Mark Richards skippered Wild Oats XI takes line honours of 2011 Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race
Bob Oatley’s Wild Oats XI took line hounours in the 384 nautical mile Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race, organised by Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA). Skipper Mark Richards led the crew successfully
through the Sydney Harbour and proved the Wild Oats XI is one of the finest and fastest super maxi in Australia.
Richards finished the race at 07.11.27am on Monday, August 1 with race timing of 1 day 18 hours 11 minutes and 27 seconds. The 100 feet Investec Loyal finished second with a difference of just nine
minutes and 22 seconds. The sailors were stopped by no-wind conditions at the Coffs Harbour but Wild Oats XI fortunately managed to escape through that.
While speaking to the local media after his success, Richards said, “It was good stuff - really close the whole way – it reminds us we’re not infallible. We were happy in breeze and not so good in
the light stuff. Like everyone else, we parked up along the way; lots of parking chews away at the clock but that’s ocean racing.”
He added, “It was very close towards the end, and the most important thing was getting to the finish first. We made it so they (Investec Loyal) would have to sail around us to beat us. We’re very
happy with the modifications we made to the boat – the new daggerboard worked well.”
The overall result is given below.
1. Wild Oats XI, Mark Richards NSW – Race Time: 01:18:11:27, Speed: 9.1
2. Investec Loyal, Anthony Bell NSW - Race Time: 01:18:20:49, Speed: 9.1
3. Loki, Stephen Ainsworth NSW - Race Time: 02:00:34:06, Speed: 7.9
4. Living Doll, Michael Hiatt VIC - Race Time: 02:02:52:36, Speed: 7.5
5. Lahana, Peter Millard NSW - Race Time: 02:03:29:26, Speed: 7.5
6. Brindabella, Bradshaw Kellett NSW - Race Time: 02:05:35:27, Speed: 7.2
7. Ragamuffin, Syd Fischer NSW - Race Time: 02:10:08:08, Speed: 6.6
8. Hooligan, Marcus Blackmore NSW - Race Time: 02:10:30:23, Speed: 6.6
9. Shogun, Rob Hanna VIC - Race Time: 02:11:34:20, Speed: 6.4
10. Pretty Fly III, Colin Woods NSW - Race Time: 02:11:58:25, Speed: 6.4
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