Record breaking conditions predicted for Sydney Gold Coast race

Jennifer Crooks, CYCA

Posted: 30  Jul. 2010

Wild Oats XI - is the front runner to steal the record - Andrea Francolini, Audi pic

Rob Webb, Senior Duty Forecaster for the Bureau of Meteorology tonight told the 75 entries in the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race to expect conditions that could see Brindabella’s 1999 race record tumble.

Webb said the fleet could expect moderate west to nor’ westerly winds of approximately 15 knots for the Saturday start at 1.00pm. The outlook for Saturday appears to be mostly fine, with only a slight chance of a shower and a maximum temperature of 20C.

These winds will continue to build throughout the course of the afternoon, reaching 20-25 knots offshore, possibly up to 30 knots. By 10pm on Saturday, the breeze will shift to the west sou’ west and stay in 20-25 knot range.

On Sunday morning, the fleet could expect lighter winds of 5-10 knots from the west-sou-west, due to a ridge of high pressure. The westerly land breeze should push the trough back and bring more strength with it during the afternoon.

Conditions look perfect for line honours favourite, Wild Oats XI, Bob Oatley’s 100ft super maxi, to take the race record held for the past 11 years by the 24 metre conventional maxi, Brindabella (George Snow), which set the incredible time of 27hrs, 35 mins and 43 seconds in 1999.

“Our modelling is showing us that it will be a pretty fast ride for the first 10 -12 hours of the race. With a bit of luck, we’ll be able to keep ahead of the lighter breezes as we head north and finish inside the current race record time by approximately 6 hours,” said a confident Chris Links, Wild Oats XI;s tactician.

Current Audi IRC Australian Championship leader, Aroona, will be going north without its owner, Harvey Milne, who has left his boat in good hands. Navigator Brett Filby said: “We’re hoping to get the best result possible for Harvey.

“We’ve got the same ‘Tow Truck’ team aboard that placed second behind AFR Midnight Rambler last year (the 2009 Audi Sydney Gold Coast overall winner) and which won IRC Division 2 in last year’s Hobart.”

Paul Clitheroe will miss yet another Bledisloe Cup match on Saturday evening as he sails up the coast, but the “Money Man” is reasonably happy with the forecast. “We are a big fat Beneteau and as long as it’s over 10 knots I’ll be a happy man,” he said laughing.

“The conditions will also suit Victoire (another Beneteau), but it may be a bit difficult for the Sydney 38s. I’m also hoping that the extra waterline length I have over the Sydney 38s will get us to the bar ahead of them!”

Racing will commence at 1pm on Saturday 31 July, from a start line at Steele Point off Vaucluse. Joe King, Dealer Principal Audi Centre Sydney, will fire the historic 19th century replica cannon.

Late withdrawals from the race are Equinox II, Merit and Vicsail Eugenie.

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 http://goldcoast.cyca.com.au.

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.

Social networking fans can also follow the race via Twitter http://twitter.com/asgcyr

Audi Australia together with ONE HD, Australia’s only dedicated free-to-air digital sports channel, will show highlights from the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race on Monday 23 August at 8.30pm on ONE HD, as part of the four episode wrap of the Audi IRC Australian Championship.

Full list of entries: http://goldcoast.cyca.com.au/yachts.asp?key=26

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