Stakes were high in the fleet for the 2024 SOLAS Big Boat Challenge, the final event of the One Circular Quay Australian Maxi Championship (AMC).
Anthony Johnston’s URM Group went into the race with a one-point lead over the Oatley family’s Wild Oats X. In equal third were Robert Appleyard’s Moneypenny and David Griffith’s Whisper.
In a chaotic pre-start off Potts Point, the majority of competitors piled up next to each other, locked out of the start. This resulted in a protest which saw the disqualification of URM Group for breaking sailing Rule 14 at the start: “A boat shall avoid contact with another boat if reasonably possible.”
This put Wild Oats X, skippered by Mark Richards, in first place overall for the 2024 AMC. URM Group’s disqualification knocked them off the podium into fifth place. Second went to Whisper, followed by Western Australia entry Moneypenny.
Of the protest, Richards said: “That’s yachting. We’ve all experienced that in our careers. Today was Wild Oats X’s day.”
Following the start, No Limit led the mini maxi fleet in southerly winds gusting up to 25-knots on the first leg to Cannae Point, Manly. David Gotze’s yacht did not set a kite and was soon overtaken by the rest of the fleet.
Moneypenny was first mini maxi around the mark, followed by Wild Oats X, and URM Group, which had caught up from the back of the fleet. URM Group, skippered by Marcus Ashley-Jones, continued to work its way up the fleet and was the first across the line behind the three 100 footers.
While the 100 footers vied for Line Honours, Whisper placed first overall in the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge, followed by Wild Oats X and Moneypenny in third.
This was the last hit out ahead of the 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.
By Greta Quealy / CYCA Media
SOLAS Big Boat Challenge Results
2024 One Circular Quay Australian Maxi Championship
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