Locals looking for Audi Docklands Invitational advantage
A top heavy Victorian line up has the odds for an overall win stacked in the locals’ favour with just one New South Wales representative the cat amongst the pigeons at Audi Victoria Week’s Docklands Invitational.
The calibre of the one NSW entry however, will keep everyone else light on their feet.
Bob Steel’s TP52 Quest won the 2008 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, his second win, and in the latest ocean classic he beat all those lining up for this week’s Audi Docklands Invitational on handicap bar one.
“We are fearless and ready to face the music. We know we are in for some stiff competition,” said Steel, the sole NSW skipper, while towing his trailer and sail artillery to Victoria.
Geoff Boettcher’s newly launched South Australian Reichel Pugh 51 Secret Mens Business 3.5 is the other interstate entry looking to keep the trophy out of the Victorian’s reach.
Principal race officer Denis Thompson is anticipating an interesting showdown between the TP52 designs and Michael Hiatt’s Farr 55 Living Doll and Rob Date’s Reichel Pugh 52 Scarlet Runner in the five race series that gets underway this coming Thursday, 21 January, off Waterfront City, Docklands, Melbourne.
A 1425hrs warning signal for race one is designed to allow crews to work a half day and to give the sea breeze time to settle in. Thompson anticipates running two races that afternoon and the remaining three the following day, Friday 22, with the first warning signal scheduled for 1225hrs on day two.
Thursday’s forecast for Port Phillip is for south to south-easterly 15 to 20 knots during the afternoon. Friday should see nor’easters of 10 to 15 knots tending west to north-westerly during the morning, then shifting southwesterly 15 to 20 knots later in the morning, and locally reaching 25 knots in the afternoon.
A very different scenario to the second day of last year’s close space event when racing was abandoned due to 60 knot gusts, Stephen Ainsworth’s Loki eventually claiming the overall trophy for the shortened event.
This year’s forecast fresh afternoon breezes will separate out the 19 strong glamour fleet, which is sporting some of the big names of Australian IRC racing, including Victorian entries Alan Whiteley’s TP52 Cougar II, Rob Hanna’s JV52 Shogun and Chris Dare’s Corby 49 Audi Centre Melbourne.
Since arriving in Australia late 2007 from the USA, Cougar II has proven to be extremely competitive, winning numerous events including Audi Hamilton Island Race Week 2008, the Lipton Cup regatta 2008 and 2009, the Victorian Range series, Port Phillip Division Zero series 2008/2009 and Top of the Bay Regatta and placing second outright in the 2008 Rolex Sydney Hobart.
Outside of sailing, Cougar II seems to have had a Cupid effect on many of the crew, with no less than eight either becoming engaged or married since the boat’s Australian debut. “The previous US owner in unaware of anything included in the build specifications that could cause such happenings,” laughed Whiteley.
Come Thursday, romance will be put to one side as Whiteley and his top crew stage what is sure to be a serious challenge to have their name etched on the perpetual trophy sculptured by award winning artist John Woulfe.
Of the Production division, Nicholas Bartels’ Sydney 47 Terra Firma and Andrew Saies’ South Australian Beneteau First 40 Two True are just two of the form boats. Bartels is coming off the back of a win in the Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship in Sydney last November and Saies is still glowing in the aftermath of his stunning Rolex Sydney Hobart overall win.
Audi Victoria Week’s invitation only Docklands Invitational will be held 21-22 January with a minimum two races constituting a series.
Follow the action daily and view images, video and full results at: www.victoriaweek.com
Lisa Ratcliff, Audi Victoria Week media
Phone: 0418 428 511 for further information
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