, inclusive of winning Race 7.

ANGER MANAGEMENTSAIL NO: 11011LOA: 13.1mCLASS: IRC/ORCiDESIGNER: Corby Yachts (UK)YEAR BUILT: 2007TYPE: Corby 43OWNER: Phil ArnallCLUB: Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club, NSWCREW: P Arnall – Skipper, R Arnall – Navigator, S Buckingham, A Williams, R Ferguson, N Kibble, T Vooles, J Dummett

Anger Management, the third boat of this name for Phil Arnall, is based in Newcastle and competes in all NCYC offshore events, with some success. Arnall says he and the crew are looking forward to improving on last year’s result of 35th overall and fifth in Division 1, and 20th overall in 2014, when son Richard skippered. The two also contested their and the boat’s maiden Rolex Sydney Hobart in 2014, finishing 53rd overall. Richard joins his dad again in the role of sailing master/navigator. Arnall is a past commodore of the NCYC, which is usually well represented in major offshore races on the eastern seaboard. Arnall senior turned 70 on July 18 last year, and celebrated with a long lunch at Southport Yacht Club following the race. A win this year would be a nice way to celebrate his 71st.

AUSREOSAIL NO: 6755LOA: 14mCLASS: IRC/ORCiDESIGNER: Farr Yacht Design (USA)YEAR BUILT: 2002TYPE: Beneteau 47.7OWNER: Ian CreakCLUB: Greenwich Flying Squadron, NSWCREW: I Creak – Skipper, G Sanford - Navigator, J Lelliott, A Lelliott, M Pelosi, D North, G Ford, L Roe, I Arnold, A Lock

Ausreo was 17th overall and seventh in Division 3 last year, after missing the previous year’s Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race. Ian Creak and crew have contested a few in the past, with a best result of 22nd overall in 2013. Ausreo contested her first Hobart races in 2013 and 2014, claiming second place in ORCi Division 3 in 2013 and 41st overall in 2014. A regular at Beneteau regattas, Creak has again assembled a crew of mainly regulars, including Jim and Andrew Lelliott, who add strength to the crew on the yacht originally campaigned as Caliban II.

BALANCESAIL NO: 7771LOA: 15.9mCLASS: IRC/ORCiDESIGNER: Farr Yacht Design (USA)YEAR BUILT: 2005TYPE: Farr TP52OWNER: Paul ClitheroeSKIPPER: Mike GreenCLUB: Cruising Yacht Club of Australia/Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, NSWCREW: M Green – Skipper, N Scott-Perry – Navigator, A Brown, D McPhee, M Craig, D Keddie, C Evans, M de Montgolfier, T Brewer, J Dock, D Ashton, R Cox, A Cribb

Balance won the 2015 Rolex Sydney Hobart, also winning Division 1 and was second in ORCi. The win ensured her victory in the Blue Water Pointscore, which she won on countback to Chinese Whisper. Finished second to Ichi Ban in the Sydney Harbour Regatta in March, with six second places, and was fourth in Division 1 at the NSW IRC Championship. Finished the 2015 Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast

Yacht Race 19th overall and seventh in Division 0, while Clitheroe was in Ireland celebrating his 60th birthday, leaving the boat in the capable hands of Mike Green and crew. His is leaving the TP52 with them again, as he celebrates his 61st barging in Toulouse. Clitheroe will be following the race keenly and be ready with commentary on the crew’s performance.

Balance has recently undergone a major refit, including a respray, keel extension and a major upgrading of all gear on the boat, ahead of this year’s 384 nautical mile race. The former Quest was runner-up in the 2008 Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race and won the 2008 Rolex Sydney Hobart among other victories, under original owner, Bob Steel.

BLACK JACK SAIL NO: 52570LOA: 21.5mCLASS: IRC/ORCi DESIGNER: Juan Kouyoumdjian (ARG)YEAR BUILT: 2011TYPE: V70OWNER: Peter Harburg SKIPPER: Mark BradfordCLUB: Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, QLDCREW: M Bradford – Skipper, P Elkington – Navigator, P Harburg B Clark, D Hutchison, B Hilliar, V Prentice, A Nolan, C Anderson, G Van Lunteren

Peter Harburg returns to the race track with Black Jack after breaking his leg in the 2015 Sydney Hobart, forcing him out of the race. In last year’s Gold Coast race, having undergone modifications to improve her light weather performance, Black Jack was declared overall winner after crossing the line in second place to Perpetual Loyal. However, her crew discovered a discrepancy and duly reported it. Harburg’s honesty meant a drop to third place overall, but showed the true mark of the man. The former Telefonica trailed Harburg’s former RP66 Black Jack (now called Alive) in the shifty and light Brisbane Keppel race by nearly five hours to finish second on line. The V70 recorded her third consecutive line honours victory in the Brisbane Gladstone Race this Easter and her second successive double line and overall win – one of only two boats to achieve this in the race’s 68 year history, but Skandia Wild Thing’s race record remains elusive. In the three years Peter Harburg has owned the yacht it has raced to other top three places.

BLACK SHEEPSAIL NO: 33345LOA: 13.7mCLASS: IRC/ORCiDESIGNER: Philippe Briand (FRA)YEAR BUILT: 2008TYPE: Beneteau 45OWNER: Derek and Martin SheppardCLUB: Cruising Yacht Club of Australia/Wollongong Yacht Club, NSWCREW: D Sheppard - Skipper, M Sheppard, A Scott, R Tikroft, A Balogh, S Garrie, K Bennett, D Morris, A Fong, J White, M Ivanesza, R Jay, S Sellers, Y Heritage

Black Sheep, reflecting her owners’ surname, scored fifth overall to win Division 2 of the 2015 Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Race, well up on her 28th overall/third in Division 3 in 2014. She followed up with third in the Newcastle Bass Island Race and 15th overall for a Division 3 third and ninth overall under ORCi in the 2015 Sydney Hobart to finish the 2015 BWPS fifth overall in both IRC and ORCi. In April, the Sheppard brothers finished eighth in Division 2 at the NSW IRC Championship. In 2014, they were named Ocean Racing Rookies of the Year, following a great BWPS season in 2013, when they finished seventh overall and second in ORCi as new boat owners of the boat previously named Honeysuckle, then were fifth overall in 2014 BWPS. This year the Sheppards have added some of the Late Roger Hickman’s crew to the team, including Jackie White, Antonia Fong, Andrew Scott and David Morris. Seems Hickman’s proven winning formula of a blended male/female crew has rubbed off on his friends, who have five women in the crew.

BRAVOSAIL NO: B40 LOA: 12.6m

CLASS: IRC/ORCi DESIGNER: Farr Yacht Design (USA)YEAR BUILT: 2012TYPE: Beneteau First 40OWNER: Robbo RobertsonCLUB: Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron/Mooloolaba Yacht Club, QLDCREW: R Robertson – Skipper, L Davison, S Clarke, M White, A Wiklund, R Woods, R Sparry, A Geck, B Sinton

At 76, ‘Sir Robbo’ Robertson is making another offshore comeback, purchasing the former Concubine, which was raced by South Australians Jason Ward and Shevaun Bruland, who took the boat in the 2014 Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast race and finished 30th overall then 43rd overall in the 2014 Hobart. ‘Sir Robbo’ a great ambassador for sailing in Queensland, has owned and raced many yachts of varying sizes; Hot Prospect 2, Hot August Night, Queensland Maid/Sanctuary Cove, Corroboree, Last Picasso, Monkey Magic, Eureka (charter), Flight of the Gull, Beautiful Noise and Lunchtime Legend over so many years with some great results.

Robbo’s last major race was the 2012 Rolex Sydney Hobart when his former Beneteau 40, Lunchtime Legend. Robbo finished 17th overall and won Division 3, after placing 12th overall in the 2011 race when he scored equal third in Division, as fellow Beneteau 40, Two True, finished with the identical corrected time. His best Hobart result was third overall with Queensland Maid in 1991. He has serious sailing cred with many Hobart, Sydney Mooloolaba, SSORC, Hamilton Island, Airlie Beach and other events under the belt, scoring many top three results, but has not raced to the Gold Coast since 1992, with Corroboree.

CALIBRESAIL NO: 7777LOA: 11.78mCLASS: IRC/ORCiDESIGNER: Murray Burns Dovell (AUS)YEAR BUILT: 2001TYPE: Sydney 38OWNER: Richard WilliamsCLUB: Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, NSWCREW: R Williams – Skipper, N Black – Navigator, A Carpenter, A Brady, B Robertson, B Buyink, G Richmond, I Lee, K Stroinovsky, P Rose

Calibre redeemed herself in last year’s Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race when she finished sixth overall and second in Division 2. Prior to that, she last pointed her nose north in this 384 nautical mile race in 2011, but retired. Beforehand, Richard Williams, with his former co- owner in the boat, Geoff Bonus, concentrated on competing at Sydney 38 One-Design events for seven seasons. They also sailed to the podium in events such as the CYCA Trophy – One Design division. Williams recently won the Sydney 38 Division in the Land Rover Winter Series and finished third on scratch. Joining the crew is CYCA Youth Academy match racer, Kathleen Stroinovsky According to the boat’s Face Book page, they have the ‘hottest crew on the water’. We’ll soon see.

CELESTIAL SAIL NO: 6952 LOA: 15.85mCLASS: IRC/ORCiDESIGNER: Judel/Vrolijk (GER)YEAR BUILT: 2007TYPE: TP52 OWNER: Sam HaynesCLUB: Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, NSWCREW: S Haynes – Skipper, C Cunningham – Navigator, S Kirkjian, S Muldoon, C Geeves, C Janes, G Bauchop, B De Coster, W Howard, S Francis, D Palazzi, O Gill, K Groves

Celestial finished 24th overall and ninth in Division 0 in the 2015 Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast race, Sam Haynes having just purchased the TP52 originally known as Glory, then Wot Now, Shogun, Vamos and finally Fomo. Later that year, the Sydney vet placed 29th overall and third in Division 1 in his first Hobart with

this yacht, resulting in fourth overall in the Blue Water Pointscore and he finished third in IRC Division 1 at the 2016 NSW IRC Championship. Among others, Celestial will take on eight other TP52s in this race. A few new faces, including Sean Kirkjian, should add some weight to their result. With his previous Celestial, a Rogers 46 (now racing as The Goat II), Haynes won the 2014 Gold Coast race overall, his closest rivals were the much larger Black Jack and Wild Oats XI. Haynes went on to claim the BWPS under IRC and ORCi, of which the Gold Coast is the series opener. He also sailed to 11th overall and second in Division 2 in the 2014 Hobart and third overall in the 2013 race, with a second overall under ORCi.

CHANCELLORSAIL NO: 8824LOA: 14.8mCLASS: IRC/ORCiDESIGNER: Farr Yacht Design (USA)YEAR BUILT: 2004TYPE: Beneteau 47.7OWNER: Edward TooherCLUB: Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, NSWCREW: E Tooher – Skipper/Navigator, B Holbach, M Ward, S Lipman, J Davis, B Eagle, R Henderson, S Dawson, G Smith, A Bones

Ted Tooher finished last year’s race in 43rd overall and 12th in Division 2 after being on the receiving end of a penalty. He contested the 2013 Gold Coast Race, but retired, joining nine others who did not have time to finish the excruciatingly slow and challenging race. A regular in CYCA offshore events with this fourth yacht of the same name, this one being the former Pretty Fly II, Tooher says Chancellor is now on the water crewed and ready for blue water race success, starting with the Gold Coast and finishing with the Hobart race. He is a Beneteau fanatic, first owning a Beneteau 33 then a 40.7 followed by a First 40 and his current 47.7.

CHINA EASYWAYSAIL NO: 4527LOA: 12.7mCLASS: IRC/ORCi DESIGNER: John King (AUS) YEAR BUILT: 1988 TYPE: Jarkan 12.5OWNER: Travis Read CLUB: Port Hacking Open Sailing Club, NSW CREW: T Read - Skipper, J Cameron, R Browne, R Styles, S Brown, J Linnegar, S Grellis, S Gleeson, R McKay, G Nosworthy

Travis Read and Tim Wilson purchased China Easyway in 2014, in time for the Sydney Hobart. On board was a combination of Australian/Chinese crew, including co-skipper, Wei Hua Pan, but retired with sail damage. This is Read’s first Sydney Gold Coast with the boat. He has conscripted James Cameron, the owner of the Hick 35, Luna Sea, who has solid small boat offshore experience, and one of Cameron’s crew, Greg Nosworthy. Read is a small boat sailor too, having previously owned the Davidson 34, Illusion, which he sailed in major races, such as the Hobart, which it won in 1988 for original owner, Gino Knezic. China Easyway still bears the sail number she was christened with as She’s Apples II for David Strong, who sailed her to an overall IMS win (in conjunction with IOR winner, Atara) in the 1991 Sydney Hobart. Strong also finished second under IMS (IMS and IOR ran in conjunction) in the 1989 Sydney Gold Coast Race. The Jarkan 12.5 was sold to Max Prentice before Read bought her.

CHINESE WHISPERSAIL NO: AUS13LOA: 18.9mCLASS: IRC/ORCiDESIGNER: Judel/Vrolijk (GER)YEAR BUILT: 2009TYPE: JV62OWNER: Rupert HenryCLUB: Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, NSW

CREW: R Henry – Skipper, J Scholten, B Kellett – Navigator, S Cunnington, G O’Shea, B Lamb, S Hunt, F O’Leary, W Parker, D Edwards, C Satterthwaite, J Ferris, O McMahon, D Brennan, O Scott-Mackie, D Wislang

On selling his TP52, Fomo, to Sam Haynes, Rupert Henry purchased Jethou, from Europe in time for the Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race last year, renaming her Chinese Whisper, and finished second on line and second overall, living up to her promise. Took line honours in the Flinders islet Race last September, missing Loki’s race record by 15 minutes - and finished third overall, then won line honours in October’s Newcastle Bass Island Race and finished second on line to Ichi Ban in the Cabbage Tree Island Race. Placed fifth on line, fifth overall and first in Division 0 of the 2015 Rolex Sydney Hobart. Chinese Whisper lost the BWPS (which it had led marginally) to Balance, which won the Hobart overall, so took the trophy, but Henry toppled Balance for the ORCi trophy in the series. As Jethou, the JV62 won the Maxi division at Palma Vela in 2012, adding victories at Copa del Rey, Les Voiles de St. Tropez, the Maxi Rolex World Championship and Giraglia Rolex Cup. She is highly rated to win the race overall.

CHUTZPAHSAIL NO: R33LOA: 12.35mCLASS: IRC/ORCiDESIGNER: Reichel/Pugh (USA)YEAR BUILT: 2007TYPE: Caprice 40OWNER: Bruce TaylorCLUB: Royal Yacht Club of Victoria, VICCREW: B Taylor – Skipper, K Piesse - Navigator, B Anderson, G Gourley, J Permezel, P Sandles, P Fletcher, L Attersall, I Taylor, M Schmitt

Chutzpah missed last year’s race, but in 2014 was 12th overall and second in Division 2, after retiring from the 2013 race with electrical problems. Bruce Taylor and his Chutzpah yachts have had success in the Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race, including a division win in 2008, along with divisional third and 12th overall in 2012. This Caprice 40 is the Victorian dentist’s sixth boat of the same name. It is a top of the line Reichel/Pugh 40 footer configured for the Hobart race and won its division in 2007, with second in 2009, third in 2010 and 2013 and first in 2014.The close-knit Chutzpah team has won division in the RSHYR 12 times in over 29 years of competing and the evergreen Taylor is one of the most experienced inshore and offshore yachtsmen around, with 35 Hobarts to his credit. He also regularly races his Sydney 38 of the same name with good results.

CONCUBINE SAIL NO: YC45 LOA: 13.7m CLASS: IRC/ORCiDESIGNER: Mark Mills (IRE) YEAR BUILT: 2015 TYPE: Mills 45 OWNER: Jason Ward CLUB: Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia, SA CREW: Jason Ward - Skipper, J Clark – Navigator, M Slinn, N Partridge, S Mitton, J Paterson, D Woods, M Pernini, A Mitton, A Hawkins, S Bruland, L Stephens, A Henshall

A new Concubine arrived by ship last November for Jason Ward, who in 2014, following many years of one-design racing, contested the 2014 Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race with his former Concubine, a Beneteau 40 (which will contest this race as Bravo), and finished 30th overall and fifth in Division 3. Contested his first Sydney Hobart in 2014 with wife, Shevaun Bruland, and finished 43rd overall and 18th in Division 3. Last year, Ward repeated the experience with this brand new Mills 45, finishing 39th overall, the South Australian’s first major outing with the yacht. In February, he finished second to Geoff Boettcher’s Secret Men’s Business in the Adelaide Port Lincoln race and mirrored that result at Port Lincoln Race Week. Now broken in, will be interesting to see what Concubine brings to the table in this year’s race with a crew bolstered by the likes of Micky Slinn, Nick Partridge and Adam Hawkins.

DEKADENCE

SAIL NO: RQ432LOA: 14.1mCLASS: IRC/ORCiDESIGNER: Mark Mills (IRE)YEAR BUILT: 2004TYPE: DK46OWNER: Stephanie KerinSKIPPER: Stephen KerinCLUB: Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, QLDCREW: Stephen Kerin – Skipper, G Paulsen – Navigator, Stephanie Kerin, P Walsh, R Bakker, C Salter, B Martin, C Johnson, A Salter, C Evans, S Griffiths,

Queenslander Stephanie Kerin is the lone female owner in the fleet, and this will be her first Sydney Gold Coast race, and amazingly it will also be Dekadence’s first. This boat has bounced around from initial owner, Victorian Phil Coombs (who raced her in most the major events, including the Melbourne Osaka Double Handed race) to Tasmanian David Creese, back to Melbourne to Ken Simpson. Queenslander Kerin purchased her and raced at local majors and took on her first Sydney Hobart last year, but retired, citing electronics issues. Stephanie is tag-teaming with husband Stephen, who is skipper for this race.

ELENA NOVASAIL NO: 65007LOA: 12.8mCLASS: IRC/ORCiDESIGNER: Judel/Vrolijk (GER)YEAR BUILT: 2011TYPE: JV42OWNER: Craig NeilCLUB: Middle Harbour Yacht Club, NSWCREW: C Neil – Skipper, B Kelly - Navigator, A Pearson, H Brodie, N Newton, H West, D Elliot, L Harrison, M Lumsdaine, B Searl

Elena Nova finished 41st overall and seventh in Division 1 in the 2015 Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race before placing seventh overall in Division 1 at the 2015 SSORC. The Judel/Vrolijk 42 placed seventh overall in January’s Pittwater Coffs Harbour race and was 11th overall and sixth overall in ORCi of the CYCA’s Ocean Pointscore. Craig Neil’s yacht emerged on the Aussie scene in April 2014 when she finished fifth in Class B at the Australian IRC Championship. Her main rivals for this race will be the likes of Anger Management, Patrice, Swish and Pretty Woman. Neil is hoping for reaching conditions to show the boat in her best light. Before Neil purchased the boat, it raced in Germany under ORCi.

ESPRESSO FORTESAIL NO: 8181LOA: 16.95m CLASS: IRCDESIGNER: Bruce Farr (USA)YEAR BUILT: 2001TYPE: Farr 55OWNER: Laurence FreedmanSKIPPER: Peter SchwarzCLUB: Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, NSWCREW: P Schwarz – Skipper, D McConville – Navigator, P Seary, S Cray, P Smith, A Pryer, S Powell-Hughes, R Holstein, J Marks, M Drake

Laurence Freedman’s Farr 55 finished 42nd overall in last year’s Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race in the hands of skipper, Peter Schwarz, who takes the reins again. Espresso Forte has been campaigned out of the CYCA over a number of years, but until last year, had not contested the Gold Coast race since 2008, when it scored 36th overall and sixth in division. This year finished 21st overall in the 2016 Club Marine Pittwater Coffs Harbour race. On the crew are familiar names from other campaigns: Danny McConville, Richard Holsten and Peter Seary. Freedman, who will not be aboard, was awarded an Order of Australia in 2001 for Service to the Community, Medical Research, Arts and to Business and Investment in

Australia. His philanthropic beneficiaries include young Australians whom he supports in many areas, including introducing Western Sydney youngsters to sailing through the Freedman Foundation.

EXTASEA SAIL NO: G5785 LOA: 12.5m CLASS: IRC/ORCi DESIGNER: Murray Burns Dovell (AUS)YEAR BUILT: 1998 TYPE: Sydney 40 OWNER: Paul Buchholz SKIPPER: Bryan KennettCLUB: Royal Geelong Yacht Club, VIC CREW: B Kennett – Skipper, A Marlow, B Mann, B Miethke, D Fealy, L Gardner, M Parrott, P Hardiman, S Hunter, M Cassidy

Paul Buchholz has traded his 12 year-old DK46 for a smaller and older Sydney 40. The Victorian was last in our waters for the 2014 Sydney Hobart, in which he finished 29th overall and ninth in Division 2. This will be the boat’s Sydney Gold Coast debut, minus her owner who has left Extasea in Bryan Kennett’s charge. He and the crew are seasoned campaigners on the Victorian trail, and have won every local offshore race over the past 12 years, culminating in winning the ORCV Offshore Championship four times. In December 2015 (while most of the fleet was still rounding the south-west coast of Tasmania), he took line honours in the Melbourne to Hobart race for the fourth time with his DK 46 from 2011-2015, excluding2014 when he contested the Rolex Sydney Hobart instead. Extasea finished fourth overall in IRC Division 1 at 2016 Geelong Week and is a great addition to a strong Victorian squad.

FRANTICSAIL NO: GBR5211LLOA: 15.9mCLASS: IRCDESIGNER: James Donovan (USA)YEAR BUILT: 2004TYPE: Donovan TP52OWNER: Michael MartinCLUB: Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club, NSWCREW: M Martin – Skipper, M Dean – Navigator, A Mowser, S Hunter, J Adams, G Holbert, R Carlile, K Rixon, J Roberts, B May, J Eve, B Leask

Finished 38th overall in the 2015 race, then retired from the Hobart with a torn mainsail, but repaired, finished sixth in Division 1 in the 2016 NSW IRC Championship. Mick Martin says he is again looking forward to seeing plenty of TP52s, Cookson 50’s and the Rogers 46 coming out to play, and to having fun in the sun. And he will see all: Nine TP52’s – a record – two canting Cookson 50s and one fixed keel – and the Rogers 46. The ex Wallabies winger placed 15th overall in the 2015 Blue Water Pointscore. He bought the former Strewth from Geoff Hill in 2012 and has enjoyed competing at major regattas on the eastern seaboard. His best major result remains winning IRC and ORCi overall in the 2013 Gosford-Lord Howe Island race, with third on line and finished fourth overall last year. That race has since been cancelled.

GIACOMO SAIL NO: NZL70000 LOA: 21.5m CLASS: IRC/ORCi DESIGNER: Juan Kouyoumdjian (ARG) YEAR BUILT: 2011 TYPE: Volvo 70 OWNER: Jim Delegat CLUB: Royal Akarana Yacht Club, NZL CREW: J Delegat - Skipper, T Addis - Navigator, S Cotton, T Braidwood, N Delegat, J Delegat, C Smith, D Blanchfield, R Bearda, B Jackson, M White, D Miller

Jim Delegat is giving his New Zealand V70, Giacomo, a spell in Sydney, and will commence racing with

their first Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race, following on from the 2013 and 2014 two Rolex Sydney Hobarts, the last of which the Kiwi V70 was dismasted off the Tasmanian coast, so owner and crew are back for redemption. Locally, Giacomo has been ruling the waves, taking monohull line honours and overall IRC win in the 2015 Coastal Classic, line honours in the five-race Gold Cup Passage Series and line honours in the Night Race to Kawau. Still in red-hot form, took the trifecta of line, IRC and PHS honours in the Sail Fiji Race from Auckland to Fiji race early in June. Delegat’s sons, Nikolas (19) and James (17) are joining a sold crew including Steve Cotton and Australians, Tom Addis navigating, Tom Braidwood, David Blanchfield and Mitch White. In 2013, Delegat, a Kiwi winemaker of distinction, purchased the 2011-2012 VOR winner Groupama 4, renaming her Giacomo for his grandfather.

HELSAL 3SAIL NO: 262LOA: 20mCLASS: PHSDESIGNER: Joe Adams/Fred Barrett (AUS)YEAR BUILT: 1984TYPE: Adams 20OWNER: Rob Fisher/Paul MaraCLUB: Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, TASCREW: R Fisher – Skipper, P Mara – Navigator, D Clarke, J Wood, A Goode, J Thomson, R Jackson, D Stephenson, S Collins, M Flynn, C Oliver

In last year’s race, Rob Fisher and Paul Mara were hoping to replicate their PHS overall conquest of 2014, but it wasn’t to be when they finished seventh overall under PHS. Prior to last year’s Sydney Hobart, Fisher let it be known he wanted to be home in Hobart quickly, and he got his way, placing second overall in PHS and first in Division 1. The previous Hobart, with neither owner aboard, Helsal 3 finished 15th overall in PHS. Mara, a Gundagai doctor, bought into partnership with Fisher just before the 2013 Hobart. Helsal 3 was originally Arthur Bloore’s ‘The Office’, then Tony Fisher (Rob’s dad) bought the yacht and gave her the name they gave all their famous yachts, racing with success in the late 1980s and early 1990s before they sold her and then repurchased her in 2007.

What a story this yacht has to tell. Bloore pulled her out of the ‘84 Hobart on Day 1 with a torn main, but repaired and broke the Pittwater Coffs race record a couple of days later. Pulled out of the Hobart again in ’85 after breaking the mast prior to start, so was scored DNS. Was badly fire damaged in 1986 when Fisher purchased and restored her, finishing eighth on line in the ’87 Hobart and fifth in ‘88. He sold her to John Wertheimer who finished seventh on line in the 1990 Hobart. Chartered in ’91, she finished seventh on line before Fisher repurchased her.

ICHI BAN SAIL NO: AUS001LOA: 15.9mCLASS: IRC/ORCiDESIGNER: Judel/Vrolijk (GER)YEAR BUILT: 2011TYPE: TP52OWNER: Matt AllenCLUB: Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, NSWCREW: M Allen – Skipper, J Drummond - Navigator, G Maguire, W Morgan, S Ciszek, B Rice, W Sykes, N Nicole, J Rae, D Conigrave, P Merrington, T Sellars, J Corrie, C Kosecki

Matt Allen, Yachting Australia president and a past CYCA commodore, purchased the already pedigreed TP52, Shogun V (originally known as Audi Azzurra), from Rob Hanna last year and made some adjustments to suit, including a new keel fin and mast. While Allen was contesting the Transpac Race on Ragamuffin 100, Gordon Maguire skippered the latest Ichi Ban (Allen also owns a Carkeek 60 of the same name) to 12th place overall and fifth in Division O, in its debut race under Allen’s ownership. He cleaned up at the 2015 Airlie Beach Race Week, winning four of seven races (he didn’t sail the final race), finished second at the IRC Australian Championship, won Division 1 at the Sydney Harbour Regatta with a clean slate and replicated that performance to win the 2016 NSW IRC title.

IMAGINATION

SAIL NO: 35 LOA: 14.5m CLASS: IRC/ORCi DESIGNER: Bruce Farr (USA) YEAR BUILT: 2002 TYPE: Beneteau First 47.7 OWNER: Robin and Annette Hawthorn CLUB: Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, NSW CREW: R Hawthorn – Skipper, G Cooper – Navigator, A Guy, C Hawthorn, E Markey, I Short, J Broom, J Craddock, J Penney, M Short, M Barber

Sailed by the Hawthorn family, inclusive of Robin and Annette’s three sons at various times (Campbell will be aboard for this race), Imagination has only poked her head north in this race once before, in 2009 when she finished eighth overall and fourth in Division 3. Son Hamish skippered the well-sailed Beneteau 47.7 to 10th overall and second in Division 3 and sixth in ORCi to Hobart last year, as Robin suffered a heart attack prior to the race. It was Imagination’s second best result from three Hobarts; her best was ninth overall in 2009. The boat lit up again to win the 2015/2016 Grant Thornton Combined Pointscore, counting three wins from six races in her score after winning the Short Ocean Pointscore under PHS (the major trophy) and IRC. Recovered, Robin is back behind the wheel.

KHALEESI SAIL NO: 46 LOA: 14.1m CLASS: IRC/ORCi DESIGNER: Mark Mills (IRE) YEAR BUILT: 2005 TYPE: DK46 OWNER: Andrew and Pauline Dally CLUB: Middle Harbour Yacht Club, NSW CREW: A Dally – Skipper, P Dally, S Prince, D Dalziel, A Slocombe, G Tomlins, M Scott, D Nelson, A Chauvel, S Williams, L Pryor, D Bridges

Andrew and Pauline Dally have had a busy year with Khaleesi, the DK46 originally known as Shogun (Rob Hanna) and then Exile (owned by Nick George and then Rob Reynolds), which they purchased and renamed ‘Khaleesi’, meaning Tamer of Dragons - in the spirit of the friendly rivalry between its sistership Nine Dragons. In 2016, the Dallys scored a trio of second places - the CYCA’s IRC SOPS, Middle Harbour Yacht Club IRC Open Point Score and IRC Division 1 in Sydney Harbour Regatta. In 2015 they won IRC Division 1 in the 2015 SSORC, were third in IRC Division B at 2015 Hamilton Island Race Week and won IRC Division 2 in the CYCA Trophy 2014. Khaleesi placed 12th overall in the 2016 Pittwater Coffs race and fourth in Division 2 at the NSW IRC Championship. A determined and dedicated crew continues to aim high.

KOASAIL NO: 52152LOA: 15.9mCLASS: IRC/ORCi DESIGNER: Bruce Farr (USA) YEAR BUILT: 2004 TYPE: TP52OWNER: Peter Wrigley/Andy KearnanCLUB: Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, NSW CREW: A Kearnan – Skipper, A Green – Navigator, P Wrigley, T May, G Van Dijk, M Wrigley, A O’Brien, R Howard, T Poulson, W Miller, J McCrudden, P Williams, D Wrigley, A Paterson

Late in 2015, Peter Wrigley and Andy Kearnan bought Bryon Ehrhart’s Lucky, winner of the 2010 Middle Sea Race and second placegetter in the 2014 China Sea Race. They took Koa (named for Hawaii’s largest native tree) in her maiden Sydney Hobart, but retired with steering damage. Repaired, Koa placed third in Division 1 at the 2016 Sydney Harbour Regatta and fifth at the NSW IRC Championship. This is her first Sydney Gold Coast experience, but both owners have runs on the board with individual previous yachts; Kearnan in particular with L’Altra Donna, which was eighth overall and third in Division 3 of the 2015

Sydney Gold Coast race and fourth overall and second in Division the previous year and won Division 2 of the 2013 CYCA Trophy Rating Series. Wrigley’s sons Matt (31) and Drew (26) are aboard. This is Matt’s second time, but a first for Drew. Conscripting old sailing mates Anthony ‘Pato’ Paterson and a handful of his former Tow Truck crew to the cast won’t harm their chances.

KOMATSU AZZURROSAIL NO: 3430LOA: 10.1mCLASS: IRC/ORCiDESIGNER: Sparkman & Stephens (USA)YEAR BUILT: 1981TYPE: S&S 34OWNER: Shane KearnsCLUB: Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, NSWCREW: S Kearns – Skipper, A Seja - Navigator, D McRae, J Nixon, M Doherty, F Nelson

This is the old and reliable yacht that produced magic for Shane Kearns and his crew by winning the 2015 Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race and moved on to hold Balance hostage up until the last, in the Rolex Sydney Hobart, in which she ultimately finished third overall when she was robbed of wind after rounding Tasman Island. Komatsu Azzurro was also second in Division 4, won ORCi overall, won ORCi Division 3 and won the Corinthian division. Since then, she has finished seventh overall in Division 3 at the 2016 NSW IRC Championship, in a style of racing she is not suited for.

The story of this boat and her owner reads like a fairy tale. Built in 1981 for Victorian Ron White who died in 2012, Shane Kearns bought the former Shenandoah II in 2014 after finding the yacht in a bad state after it nearly sank in Queensland in 2014. He lovingly restored her to such a point she is now unrecognisable. Kearns found his crew at his former skipper, John Walker’s funeral. They too, had sailed with Walker for years. The rest, as they say, is history. Kearns believes ‘Johnnie’ Walker looks after them from above.

LAST HURRAHSAIL NO: 1195LOA: 13m CLASS: IRC/ORCiDESIGNER: Greg Elliott (NZL)/Fred Barrett (AUS)YEAR BUILT: 1994TYPE: Elliott 13 ModOWNER: Peter BushCLUB: Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, NSWCREW: P Bush – Skipper, R Woodman, A Lang, P Glynn, G Holt, J Wardell

Last Hurrah is the well-named yacht of Peter Bush, who returns to racing after a long absence, for one last go. ‘Bushy’ became Commodore of the CYCA from 1996-1997. Then the corporate turnaround specialist filled the role of interim CEO of the Club, never guessing what the 1998 Sydney Hobart would bring. He was also a prominent ocean racer with yachts such as Big Schott, Casablanca, Blind Panic, Rager, Bobsled, Kidnapped and Bushwhacker. This yacht is the former Valheru, previously owned by Tasmanian Tony Lyall. It underwent optimisation by Fred Barrett and builder Ian Milner to improve performance, but its bow was severely damaged in a collision soon after the start of the 2002 Sydney Hobart. Bush’s long term goal is to contest the 2018 Melbourne Osaka double-handed yacht race with old sailing buddy, Alan Lang, who is aboard for the Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race.

LAST TANGOSAIL NO: 8975LOA: 13.6mCLASS: PHSDESIGNER: J & J Yachts (SLO)YEAR BUILT: 2010TYPE: Salona 44OWNER: Phillip KingCLUB: Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, NSW

CREW: P King – Skipper, C Flood, C Wightwich, R Blanch, D Blanch, M Pemberton, R Eder, T Johnson, T Scott

Last Tango was partying elsewhere and missed last year’s Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race, but competed in the 2014 race, but retired with minor rig damage. She fared better in the 2013 race with eighth in IRC Division 3 and Phillip King will be praying for fresh breeze to improve their position this time around. As part and parcel of their preparation for the 384 nautical mile race to the Gold Coast, King raced her in Division B of the Land Rover Winter Series and finished fourth overall. A win and a second during that series have King revved up and ready for the forthcoming race, as does a new main from Hoods. Since arriving in Australia in November 2010, Last Tango has scored mixed results in her various regattas and races, but no matter what, the upbeat Phil King finds reasons to celebrate.

LE BILLETSAIL NO: 10447LOA: 13.4mCLASS: IRC/ORCiDESIGNER: Farr Yacht Design (USA)YEAR BUILT: 2005TYPE: Beneteau First 44.7OWNER: Mark TinworthCLUB: Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, NSWCREW: M Tinworth – Skipper, S MConaghy, M Parker, S Parker, M McKenzie, C Costanzo, H Hall, Y Le Barz, R Bower, J Dawson, P Clancy, G Howard

Originally owned and campaigned with countless successes by RPAYC stalwart, Bill Ebsary, Mark Tinworth bought Le Billet and finished 41st overall in the 2014 Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race and bettered that with 36th overall for ninth in Division 2 last year. Le Billet also finished fourth overall in Premier IRC Division 2 and third in ORCi at the 2015 Sydney Harbour Regatta Tinworth and Mark Waterhouse purchased the yacht in 2012 and have spent the last three seasons racing in Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club inshore and offshore events. Having eased into their boat now, the crew will be aiming high. Enlisting Steve McConaghy to call tactics is a smart move and could steer Le Billet to her best result for Tinworth.

LOCAL HEROSAIL NO: 1236LOA: 11.0mCLASS: IRC/ORCiDESIGNER: Reichel/Pugh (USA)YEAR BUILT: 1995TYPE: BH 36 ModOWNER: Chris MatthewsCLUB: Middle Harbour 16ft Skiff Club, NSWCREW: C Matthews – Skipper, L Gallaway, A Kear, G Lee, B White, J Rowe, S Butler

Local Hero is an old favourite on the race track, inshore and offshore at all the major regattas and races on the east coast. Chris Matthews has taken up the reins from past long term owner Peter Mosely, who had left the yacht in the capable hands of Matthew Bassett over the past few years. Bassett sailed her to a good 11th overall and fourth in Division 3 last year, a vast improvement on the 45th overall in the 2014 Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race. In 2015, raced at Hamilton Island and scored first in IRC Division 3, and counting four wins from six races, was named ‘Yacht of the Regatta’. Local Hero became a casualty of the ensuing Sydney Hobart after suffering minor hull damage. She remains remarkably competitive despite her 21 years.

LOVE & WAR SAIL NO: 294 LOA: 14.2m CLASS: IRC/ORCi DESIGNER: Sparkman & Stephens (USA) YEAR BUILT: 1973 TYPE: S&S 47 OWNER: Simon Kurts

CLUB: Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, NSW CREW: S Kurts – Skipper/Navigator, A Hearder, E Adriaanse, S McCullum, J McCullum, J Henderson, P Inchbold, M Flood, M Fonzo, H Armstrong

This famous three-time Sydney Hobart winner has not contested the Gold Coast since 2012, when she finished 23rd overall and sixth in Division 4. More recently, the 41-year old classic Oregon and Maple wood boat finished seventh and second in Division 4 of the 2014 Sydney Hobart, previously winning the Tattersall’s Cup three times - 1974, 1978 and 2006 – joining Freya as the only other yacht to win the race overall three times. Love and War is the second of five yachts owned and raced by the Late Peter Kurts and the only one kept by him. Son Simon will be crewed by ‘Rowdy’ McCullum and his son Jack from Tasmania, and old Brindabella favourites; Tony Hearder and Erik Adriaanse. Wild Rose crew, Peter Inchbold joins the team for the first time, The Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race is the start of Kurts’ campaign for the 2016 Rolex Sydney Hobart and he says they will use it to “stretch our legs.”

M3SAIL NO: AUS52LOA: 15.8mCLASS: IRC/ORCi DESIGNER: Farr Yacht Design (USA)YEAR BUILT: 2006 TYPE: TP52OWNER: Peter HicksonSKIPPER: Brent FowlerCLUB: Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club, WA CREW: B Fowler – Skipper, L Campbell – Navigator, B Van Munster, B McRae, J Turner, J Naughton, JR Enkelmann, M Wheeler, M Pearce, R Wilson, M Kennedy, O Marshall, P Marshall, T Somerville

What a wild ride Peter Hickson has had with M3 since purchasing the former Calm last September. In his debut with M3, Hickson took line and overall honours in the George Law Memorial Foundation Race in big winds. In the subsequent Fremantle Geraldton race, with a torn main, he still managed third overall. The Hobart race came, and just after the start, M3’s forestay shredded. Cougar, also out of the race early, offered their forestay, but after a crew discussion on the predicted first night southerly buster, they elected to retire. Instead, she competed in the Pittwater Coffs Harbour Race and finished second on line and third overall. But on the way back, M3 ran aground, her crew abandoning M3 near Seal Rocks in dreadful weather, and she was beached. This yacht has had its share of tragedy and triumphs.

When owned by Jason Van der Slot and partners, Calm finished the 2011 and 2012 Hobarts in fifth overall - the best placed TP52 on both occasions. The Victorians purchased the boat in 2009 and took line and IRC honours in the 2009 Melbourne Stanley Race. WA’s Tony Mitchell bought her after Van Der Slot’s death, until illness claimed his life in 2014. M3 is repaired and skipper Brent Fowler is ready to race, as are crew members Brian McMaster, John Naughton and Brad Skeggs who have a financial interest in the boat. Brett Van Munster, a boat builder renowned for his skiff building and racing, joins the crew.

MASERATI SAIL NO: ITA70LOA: 21.5m CLASS: IRC/ORCi DESIGNER: Juan Kouyoumdjian (ARG) YEAR BUILT: 2007TYPE: Volvo 70OWNER: Jim Cooney CLUB: Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, NSWCREW: Jim Cooney – Skipper, J Coleman, D Burt, S Don, M Robinson, J Natherson, B Sykes, O Schenk, Julia Cooney, H Slawson, W Hedberg, N Armstrong, J Tilse, D Hislop

Maserati is big leap up in terms of performance, age and technological advances compared to Jim Cooney’s 23 year-old Brindabella. Maserati came to Australia for the first time last year with famous Italian sailor, Giovani Soldini skippering in the Hobart. Cooney says the V70 is a very exciting step “for our family and crew.” Most of the long-serving Brindabella crew have joined him in the new venture, as has his daughter Julia (19). The crew will be topped up with the experienced North Sails MD, Michael Coxon.

Cooney, who says the family has spent years at sea together, realises Maserati is a complex boat and says they are in the early days of learning to sail her. He is entering this race as a great training exercise under real conditions and will be very happy with any result given that the boat is still very new to them. Maserati will join two other infinitely more experienced V70s and their cohesive crews in the race: Black Jack and Giacomo. Cooney last sailed Brindabella (which remains at CYCA berth A62 for the foreseeable future) to 12th on line and PHS 11th in the 2015 Gold Coast race, retiring from the last two Hobart races. 

MAYFAIRSAIL NO: W1424LOA: 12.2mCLASS: IRC/ORCiDESIGNER: Farr Yacht Design (USA) YEAR BUILT: 2011 TYPE: Beneteau First 40OWNER: James IrvineCLUB: Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, QLD CREW: J Irvine – Skipper, R Pym, S Butt, J Hawkins, D Rose, P Wright, T Di Betta, T Rose, K Kaiser

Mayfair, the former ‘Take Flight’, is a Sydney Gold Coast race novice. James Irvine took her in their maiden Sydney Hobart race last year they finished an impressive ninth overall, fourth in Division 4 and fifth overall in ORCi for third in Division 3 – a very promising start for Irvine who bought the Beneteau 40 to campaign in all east coast and local races. Irvine claims they are an experienced and colourful crew of local characters - and they proved that at the CYCA in December. In earlier results, Mayfair finished 14th overall from 16 competitors in the 2015 Brisbane to Keppel Yacht Race, having better luck the previous year when she was 12th overall from 25 entries, in her first blue water outing under Irvine’s leadership.

MERLINSAIL NO: 93LOA: 15.6mCLASS: IRC/ORCiDESIGNER: Forbes/Kaiko (AUS)YEAR BUILT: 2000TYPE: Kaiko 52OWNER: David Forbes SKIPPER: Joseph EarlCLUB: Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, NSWCREW: J Earl – Skipper, R Brooks – Navigator, C Thornton, C Casey, A Cameron, K Hegarty, L Earl, M Brixel, M Heenan, M Lansky

After finishing 17th overall and third in Division 2 of the 2014 Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Race last year Merlin, owned by 82 year-old Olympic gold medallist and America’s Cup yachtsman David Forbes OAM, completed the race last year in 33rd place for third in Division 1. For offshore races, Forbes leaves the Kaiko 52 in the hands of his trusted regular skipper, Joseph Earl, who also steered the yacht to 25th overall and second in Division 2 of the 2015 Sydney Hobart, taking Merlin to sixth overall and sixth under ORCi in the Blue Water Pointscore Series, of which the Hobart is the final race. Always well sailed, and a regular in the CYCA’s Ocean Pointscore Series (OPS), Merlin received a new suit of sails last year, which vastly helped her performance.

MINERVA SAIL NO: 6837LOA: 13mCLASS: IRC/ORCiDESIGNER: Reichel/Pugh (USA) YEAR BUILT: 2002TYPE: DK43OWNER: Tim CoxSKIPPER: Edward CoxCLUB: Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, NSW

CREW: E Cox – Skipper, M Blaxell – Navigator, B Greenrod, I King, J Johnson, J Francis, K Whyte, M Hewitt-Park, R Keenan, W Cox

Minerva‘s last assault on the Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race was in 2012 when she finished 38th overall and ninth in Division 2, but her best performance in the race was 22nd overall and fifth in IRC Division 2 in 2011. A DK43 formerly known as Pla Loma IV, it will be skippered by one of the owner’s sons, Edward, whose brother William, who has skippered this yacht in other races, is also aboard. Minerva is a regular competitor in the BWPS and OPS series. Over the past few summers it has competed alternately in the Sydney-Hobart and Coffs Harbour Races, last heading to Hobart in 2013, finishing 16th overall. Minerva won the CYCA Ocean Point Score PHS series in 2012/13. Cox has upped the ante by adding high-profile Kiwi afterguard Rod Keenan and competitive skiff sailors Brad Greenrod and James Francis to the mix.

MORE WITCHCRAFT SAIL NO: 8402LOA: 13.95mCLASS: PHSDESIGNER: Kevin DibleyYEAR BUILT: 1995TYPE: Dibley 46OWNER: John Cameron CLUB: Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, NSW CREW: J Cameron – Skipper, T Peek – Navigator, M Press, C Sriber, S Enoch, Michael Est, Matt Este, S Jackson, M Paton, M Brown, P Merli

John Cameron finished his term as CYCA commodore this month and can’t wait to hit the offshore race track again. He has had some hits and misses in this race – the hits were a PHS win in 2004 and PHS third overall in 2005. He missed in More Witchcraft’s last Gold Coast Race in 2010, when under-prepared, the boat finished last in PHS. Cameron was madly preparing his yacht as he grappled with his final days as commodore and business commitments. He is aware that his boat and crew will need to be at their best to challenge last year’s PHS winner, Wax Lyrical (Les Goodridge’s X-50) and She’s the Culprit (an Inglis/Jones 39) which surprisingly finished outside the top placings last year, but won everything before her in the 2014 Rolex Sydney Hobart. Having said that, Cameron has co-opted fellow yacht owner, Carl Sriber, and champion 12ft skiff skipper Murray Press to his crew, and they will add some polish.

NAUTICAL CIRCLESAIL NO: A169LOA: 12.0mCLASS: PHSDESIGNER: Joubert/Nivelt (FRA)YEAR BUILT: 2006TYPE: Archambault 40OWNER: Ian PrenticeCLUB: Sydney Amateur Sailing Club, NSWCREW: I Prentice – Skipper, G Weise, R Smith, T Bye, T Butler, A Ormandlaki, D Holmes, R Taylor-Price, M Riera

Nautical Circle last contested this race in 2013 under Ian Prentice, finishing 20th overall for ninth in Division 3. In 2012 he finished 41st overall and 10th in Division 3. Her only other Gold Coast race was in 2010, when Matthew Prentice skippered her to 50th overall and 14th in Division 3. Nautical Circle also entered the 2010 Rolex Sydney Hobart, but retired with engine problems, but went on to finish 40th overall in 2013. An Archambault 40, she was designed to be a good all-rounder and has the ability to make the podium.

OCCASIONAL COARSE LANGUAGE ONESAIL NO: 8009LOA: 12mCLASS: IRC/ORCiDESIGNER: Farr Yacht Design (USA)YEAR BUILT: 2000TYPE: Cookson 12OWNER: Robert Alder/William Bailey

CLUB: Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, NSWCREW: W Bailey – Skipper, J Wells – Navigator, A Jurd, C Davey, E Watts, G Edwards, M Jeremy, M McSorley, R McClung, T Sutton

This Cookson 12, owned by Warwick Sherman until 2011, finished 26th overall and fourth in Division 2 of last year’s race to the Gold Coast, finishing 31st overall and sixth in Division 3 the previous year, after finishing fifth overall and third in IRC Division 3 in 2013, beating Sherman’s much newer Occasional Coarse Language Too to the punch. Bill Bailey and crew raced Occasional Coarse Language One to sixth overall in the 2015 Pittwater Coffs Harbour Race, and ninth in the 2016 race before scoring seventh in IRC Division 2 at the Sydney Harbour Regatta and ninth in Division 2 at the NSW IRC Championship. Her owners say that racing from RPAYC in Pittwater since 2011, “We enjoy all forms of racing from windward/leewards to long offshore races.” The Cookson 12 sports a fabulous spinnaker with colourful symbols signifying expletives on it. Wild Rose’s Jenifer Wells will navigate.

OCEAN GEMSAIL NO: 8810 LOA: 13.5mCLASS: IRC/ORCiDESIGNER: Farr Yacht Design (USA)YEAR BUILT: 1992TYPE: Beneteau 445OWNER: David HowsCLUB: Southport Yacht ClubCREW: D Hows – Skipper, S Humphris – Navigator, A Lomakin, E Van Coeverden, K Schroder, M Hows, P Chapman, R Durham, S Hanrahan, S Laughlin

Ocean Gem joins She and Wildflower 2 in representing race finisher, Southport Yacht Club, in the Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race. The Beneteau was originally sold new in New Zealand in 1992 and purchased by the current owner, David Hows, in 2011. She was berthed in Auckland until late 2013, when extensive cruising was undertaken around the top half of New Zealand’s North Island. In November 2013, Hows sailed her across the Tasman Sea via Norfolk Island. The boat is now permanently berthed at SYC, where she has been competing in both the offshore and twilight racing series since January 2014 and this will be their first try at the 384 nautical mile race. Ocean Gem was named overall 2016 Bartercard Coffs to Paradise and Sail Paradise champions, after winning IRC division in the Coffs to Paradise race and scoring second in division in the regatta. Hows’ teenage daughter Madison is aboard.

ONLINESAIL NO: SYD181LOA: 12.7mCLASS: IRC/ORCiDESIGNER: John King (AUS)YEAR BUILT: 1988TYPE: Jarkan 12.5OWNER: Stephen TrevillionCLUB: Drummoyne Sailing Club, NSWCREW: S Trevillion – Skipper, M Illsey, T Trevillion, I Fitzgerald, G Backhouse, S Piper, M Park, A Chandler, R Hammond

Stephen Trevillion’s Jarkan 12.5, Online, is new to the Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race, so the two have been limbering up in the CYCA’s Land Rover Winter Series in which she finished seventh overall, winning the final race, was then drawn to receive the week-long Land Rover Evoque experience, perhaps a good omen for the race ahead. Online is also a regular in the CYCA’s Ocean Pointscore Series and finished 15th overall under ORCi, including a best place of fourth; and 22nd overall in PHS, with a best place of second, in the 2015/2016 season. Now Trevillion is going to try his luck in this 384 nautical mile race.

PAPILLONSAIL NO: 6841LOA: 12mCLASS: IRCDESIGNER: Joubert/Nivelt (FRA)

YEAR BUILT: 2009TYPE: Archambault A40rcOWNER: Phil MolonyCLUB: Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, NSWCREW: P Molony – Skipper/Navigator, M Mahoney, P Plowman, J Plant, M Tilden, J Mitchell, P Seager, R Carlier, J Walsh, M Jackson

Papillon was 18th overall and eighth in Division 3 of the 2015 Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race, an infinite improvement on her 35th overall and 10th in Division 3 in 2014. Phil Molony would love to get back onto overall podium, as he did in the 2013 race, when he sailed his Archambault 40 racer/cruiser to second overall and finished third overall in the BWPS, culminating in Molony being named 2014 Ocean Racing Veteran of the Year. Papillon finished 18th overall in the CYCA’s 2015/2016 OPS after missing four races. A capable boat and crew, they will enjoy same design competition with Nautical Circle. Veteran 32 Hobarts ocean racer, Ralph Carlier, joins the crew.

PATRICESAIL NO: 360LOA: 13.9mCLASS: IRC/ORCiDESIGNER: Ker Yacht Design (UK)YEAR BUILT: 2013TYPE: Ker 46OWNER: Tony KirbyCLUB: Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, NSWCREW: A Kirby – Skipper, M Bellingham – Navigator, I Walker, D Jones, J Rowed, N Beaudoin, B Taylor, J Cook, H Bethwaite, J Alexander, J Mulkearns, M Te Hau, S Gajic

After receiving further modifications in March 2015 to improve light air performance, Patrice placed seventh overall and won Division 1 in the 2015 Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race. The previous year, looking good in the early stages, the Ker 46 fell to ninth overall, but was still a good third in Division 1 and fifth overall in ORCi. Tony Kirby, a CYCA director, debuted the new mods at the light air Sydney Harbour Regatta in 2015, winning IRC Division 1 in light air, then finished third in Division 1 of the NSW IRC Championship. In August of 2015, Patrice was fourth overall in the Brisbane Keppel Race, and IRC Division 1 fourth in the SSORC, with a third in ORCi, then retired from the Sydney Hobart with main damage. Kirby bounced back to place second at the 2016 Geelong Week.

Patrice rates among the favourites for this year’s Gold Coast race courtesy of other career highlights, including winning six from six races at 2014 Airlie Beach Race Week,. A good all-round yacht launched in November 2013, Kirby sailed her onto the podium immediately after christening, inclusive of winning the 2013 Sydney SSORC and finishing second in IRC Division 1 of the 2013 CYCA Trophy Series. A highly talented crew includes Barney Walker, Twirler Jones, Nick Beaudoin, Jason Rowed and young Harry Bethwaite, son of high performance skiff designer, Julian.

PATRICE SIXSAIL NO: MH777LOA: 12.5mCLASS: IRC/ORCiDESIGNER: Niels Jeppesen (DEN)YEAR BUILT: 2007TYPE: X-41OWNER: Shaun LaneSKIPPER: Andrew PrideauxCLUB: Middle Harbour Yacht Club, NSWCREW: A Prideaux – Skipper, S Lane, J McBain, Colin Dagger, R Bennett, F Guerts, Chris Dagger, P Damp, E Prideaux, A Hooper

Shaun Lane purchased Patrice Six from Tony Kirby in 2013. In the 2015 Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race, Lane steered the X-41 to 37th overall, moving up from 43rd in the 2014 race. He also scored 43rd overall in the 2015 Sydney Hobart for 22nd overall in the Blue Water Pointscore. Backed up with third overall in the X Yachts Production division at the 2016 Sydney Harbour Regatta; an improvement on fifth

the previous year. Under Kirby’s ownership, Patrice Six finished fifth overall, third in IRC Division 3 and third under ORCi in the 2009 Hobart, the first time the ORCi rule was utilized in Australia. She also achieved a best result of fourth in division in the 2011 Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race, which no doubt Lane will be out to beat. Phil Damp has jumped ship from his own yacht Ariel to join the crew.

PAZAZZ SAIL NO: 99 LOA: 11.9m CLASS: IRC/ORCi DESIGNER: Farr Yacht Design (USA)YEAR BUILT: 2001 TYPE: Cookson 12 OWNER: Rob Drury CLUB: Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, NSW CREW: R Drury – Skipper, C Crafoord – Navigator, E Smith, A Mackereth, B Moore, G Drury, G Barter, H Buckland, R Lees, T Dawson, D Spring

Rob Drury bought Pazazz in August 2012. He competed in the 2013/14 CYCA Ocean Pointscore finishing PHS 11th overall. In the 2014 Hobart, Drury, who is known as a short-handed sailor, finished 22nd overall and 10th in Division 3, then retired with mainsail damage in 2015. Pazazz finished 18th overall in the 2015 Blue Water Pointscore, with a best result of 12th overall in September’s Flinders Islet Race. Previously named Siena IV, the Cookson 12 was imported from Auckland in September 2008 by a syndicate of three. She has contested a variety of races, including the 2009 and 2010 Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Races, but this is her first Sydney Gold Coast race. Carl Crafoord, with 30 Hobarts on his resume, joins the crew.

PLAYSTATION 4SAIL NO: 101010LOA: 13mCLASS: IRC/ORCiDESIGNER: Reichel/Pugh (USA)YEAR BUILT: 2010TYPE: RP42OWNER: Dean HarriganCLUB: Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, NSWCREW: D Harrigan – Skipper, P Eadie – Navigator, A Buckland, C Price, C Linhart, E Afrakoff, J Kings, J Allatt, M Owen, P Wermuth, T Doolan

Playstation 4 is the former Equinox II, which made her ocean racing debut in the 2011 Sydney Offshore Newcastle Yacht Race with former owner Anthony Dunn, who sailed her to third in IRC Division. He also finished 30th overall in the 2011 Gold Coast race, and retired from the 2012 race when a crew member fell ill. Dean Harrigan, who previously owned a Beneteau 50 named Playstation 3, purchased this RP42 and placed 11th overall in PHS Division 1 at the 2015 Sydney Harbour Regatta, with a 10th in IRC in 2016 and fifth overall in IRC Division 1 in the 2016 Australia Day Regatta. This RP42 is yet to realise her full potential, but Harrigan as ordered some new sails which could make the difference. An interesting crew mix includes the likes of six-time skiff world champ Andrew Buckland, navigator Phil Eadie (with 35 Hobarts), along with Murray Owen and Jenny Kings, owners of the yacht Mahligai.

PRETTY FLY IIISAIL NO: 10007LOA: 15.2mCLASS: IRC/ORCiDESIGNER: Farr Yacht Design (USA)YEAR BUILT: 2005TYPE: Cookson 50OWNER: Colin and Gladys WoodsCLUB: Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, NSWCREW: C Woods – Skipper, D Watson – Navigator, G Norman, J Leppard, E Haagh, B Gladwell, S Dunne, J Harper, C Skinner, S McCarthy, G Marshall

One of two canting Cookson 50’s in the race, Pretty Fly III is Colin and Gladys Woods’ third boat of this name. She finished 45th overall in the 2015 Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race, not her usual high standard and a far cry from her 2014 when she was fifth overall and second overall in ORCi. Pretty Fly III did not have a great 2015 BWPS either, ending 16th overall after retiring from the Rolex Sydney Hobart with a broken forestay. Her ongoing rivalry with her sistership, Victoire, is sure to continue in this race. In 2013, The Woods’ took a break from ocean racing, and went cruising for 12 months, during which time they broke the Coral Coast Race record, re-igniting the ocean racing bug. They returned for the 2013 Rolex Sydney Hobart and finished 10th overall and second in division behind Victoire, which won the race overall.

PRETTY WOMANSAIL NO: 545LOA: 13.8mCLASS: IRC/ORCiDESIGNER: Farr Yacht Design (USA)YEAR BUILT: 1996TYPE: IC 45 ModOWNER: Richard Hudson/Michael Lockley/Russell MurphyCLUB: Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, NSWCREW: R Hudson – Skipper, M Lockley – Navigator, M Gerethy, W Hardcastle, P Antill, J Airey, T Posma, W Taylor, C Nisbett, L Bennett, J Farquharson, J O’Keefe

Pretty woman finished 40th overall in the 2015 race, a slump from her 24th overall in 2014. Skipper Richard Hudson packs a lot of sailing into his life, both locally and overseas, and with 28 Gold Coast races under his belt, the RPAYC member has won the race twice in the past and scored a trio of divisional wins. In 2015, Pretty Woman became the third yacht to beat the Brisbane Noumea race record, and finished fourth overall and second in ORCi from eight yachts in those two classes. Other results include fourth overall and fourth in Division 1 in the 2015 Pittwater Coffs Race, and 11th overall in the 2016 race. The boat is jointly owned by Richard Hudson, Michael Lockley and Russell Murphy and has been a regular competitor in all east coast races, inclusive of winning the Brisbane to Gladstone race five times, Sydney Mooloolaba four times and Pittwater to Coffs Harbour twice, among the 110 plus Cat 1 and 2 races the boat has sailed.

QUESTSAIL NO: 9090LOA: 13.1m CLASS: IRC/ORCiDESIGNER: Nelson/Marek (USA)YEAR BUILT: 1995TYPE: Nelson/Marek 43OWNER: Ian CowardSKIPPER: Steven NorthCLUB: Mooloolaba Yacht Club/Sunshine Coast Yacht Club, QLDCREW: S North – Skipper, J Moody – Navigator, G Lawrie, G Raithel, H Cowlishaw, B Coward, P Lincoln, M Hampe, R Coward, K Dowdney

A blast from the past, Quest is a Nelson/Marek 43, designed to the IMS rule and launched 21 years ago for Bob Steel. Now owned by 80 year-old Ian Coward, son Bill is aboard, and Steven North is skipper. This is their first Sydney Gold Coast race with Quest, part of a year-long program towards their zenith, the 2016 Rolex Sydney Hobart, for which Coward has prepared by adding a bow sprit, new rigging and sails to bring her up to Category 1 standard for IRC racing. She is one of two former Quests in the Land Rover Gold Coast race, joining Balance which won the 2015 Rolex Sydney Hobart, and the 2008 Hobart as Quest.

When Steel launched her in 1995, Quest won at Hamilton Island, the Telstra Cup and was second overall in the Sydney Hobart. In 1996 she won the Sydney Mooloolaba race before being shipped to Hawaii, where with her two team mates, Ausmaid and Ragamuffin, won the Kenwood Cup. Quest returned to Australia to start the cycle again, but her rig broke in the 1996 Hobart. She was then sailed to fourth overall in the tragic 1998 Sydney Hobart by new owner, Kevin Miller, under the name Industrial Quest, one of just 44 to finish from 115 starters. Incidentally, she finished eighth on line, one place behind Steel’s next Quest, a Nelson/Marek 46, saying something for the design and their crews. A former Steel crew, Tom Braidwood, found the boat in a bad state in 2012, so bought and fixed her up to show kids the joy of yacht racing.

RAGAMUFFINSAIL NO: AUS70LOA: 15.9mCLASS: IRC/ORCiDESIGNER: Bruce Farr (USA)YEAR BUILT: 2004TYPE: TP52OWNER: Syd FischerSKIPPER: Brenton FischerCLUB: Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, NSWCREW: B Fischer - Skipper, C Wade-Lehman, C Brouwer, S Crafer, B Kelly, S O’Rourke, D Woodhead, J McKnight, J Bush, C Skinner, J De Kock, B Harris.

This will be Syd Fischer’s grandson, Brenton’s, first Gold Coast race as skipper of the TP52, Ragamuffin. He sailed her to fourth overall under ORCi in the 2015 SSORC, his and the boat’s only racing prior to contesting the 2015 Sydney Hobart, which he amazingly finished second overall, but was relegated to 38th after being penalised 20% for a collision with the Chinese TP52. This yacht last competed in the Sydney Gold Coast Race in 2012, finishing fifth overall to win Division 1, when skippered by Syd Fischer. In 2011 he skippered it to third overall and won Division 1. The boat won line and overall honours in the first Sydney Offshore Newcastle Yacht Race in 2008 and won the 2007/2008 Blue Water Pointscore, after placing third in 2009-2010 and third in 2010/2011, when it won the Cape Byron Series (ORCi trophy for the BWPS), was second in the 2011/2012 BWPS and was sitting second the following season when Syd withdrew after Race 3, having bought his first super maxi.

Syd also sailed this yacht, originally known as Morning Light, to great Sydney Hobart results, notably second overall in 2007, fourth in 2008 and third in 2011. Brenton then skippered the TP52 to line honours and the triple of IRC, ORCi and PHS wins in the 2014 Pittwater to Coffs race, duplicating Syd’s result in the same race the previous year. Despite a lack of match practice, this could be the dark horse of the TP52’s. Stars in the cast include multiple Olympian/VOR steerer Carolijn Brouwer, Moth champion Josh McKnight and Sue Crafter, a veteran of 14 Hobarts.

RKOSAIL NO: 52000 LOA: 15.9mCLASS: IRC/ORCiDESIGNER: Judel/Vrolijk (GER)YEAR BUILT: 2007TYPE: TP52 OWNER: Aaron Rowe CLUB: Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, NSW CREW: A Rowe – Skipper, L Paramor – Navigator, B Costello, D Dunn, G Morcom, G Snowsill, J Dawson, M Bennett, M White, P Montague, R Dulieu, S McKnight, T Oxley

A newcomer to yachting, Aaron Rowe has purchased the TP52 originally known as Bribon. She is from the same design board and same year build as Celestial and Rowe picked her up in Rhode Island, put her on a ship in March and she arrived in Australia in late May. Since then, she has received ‘the treatment’, to make the freshly named RKO ready for her Australian debut. Rowe and crew have spent some time on Sydney Harbour only, so this will be his and RKO’s baptism of fire. Built for the King of Spain, this TP52 was very successful on the Med circuit in 2007/08/09 before heading to the USA where she raced as Flying Jenny 7 and was successful at all the NYYC annual regattas and Block Island Race Week. Since 2012, she has been raced as Ice Fire, finishing second overall and second in fleet at Montego Bay and also won the 2012 and 2014 IRC Championship in Annapolis.

Rowe can’t wait to taste his first race in the lead up to the race that has fired his imagination, the Rolex Sydney Hobart. A good crew mix includes Morgan White, skiffie Lachie Paramor navigating, along with fellow skiffie/ yachtie Paul Montague, and Ty Oxley. Rowe’s dentist friend David Dunn, a 12 foot skiff sailor from the seventies, will down the tools of the trade to relive his heyday.

SCALLYWAGSAIL NO: HKG2276

LOA: 30.48mCLASS: IRCDESIGNER: Andy Dovell (AUS)YEAR BUILT: 2014TYPE: Super MaxiOWNER: Seng Huang LeeSKIPPER: David WittCLUB: Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, HKGCREW: D Witt – Skipper, A Crowe – Navigator, SH Lee, C Knox, S Mackay, I Goh, J Fisher, C Malouf, B Piggott, J Chen, N Crones, D White, M Fullerton, J Macartney, C Wild, S Salter, M Walsh, T Clout, l Woulfe, K Pascoe

The former Ragamuffin 100 was sold to Malaysian businessman, Seng Huang Lee, in May after Syd Fischer retired from racing. The Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race is the debut race for the boat under her new ownership. Lee, 41, was born in Malaysia, but spent his formative years in Sydney and spends most his time in Hong Kong. From his verandah in Elizabeth Bay, he watched the boats leave from the CYCA every Boxing Day, bound for the Sydney Hobart start. Recently, out on Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong on a rainy afternoon with David Witt, the idea of purchasing Ragamuffin 100 and creating the leading Asia Pacific sailing team was hatched. The name Scallywag was coined by Lee’s then five year-old daughter, for his other boat, and coincidentally continues the illustrious legacy of the Ragamuffin name. Lee, the owner of Hayman Island and the One and Only Resort in the Whitsundays, says the crew are looking forward to a tight race with Wild Oats XI.

Lee has retained some familiar faces from Ragamuffin, including skipper David ‘Witty’ Witt, Campbell Knox, Andrew ‘Crowebar’ Crowe and Marky Mark Fullerton, director at Doyles in China and responsible for the sail program, including a new larger main to fit the new extended boom. The boat received a substantial makeover in Newcastle, including mods to its water ballast. You can’t miss the colourful new mainsail with ‘Scallywag’ emblazoned in red.

SECRET MENS BUSINESSSAIL NO: YC3300LOA: 15.9mCLASS: IRCDESIGNER: Judel/Vrolijk (GER)YEAR BUILT: 2009TYPE: TP52OWNER: Geoff BoettcherCLUB: Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia, SACREW: G Boettcher – Skipper, S Molloy, A Van Essen, C Williams, A Common, W Tiller, H Dodson, T Cowan, C Howard, G Hendy, C Armstrong, B Ashby, F Adamson, W McKenzie

This is the former Matador, Team Beau Geste, and now named Secret Mens Business by third owner, Geoff Boettcher, who has owned a stream of boats by the same name. In last year’s Gold Coast race, ‘Boettch’ sailed her to 15th overall and sixth in Division O, just one place and 33 minutes on corrected time behind the best place TP52, Ichi Ban. It’s likely to be on again between the two, not to mention the other seven TP52s in the fleet. Boettch says he has given the yacht a ‘cut and a polish’ and won IRD Division 1 at Geelong Week in January, then won the Adelaide Port Lincoln Race and Port Lincoln Race Week overall from fellow South Australian and Gold Coast competitor, Concubine. With his previous SMB, Boettcher reached the apex, winning the 2010 Rolex Sydney Hobart. He then sold the yacht to John Newbold, with whom he sailed the 2014 Hobart and Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race with.

As Matador, this TP52 won the 2009 TP52 Worlds, before King Juan Carlos won the 2011 Copa Del Rey and finished second at the Med Cup. In 2013 Karl Kwok shipped the renamed Team Beau Geste to Australia and won the TP52 Southern Cross Series. In 2014, he adapted the boat for IRC racing and dominated to win the NSW and Australian IRC Championships and the Kings Cup in Phuket. It arrived back in Australia in January 2015, when Boettch purchased it. He has imported two gun Kiwis, decorated match racing skipper, William Tiller and gun yachtie, Harry Dodson.

SHE SAIL NO: 4924 LOA: 12.2mCLASS: PHSDESIGNER: Gary Mull (USA)YEAR BUILT: 1981TYPE: Olsen 40 ModOWNER: Philip BellCLUB: Southport Yacht Club, QLD CREW: P Bell – Skipper, A Gage, B Ormsby, C Morrison, M O'Dea, M Van Galen, S Weir, T Horne

She has been under the knife a few times since her launch 34 years ago. The Olsen 40 was sold by per previous long term NSW owner, Peter Rodgers, to Southport Yacht Club member Philip Bell, who is giving the yacht a new lease of life in entering the Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race, something that has been sadly lacking on her resume. However, with Rodgers, it contested many Gosford-Lord Howe Island races along with 18 Sydney Hobarts, with best results of second in PHS in 2000, and a PHS overall victory in 2009, 2012 and 2013, with a trio of fourth places in between. Bell reports that She is still going strong, especially in heavy weather, and he hopes to capitalise on Rodgers’ great record.

SHE’S THE CULPRIT SAIL NO: 370LOA: 12.0mCLASS: PHSDESIGNER: Inglis/Jones (AUS)YEAR BUILT: 1994TYPE: Inglis/Jones/Hart 39 ModOWNER: The Culprit Syndicate SKIPPER: Glen PicassoCLUB: Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club/Lake Macquarie Yacht Club, NSWCREW: G Picasso – Skipper, R Jarvie – Navigator, D O'Dowd, A Kiely, D Tanner, G Benson, K Hall, K Anderson, M Graham, P Flanagan, R Hooper, T Hough

The syndicate of Glenn Bulmer, Glen Picasso and David O’Dowd from ‘The Lake’ were hoping to live up to their PHS second overall to Helsal 3 in the 2014 race, and their PHS overall and Corinthian wins in the 2014 Rolex Sydney Hobart, but it was not to be. In last year’s Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race, she finished PHS eighth overall and in the Hobart, was PHS fifth overall and third in Division 2.The Culprits are hoping the gods are smiling down on them as they rally for PHS victory after finishing eighth overall in Performance Racing Division 1 at 2016 Sail Port Stephens. Built in 1994 and launched as Top Cat for the Melbourne Osaka double-handed race, the yacht was sold to a Tasmanian and renamed 42 South. Her next owner, Todd Leary, changed her name to She’s The Culprit and campaigned her regularly, including three Hobart’s (from 2008-2010), before her now owners realised her potential and took her on. Her blue hull with checkered bow is eye-catching.

SPORTS BARSAIL NO: 6396LOA: 14.3mCLASS: IRC/ORCi.DESIGNER: Farr Yacht Design (USA)YEAR BUILT: 2003TYPE: Beneteau 47.7OWNER: Neville and Jo BlairSKIPPER: Greg MasonCLUB: Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, NSWCREW: G Mason – Skipper, N Blair, A Angus, A Becker, A Hilton, C Latham, C Fairbrass, C Bekker, D Sturrock, G Dent, H Sturrock,

This is a first Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race for Sports Bar, which to-date has been more at home contesting the CYCA’s Ocean Pointscore Series and Land Rover Winter Series. The Blairs also won the 2014 Sydney Cup with this Beneteau 47.7, and recently refurbished her from the keel up. Sports Bar recently finished 12th in Division B of the Land Rover Winter Series after missing two of the 10 races. She is

ready to take her place on the start line for her first Blue Water Series. Doug Sturrock was lured out of offshore racing retirement by Neville Blair by being invited to ask his 28 year old son Henry to join the crew for his maiden offshore race. The entire crew is looking forward to jousting with Imagination.

ST JUDESAIL NO: 6686LOA: 14.2mCLASS: IRCDESIGNER: Murray Burns Dovell (AUS)YEAR BUILT: 2007TYPE: Sydney 47OWNER: Noel CornishCLUB: Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, NSWCREW: N Cornish – Skipper, S Kidson - Navigator, A Milln, E May, L Klohs, M Riding, N Butcher, P Liddle, R Jacobs, S Lawson, T Meyrick

St Jude finished 39th overall and 11th in Division 2 in the 2015 Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race. The previous year was Noel Cornish’s and St Jude’s first, and the end result was 40th overall. It was the same year Cornish, a CYCA director, launched the offshore sailing careers of graduates from the CYCA Youth Academy, and Emma May has become a true convert, remaining aboard for all major races, including the Rolex Sydney Hobart, from which St Jude retired last year with rudder damage. As the final race of the Club’s Blue Water Pointscore, it left the Sydney 47 in 21st place overall. St Jude fared much better in the Ocean Pointscore with fifth overall. Veteran offshore racer Ron Jacobs joins the crew.

STICKYSAIL NO: A164 LOA: 11.5m CLASS: IRC/ORCiDESIGNER: J&J Yachts (SLO) YEAR BUILT: 2012TYPE: Salona 38OWNER: Richard HarrisCLUB: Sydney Amateur Sailing Club, NSW CREW: R Harris – Skipper/Navigator, B Hogan, B Pelham, D Thomas, G Klaebe, H Neumann, K Quail, K Wilkinson, R Wood, T Munns, S Teudt

Richard Harris sailed his Salona 38, Sticky, to PHS fifth overall and IRC 16th overall in the Pittwater Coffs in January and fifth in Division 2 and ninth from 10 in Division 2 at the NSW IRC Championship in April. Four year-old Sitcky is otherwise an unknown quantity on the race track and this will be her first Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race. One of the smaller boats in the fleet, she should enjoy keeping company on the water with the likes of Amante, Local Hero and She’s the Culprit.

SWD WOT EVA SAIL NO: 6953LOA: 15.9mCLASS: IRC/ORCiDESIGNER: Nelson/Marek (USA)YEAR BUILT: 2001TYPE: TP52 OWNER: David PescudCLUB: Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, NSWCREW: D Pescud – Skipper/Navigator, J Whitfield, A Lawrence, B Whiteley, B Canham, C Simpson, E Mustillo, G Johnstone, G Pugh, J Thatcher, P Bulley, P Walker, R Honschooten

Last year David Pescud and the SWD crew took their Lyons 54, Kayle in the race and finished last overall under PHS, not their usual form. In the 2014 race, they sailed Wot Eva to 21st overall and eighth in Division 1. Before that, she contested the 2012 race and finished 18th overall and fifth in Division 1, her best Gold Coast result. Her first Gold Coaster was 2011, resulting in 44th overall. Since 2010, the Sailors With Disabilities team has been racing and training on this TP52 (the former Yassou, Glory and Wot Yot), which was generously donated to SWD by wotif.com co-founder Graeme Wood in 2010, after he contested three

Hobarts with it. In 2014, SWD finished the Rolex Sydney Hobart 47th overall and eighth in Division 1. Last year SWD chartered the yacht to Global Yacht Racing, but it retired.

For many years, Pescud has been helping people with disability to develop a more optimistic outlook and enjoy personal growth. Close to 50,000 individuals have benefitted from the various programs this charity conducts. One of SWD’s high-profile success stories is Liesl Tesch, who after racing her first Hobart with SWD, went on to win gold at the 2012 Paralympic Games in the SKUD 18. Tesch and her skipper, Dan Fitzgibbon have won numerous titles in the class and will represent in the 2016 Paralympic Games.

SWISHSAIL NO: 226LOA: 13.4mCLASS: IRC/ORCiDESIGNER: Kernan Yacht Design (USA)YEAR BUILT: 2012TYPE: Kernan 44OWNER: Steven ProudCLUB: Middle Harbour Yacht Club, NSWCREW: S Proud – Skipper/Navigator, A Tarnawski, B Allen, C Branson, I McKillop, J Turner, J Higgs, L Easey, M Gordon

Swish, a Kernan 44 design, was 34th overall and fourth in Division 1 last year, after finishing 11th overall and fourth in Division 1 in 2014, bettering her 2013 result of 26th overall. Steven Proud’s best result for this race was fifth overall in 2009, which garnered him a Division 3 win. Finished fifth in IRC Division 1 and won ORCi and PHS at the 2015 SSORC, and took fourth overall in the 2016 Pittwater Coffs race. Proud recently won Division A1 in the Land Rover Winter Series, sailed in mainly very light breeze, when Swish is at her best. The yacht comes from the design board of Californian Tim Kernan and has a long waterline for her 44ft length. She has a moderately light displacement, high righting moment and plenty of sail area, making Swish an exciting yacht to sail. Receiving minor go-fast mods, she should be a force to be reckoned with. Young skiff/Moth/One Design sailor Joe Turner and tactician, Murray Gordon, join the crew.

TAKANI SAIL NO: 6981 LOA: 15.4m CLASS: PHS DESIGNER: Judel/Vrolijk (GER)YEAR BUILT: 2012 TYPE: Hanse 495 OWNER: James Whittle CLUB: Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, NSW CREW: J Whittle – Skipper, B Ratcliff – Navigator, D Salter, K Ratcliff, M Ryan, R Moore

This will be Takani’s debut in the 384 nautical mile race to the Gold Coast. In the last 12 months, the Hanse 495 contested the 2015 Sydney Hobart, but was among the disappointed when she retired after sustaining rudder damage. A shame, as Jim Whittle celebrated his 50th Birthday on Boxing Day and was hoping for a victory to match that celebration. The year before was better when he sailed Takani to 12th overall under PHS and eighth in Division 2. The boat is a luxurious and comfortable Hanse 495 from Pittwater, which came into Debbie and Jim Whittle’s lives in August 2012 and they named her after their children; Taylah, Kasey and Nicholas. Veteran yachtsman Bill Ratcliff takes up the navigating role again, and his daughter, Katrina, returns to the sport after a long absence to sail with her dad.

TERRA FIRMA SAIL NO: SM24 LOA: 15.4m CLASS: IRC/ORCi DESIGNER: Farr Yacht Design (USA) YEAR BUILT: 2005 TYPE: Cookson 50 OWNER: Nicholas Bartels CLUB: Sandringham Yacht Club, VIC

CREW: N Bartels – Skipper, J Casely – Navigator, T Smith, A Thompson, J Cole, A Cole, A Leaper, M Bayliss, B Frechville Nick Bartels has been a regular to this race, but missed the last three years, last competing in 2012, finishing 11th overall and fourth in Division 1, last year, after placing ninth overall, and third in IRC Division 1 and ORCi Division 1 in 2011, his best result to-date. Unlike Victoire and Pretty Fly III, this Cookson 50 has a fixed keel. It is very competitive, as was Bartels former Terra Firma, a Sydney 47. The current Terra Firma was launched as Living Doll for Michael Hiatt then sold to Rob Hanna and renamed Shogun before her third Victorian owner, Bartels, purchased and renamed it. Terra Firma is also a regular competitor in the Sydney Hobart, last competing in 2014 when she finished 31st overall and third in Division 1. Competes locally too, winning the 2016 Brighton Port Phillip Challenge in February. A strong boat and experienced crew means you don’t see Terra Firma in the retirement’s list.

TEVAKE II SAIL NO: H101 LOA: 13.7m CLASS: PHS DESIGNER: Graham Radford (AUS) YEAR BUILT: 2000 TYPE: Radford 13.7 OWNER: Angus Fletcher CLUB: Hobsons Bay Yacht Club, VIC CREW: A Fletcher – Skipper/Navigator, A Hesselmans, A Bartle, C Jackson, P Neilson, R Langham, T Ford, S Sutton

Tevake II’s last major race out of Sydney was the 2014 Hobart when she finished eighth overall under PHS for third in Division 1. Given her offshore background, this will surprisingly be her maiden race to the Gold Coast. Since commencing its offshore career in 2006, Tevake II has competed in races such as the 2006 and 2010 Melbourne to Vanuatu, Vanuatu to Mackay, 2006 and 2010 Rolex Sydney Hobarts, six Melbourne Hobart West Coasters and numerous shorter Bass Strait races. Notable results in recent years include line honours in the 2010 Melbourne Vanuatu and back-to-back overall wins in the 2012 and 2013 Melbourne to Hobart West Coasters. As always, they will be looking for a reasonable serving of fresh downwind conditions to make a good showing.

THE GOATSAIL NO: 7027LOA: 11.78mCLASS: IRC/ORCiDESIGNER: Murray Burns Dovell (AUS)YEAR BUILT: 2003TYPE: Sydney 38 One DesignOWNER: The Goat SyndicateSKIPPER: Mitchell GordonCLUB: Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, NSWCREW: M Gordon - Skipper, A Clift – Navigator, A Paton, D Hawkins, H Richardson, J Clayton, M Grout, S Leslie, S Wilton, B Jenkinson

Last entered the Gold Coast Race in 2014 and finished 19th overall and won Division 3, despite a 20 percent penalty. The Sydney 38 one-design’s best result for the race was in 2008 when she finished third overall, won IRC Division 3 and the One Design division. Finished 26th overall and 12th from the 24 entries in Division 3 of the 2009 race, under the name Subzero Goat. Her last major race was the 2014 RSHYR, which was tailor made for the smaller yachts, and she finished 10th overall and sixth in Division. The Goat won the Sydney 38 OD division of the 2007 Hobart, second in 2008 and third in 2009. She also won the 2011 Sydney 38 Nationals. A regularly raced boat, Mitchell Gordon and crew could end on the podium.

THE GOAT IISAIL NO: 421LOA: 14.0mCLASS: IRC/ORCiDESIGNER: Rogers (UK)

YEAR BUILT: 2007TYPE: Sydney 38 One DesignOWNER: Sebastian Bohm/Bruce FoyeCLUB: Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, NSWCREW: B Foye – Skipper, D Van Der Wende – Navigator, A Mead, A Major, D Geddes, J Price, P Jenkins, P Tarimo, S Price, S Clarkson, S Willis, C Campbell

Bruce Foye and Sebastian Bohm purchased the former Celestial (winner of the 2014 Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race), last year and grappled with the 2015 Gold Coast race, their first major race, and finished 48th overall upon receiving a 70 minute penalty. Finished fifth at 2015 Airlie Beach Race Week against a small but hot fleet, was sixth overall in Division 1 and second in ORCi at the SSORC, then 34th overall and fourth in Division 2 in the Rolex Sydney Hobart, culminating in 10th overall in the Blue Water Pointscore. The Goat II was fourth in Division 1 at the Sydney Harbour Regatta in March, second to Ichi Ban at the 2016 NSW IRC Championship and second to Ichi Ban at the 2016 NSW IRC Championship. Foye is not short on experience or a novice to victories, having won this race in 1991 and 1994, with the late Roger Hickman and Lance Peckman when they jointly owned Wild Rose, then known as Wild Oats. This is a proven boat and her crew have come to grips with it, so expect a good result.

TRITON SAIL NO: 6377 LOA: 18.3m CLASS: IRC/ORCi DESIGNER: David Lyons (AUS) YEAR BUILT: 2004TYPE: Lyons/Cawse 60 OWNER: Michael Cranitch/David GotzeCLUB: Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, NSW CREW: D Gotze – Skipper, A Manders – Navigator, M Wenke – Navigator, T Ellis, A Simpson, D MacPherson, J Goluzd, K Swiney, L Blateau, N Chambers, P Morrish, R Bott, T Colclough, T Lobb, T Paola, C Spence, A McWilliam

Sydneysider Michael Cranitch and Melburnian David Gotze purchased the former Vanguard in August two years ago, renaming her Triton, and opened their campaign with the Sydney Hobart, but were among the first casualties, retiring on the first night with forestay problems. Triton contested the 2015 Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race and finished 46th overall. Raced the 2015 Hobart, but retired with sail damage, culminating in 14th overall in the 2015 Blue Water Pointscore. This boat and her experienced owners and crew are capable of much more. As Vanguard, and owned by Dick Cawse, she scored the trifecta of line honours and first under IRC and PHS in the CYCA Ocean Point Score almost immediately after its launch. In the final race of the 2004/2005 OPS, from Sydney to Newcastle, she repeated the experience of line, overall IRC and PHS wins to claim the series trophy in both classes. In 2010, wrapped up the 2009/2010 OPS, mirroring its 2004/2005 result.

Crew of interest for this race includes 48 Hobarts veteran Tony Ellis, Laser sailor Richard Bott and Trent Paola returns after a long absence. His farming father, Tony, famously purchased Condor, renaming her Condor of of Currabubula (near Tamworth) during the early 1990’s, with which he took line honours in the 1994 Sydney Gold Coast Race.

UBS WILD THINGSAIL NO: 1014LOA: 15.12mCLASS: IRC/ORCiDESIGNER: Inglis/MurrayYEAR BUILT: 1991TYPE: Inglis/Murray 50OWNER: Geoff LavisCLUB: Cruising Yacht Club of AustraliaCREW: G Lavis – Skipper, R Cooper - Navigator, A Smith, J Smith, A Hay, J Crawford, A Scrivenor, J English, A Lavis, B Lavis, J Owens, K Griffiths

CYCA Past Commodore Geoff Lavis has extensively campaigned his Inglis/Murray 50 UBS Wild Thing since he purchased her in 1999, contesting numerous major events: Sydney Hobarts (2), Sydney Gold Coast (11) and Sydney Mooloolaba (3) races among others. Under original owner, Grant Wharington, also contested one each of the Brisbane Osaka and Melbourne Osaka races, for which this 25 year-old timber boat still holds the race record, set in 1995 in a little under 26 days 21 hours. She is fastidiously maintained and remains quick and very wet off the breeze! UBS Wild Thing has given her owner Lavis some exhilarating rides, including when she won PHS overall in 2006 Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race, third in 2007 and second in 2009. Her last Gold Coast race was 2011, when she finished third in PHS Division 1. Has recently been updated, including new rig and sails and measured for IRC. This race will be a first gauge her performance as opposed to when she raced under PHS.

While Lavis’ wife Pip will miss the race, their sons, Adam and Ben, will uphold the family tradition. Both are former CYCA Youth Academy students and they will be joined by others who have attended, including Amanda Scrivenor, who is one of Lavis’ drivers. Getting into shape, UBS Wild Thing recently finished second overall to Swish in Division A1 of the Land Rover Winter Series.

VANISHING POINTSAIL NO: 22000LOA: 17.6mCLASS: PHSDESIGNER: Farr Yacht Design (USA)YEAR BUILT: 2005TYPE: Beneteau 57OWNER: Bill WheelerCLUB: Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, NSW CREW: B Wheeler – Skipper, R Dexter – Navigator, J Wheeler, M Cox, M Nizik, P Hardy, R Palazzi, I Cox

Vanishing Point, a Beneteau 57 is set up for cruising. This will be a first Sydney Gold Coast Race for Bill Wheeler’s boat, which is more at home in local Beneteau regattas. She finished third in the Spinnaker Division in the 2015 Beneteau Regatta on Sydney Harbour and sailed two races in the recent Land Rover Winter Series, finishing last in Division B both times. Come what may, the crew of this attractive yacht will have a comfortable, almost luxurious voyage to Southport.

VICTOIRESAIL NO: AUS5299LOA: 15.2mCLASS: IRC/ORCiDESIGNER: Farr Yacht Design (USA)YEAR BUILT: 2006TYPE: Cookson 50OWNER: Darryl HodgkinsonCLUB: Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, NSWCREW: D Hodgkinson – Skipper, D Rutherford - Navigator, S Guanaria, P Gardner, E Psaltis, B Gregory, L Jamieson, T Lake, M Hayward, T Tubman, I McDiarmod, M Ramaley, S Schutz

Victoire finished 23rd overall and eighth in Division 0 of the 2015 Gold Coast race, but retired from the 2015 Sydney Hobart when Dr Darryl was amongst others in the fleet who took a painful tumble in big conditions, his resulting in a trip to hospital. Due to an otherwise good season, inclusive of winning the Flinders Islet Race and placing second in the Cabbage Tree Island Race, the canting Cookson 50 finished seventh overall and sixth under ORCi in the 2015 BWPS. In the 2014 Gold Coast race, Victoire was seventh overall and fifth in Division O, a year after winning IRC Division 0 in the race, shortly after Dr Darryl bought the yacht known as Quantum Racing and then Jazz. Even better things were to come. In 2013, Victoire won the Rolex Sydney Hobart overall, and in the process, he and team mates Patrice and Wild Rose won the reignited Southern Cross Cup.

Victoire also won the 2014 Gosford Lord Howe Island race after finishing second on line. In December 2011, Hodgkinson was named Ocean Racing Rookie of the Year and in a first, a year later was named Ocean Racer of the Year on winning the 2011/2012 BWPS and successfully defending his class victory at the 2012 IRC Australian Championship, courtesy of his previous Victoire, a Beneteau 45. The addition of Ed Psaltis, sailmaker Ian McDiarmod and Larry Jamieson for this race, will add some extra flair and rates

her among the favourites.

WAX LYRICALSAIL NO: 248LOA: 15.2mCLASS: PHSDESIGNER: Niels Jeppesen (DEN)YEAR BUILT: 2012TYPE: X-50OWNER: Les GoodridgeCLUB: Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, NSWCREW: L Goodridge – Skipper/Navigator, M Roe, D Eagle, L Stevenson, B Smith, D De Coster, C Blogg, F Etter, B Cohen, A Ozols

Les Goodridge and Wax Lyrical are proving a formidable team and have been almost impossible to beat in PHS in major events, including the 2015 Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race and the 2015 Blue Water Pointscore, in which they claimed the PHS Trophies. In the 2014 Gold Coast race, she finished PHS fifth overall. In mid-July Goodridge finished seventh overall in the 2016 Land Rover Winter Series, but her score takes into account that Wax Lyrical missed two of the races. Wax Lyrical is a pretty Danish X-50 cruiser/racer designed for her owner, who keeps her busy on the race track in CYCA races. She is easily recognizable by the fearsome skull and crossbones on the white kite.

WILD OATS XISAIL NO: AUS 10001LOA: 30.48mCLASS: IRC/ORCiDESIGNER: Reichel/Pugh (USA)YEAR BUILT: 2005TYPE: 100ft Super MaxiOWNER: The Oatley familySKIPPER: Mark RichardsCLUB: Hamilton Island Yacht Club, QLD CREW: M Richards – Skipper, J Vila, I Murray, B Ruthenberg, C Baillie, C Harmson, C Jones, C Links, D Senogles, G Taylor, J Morris, J Whittaker, P Magee, S Major, S Jarvin, S Quigley, S Pollard, T Wiseman, T Woodcock, T Anderson

After breaking this race’s 13 year-old open record in 2012 (22hrs, 3mins, 46secs), Wild Oats XI returned in 2014, taking line honours from Perpetual Loyal by over two hours. The 100 footer underwent radical modifications ahead of the 2015 Sydney Hobart, but her main ripped in half during the race, causing her only retirement from the race ever. Bob Oatley passed away a short time later, in early January 2016, leaving a dent for all who knew him. Wild Oats XI is the only boat in the history of the Sydney Hobart to have twice achieved the historic treble of line honours, new race record and overall win (2005 and 2012).

She also holds the record for the most consecutive Hobart line honours wins – four – from 2005 to 2008, and the record for most line honours victories, as she also took line honours in 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014, breaking a record seven held by Morna/Kurrewa IV, held from 1960 to and including 2004. The super maxi also holds the Cabbage Tree Island Race record of 12hrs 15mins 55secs, set in 2012. A strong crew includes Spaniard Juan Vila, who will stay in Australia for all of WOXI’s races, and Jono Morris, a talented yachtsman and co-managing director of McConaghy, which built this super maxi and undertook her major modification last year.

WILDFLOWER 2SAIL NO: 4242LOA: 12.9mCLASS: PHSDESIGNER: Marc Lombard (FRA) YEAR BUILT: 2011TYPE: Jeanneau 42 DSOWNER: Glenn BurrellCLUB: Southport Yacht Club, QLD

CREW: G Burrell – Skipper, R Short – Navigator, T Horkings, S McKean, T Trigg, C McLennan, P Young

Wildflower 2 was raced by her previous owner at Hamilton Island Race Week in 2014. Glenn Burrell purchased her from Sydney in August 2015 and sailed her to her new port at Southport Yacht Club (SYC), which finishes the Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race. He has been racing her in SYC twilight races and offshore events, all the time learning how to make her go faster. Wildflower 2 is predominantly a cruising yacht and one of three yachts representing SYC in the race, and one of eight representing Queensland. Aboard are the experienced Tony Horkings and his crew from Leeway, who represented SYC in the race last year and finished 22nd overall and 10th in Division 3 after receiving a 70 minute penalty. They won’t make that mistake again.

XS MOMENT SAIL NO: 11744 LOA: 13.3mCLASS: IRC/ORCiDESIGNER: Niels Jeppesen (DEN)YEAR BUILT: 2011TYPE: XP44OWNER: Ray HudsonCLUB: Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, NSWCREW: R Hudson – Skipper, G Holder – Navigator, B Newton, C Grant, C Zonca, I Westlake, K Rainbow, R Speedy, R Suttie, R Palmer, T Harvey

Ray Hudson sailed XS Moment to 31st overall and eighth in Division 2 of the 2015 Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race, bettering his 36th overall of the 2014 race. Earlier in 2015, Hudson and his Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club crew claimed fourth overall in the Club Marine Pittwater Coffs race. In the 2016 Pittwater Coffs, XS Moment placed PHS second overall and IRC 10th overall, then went on to finish third overall in the Production X Yachts class at the Sydney Harbour Regatta in March. Come 30 July, she will again face off against the likes of Pretty Woman and Occasional Coarse Language One, both of which are incidentally fellow RPAYC members. XS Moment, a racer/cruiser constructed in Denmark, the first of a new series for X Yachts, also contests events at the Alfreds where Hudson has been a long term member.