When entries closed at 1700hrs on Friday, a bumper fleet of 81 had entered the 24th Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race.
Commenting on the high level of entries, Vice Commodore and Chairman of the Sailing Committee Garry Linacre said “To have this many boats heading north is a fantastic result. This is five more entries than last year, and the fourth largest fleet in the history of the race- despite the global economic conditions. It just goes to show what a resilient sport we have.”
“Additionally we have seen a number of new boats enter – whether they are brand new builds, first time racers with the CYCA or new yacht owners who have purchased yachts for the first time,” concluded Garry.
So who are the yachts to watch?
Those vying for the glory of line honours win include Robert Oatley's Reichel Pugh 66 Wild Oats X (2007 line honours winner), Peter Millard and John Honan's 98ft maxi Lahana, Stephen Ainsworth's Reichel Pugh 63 Loki , Andrew Short's Reichel Pugh 80 Pricewaterhouse Coopers and Peter Harburg's Reichel Pugh 66 Black Jack.
The race for the IRC overall win is wide open with any number of the highly competitive TP52s including Syd Fischer's Ragamuffin, Graeme Wood's Wot Now, Matthew Short's Shortwave and Robert Date's Scarlet Runner able to claim glory or could Stephen Ainsworth's Loki add another accolade to the ever-growing list of achievements for this fast Reichel Pugh 63?.
Last year's winner Ray Roberts' Quantum Racing won't be defending his dual title of line honours and IRC Overall winner, as he will be sailing overseas in Phuket, Thailand.
All eyes will be on Sydney Harbour at 1pm, Saturday 25 July, when the fleet will commence racing from a start line off Nielsen Park, then proceed out to the heads, turn left and head north to the Gold Coast, finishing just off Main Beach, Southport.
The CYCA's yacht tracker system allows members of the public and media to track their favourite yachts throughout the race. Each yacht is fitted with an Inmarsat D+ transmitter, which automatically updates the yacht's latitude, longitude, course over ground and speed over ground – and transmits that information via satellite and then onto the race website. In addition to showing each yacht's position, the yacht tracker system also shows the distance to finish line, as well as its progressive corrected time position under the IRC and PHS handicap divisions.
For more information log on to http://goldcoast.cyca.com.au
German luxury carmaker, Audi, has achieved a record result for the first six months of 2009. Up more than 10% in a market that is decreasing by 16%, this record achievement follows on from 54 straight months of growth for the brand in Australia. Audi is now the fastest-growing premium carmaker in Australia.
In 2009, Audi celebrates its 100th birthday with centenary events being held around the world to mark the occasion. In Australia, Audi will celebrate its 100 years with the opening of the world's largest showroom, the Audi Lighthouse, at Victoria Park in Sydney.Audi is also the largest sponsor of competitive yachting in Australia, and a major partner of the CYCA for key regattas including the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race, Audi Sydney Offshore Newcastle Yacht Race and the Audi Winter Series. The company is also the principal sponsor of the CYCA's Youth Sailing Academy.
– Jennifer Crooks
