Stage set for record run

Brindabella’s 13-year-old Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race record of 27 hours 35 minutes 43 seconds, looks set to go after Michael Logan from the Bureau of Meteorology delivered the weather forecast to 140 competitors at the official race briefing, conducted at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia. 

On her third attempt, the scene is finally set for Bob Oatley’s super maxi Wild Oats XI to take the record which was set by a conventionally-ballasted yacht in 1999: "The conditions are looking good for record breaking," said Adrienne Cahalan, navigator on Wild Oats XI. "Based on the current modelling, we are predicting a race time of 22 to 24 hours.

"We haven’t had a forecast like this for a while; it’ll be really nice to set sail with such a favourable one. Our challenge will be to keep the boat together and avoid the whales," added Cahalan, following a warnihng that there were many whales and their calves heading north along the NSW and Queensland coast at present.

Logan, the Bureau of Meteorology’s Manager NSW Severe Weather Services, announced the conditions that the fleet of 63 yachts may experience over the race period.

For the start of the race at 1.00 pm on Saturday, moderate south to south-westerly winds of approximately 15-25 knots are forecast. The outlook for Saturday appears to be mostly fine with a maximum temperature of 20C.

The strong south to south-westerly breezes, which are set to continue throughout the race, will push the yachts quickly towards their Southport finish line under spinnaker.

Brindabella’s crew also believe they can break the yacht’s record, set by original owner, George Snow. Sailing master Brad Kellett said that given the conditions, he will take the offshore option. "Looking at the forecast, the conditions offshore suit our 20 tonne boat. We’re anticipating 20-25 knots with a few gusts nudging 30 plus in the ‘highway’.

"We’ll be pushing Brindabella all the way to finish under her own race record. We know that Loki and Wild Oats XI will be in front of us, but we’re aiming to beat the TP52s," Kellett said.

An intriguing battle is anticipated between the seven TP52s and Geoff Boettcher’s Reichel Pugh 51 footer, Secret Mens Business 3.5.

For Boettcher, this race marks his return to ocean racing after an 18 month break since taking the overall win in the 2010 Rolex Sydney Hobart. The South Australian is looking forward to the excitement: "We’ll use Calm (Jason Van der Slot) and Ragamuffin (Syd Fischer) as our benchmark. If we beat them, I’ll be a very happy man," he said.

At 85, Fischer is the oldest skipper in the race, but he is as competitive as ever. "We’ll be pushing hard all the way," he said. "If we get the weather predicted, it’ll be all hands on deck the whole race. It’ll be a quick race and we’ll be giving it a bash to win."

The 384 nautical mile course takes the yachts down the Harbour and out through Sydney Heads, before turning left towards the finish line off Main Beach at Southport.

The CYCA’s proven yacht tacker system will allow family, friends and yachting enthusiasts to follow the race -- and their favourite yachts -- for its duration. 

Each yacht’s position is visualised on the race yacht tracker map via http://goldcoast.cyca.com.au or overlaid on Google Earth. In addition, the yacht tracker system also shows distance to finish line and progressive corrected time positions under the IRC, ORCi and PHS handicap divisions

For more information go to http://goldcoast.cyca.com.au or follow on Twitter http://twitter.com/asgcyr

Photo: Andrea Francolini