The McConaghy built Kaiko designed Merlin owned and skippered by Olympian David Forbes finished last weekends Bird Island race in 1st place in division 1 and third overall in IRC. David and his crew beat the new HP IRC racing yacht Indian, to take the trophy in division one.
Tony Kirby’s Patrice, the McConaghy built Ker 46 did not race to Bird Island due to a grounding incident in the Cabbage tree Island race last month. The bulb was extensively damaged and the tip of the rudder was broken off during the incident. The team at McConaghy swung into action immediately to get Patrice back on the water before the Hobart race. A new bulb was cast in China within one week and has now arrived in Sydney and will be fitted to the yacht later this week. In parallel the McConaghy team in Sydney removed the keel and checked all the internal structure including Non Destructive Testing of the hull and composite structure. All the composite structure was un damaged which was remarkable given the extensive damage to the bulb. The rudder has been repaired and Tony and his crew will be back on the water next week.
The bird Island race was also the first test for the new bow pole extension for Anthony Bell’s Perpetual Loyal recently completed by the McConaghy team in Sydney. Racing back from Bird Island on Saturday afternoon Perpetual Loyal launched the new A2 Spinnaker which was delivered by North Sails in Mona Vale on Saturday morning. Measuring over 1000m2 in area the new sail and longer bow pole combination will help Perpetual Loyal surf her way to Hobart with pro surfer Sally Fitzgibbons at the helm. McConaghy have also recently completed some modifications to the under water appendages designed by Juan Yacht Design.
Roger Hickman’s Wild Rose the McConaghy built Farr 43, still leads division two in the CYCA blue water point score. Wild Rose, Patrice and Merlin will be joined by other McConghy boats: St George Midnight Rambler, Helsal 3 and of course Wild Oats XI, for the race to Hobart on boxing day.
The McConaghy team in Sydney have been helping out with last minute preparations on Wild Oats XI and the new US entry Comanche which arrived in Sydney last week. The SOLAS big boat race on Sydney Harbour will be the first time Wild Oats XI has lined up against the new opposition, which is at the opposite end of the design spectrum to Bob Oatley’s nine year old Reichel Pugh design.
