Sailors win car

Over 200 yachts in 17 divisions competed in the Regatta on March 4 and 5, and a Final Challenge event was held yesterday at Eastern Creek Raceway for the 17 class winners.

Each division winner nominated two crew members to test their driving skills in an Audi TT Coupe 3.2 quattro on a motorkhana course designed and run by Audi Driving Experience trainers, Brad Jones and Andrew Jones. The nimblest combined timescore decided the Final Challenge and the ultimate prize - an Audi A4 Avant.

Cloud IX owner and skipper, Howard Piggott, said that his bowman, Matthew Farrell, and navigator, Shane O'Connor, accepted the nomination to contest the Final Challenge on Sunday night (5 March) on the team's behalf.

"We are all absolutely thrilled. It's a great crew and we've been sailing together for about three or four years now. We're all like family. This Regatta was one of the most-professionally run events we've been part of, and it was great to have Audi as major sponsor," Piggott said.

"We didn't know the result of the Final Challenge until 9pm Tuesday night when it was announced at the Middle Harbour Yacht Club. The tension just kept rising all evening until we were announced as the ultimate winner," Piggott said.

Piggott added that his crew would definitely get to share in and enjoy the Audi A4 Avant major prize.

Audi's managing director, Joerg Hofmann, announced the ultimate winner of the A4 Avant at the Official Prize Ceremony.

A celebratory beach party at Middle Harbour Yacht Club followed the evening's formalities.

"Audi is pleased to be the major sponsor of the Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta," Hofmann said.

"It was a great event, with excellent support by all of the eight participating yacht clubs, and professionally managed by the Middle Harbour Yacht Club. We will definitely be back in 2007 with an even bigger event," Hofmann said.

Cloud IX is a 36.7 foot Beneteau yacht, competing in the IRC 3 Division. The yacht is moored at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia in Rushcutters Bay.

Martin and Lisa Hill's Estate Master (Sydney 38 Division) and Bob Oatley's Wild Oats X (IRC Division 1) took second and third place respectively in the car challenge.

The crews of all three boats have also been invited to attend a special 'Yachties' Audi Driving Experience day as an additional prize.

Audi Australia has officially announced that the company had signed long-term agreements with well-known events, Hamilton Island Race Week and Geelong Week.

"Our goal in Australia is to be the major partner of competitive sailing events," Mr Hofmann said.

"With Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta, Audi Race Week - Hamilton Island, the Audi Etchells National and World Championships, and Geelong Week, Audi becomes the largest corporate partner of competitive sailing in Australia," Hofmann added.

"Almost 1000 boats and thousands of sailors will compete in Audi-sponsored events in 2007 in these three regattas alone. This represents a large investment for Audi in this country."