Download Light to moderate and balmy leaves Audi Sydney Gold Coast record

Light to moderate and balmy leaves Audi Sydney Gold Coast record
safe for another year
Based on the long range forecast, the Audi Sydney Gold Coast fleet is in for a
warm and light to moderate air race and yet again, Brindabella’s longstanding
record for the 384 nautical mile course looks safe.
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Julie Evans today predicted a 15 knot west
sou’westerly wind for the start at 1pm on Saturday from Sydney Harbour,
when the blast of cannon fire will send the fleet of 72 on their way.
Following the start, winds are expected to ease overnight to a westerly land
breeze and remain light throughout Sunday. Another south westerly air
stream is expected to impact the race course on Monday due to a low
pressure system which should generate offshore winds of 15-20 knots.
The further north the fleet is, the less likely they will feel the impact of the low,
and with winds forecast to lighten into Tuesday, there’s not a lot of good news
for the back of the fleet which will be trying to chew their way through the
closing miles as they head to the finish line off Southport’s Main Beach on the
Queensland Gold Coast.
“There will be something in the low for the fleet on Monday but not much,”
said Evans today.
On a brighter note, with forecast temperatures of 18-23 degrees during the
day, crews will have an opportunity to thaw out each day after a cold night on
deck. And for the five yachts continuing on in the Audi Sydney Mackay Yacht
Race, they can look forward to t-shirt sailing for the majority of the 898
nautical mile race.
“We are not expecting any significant weather, it looks dry for the entire race,”
said Evans.
Once again, navigators will be revered in the notoriously tactical ‘rock
hopping’ Audi Sydney Gold Coast. At this stage the southerly running current
is minimal so those who choose to go offshore searching for more wind will
only sacrifice minimal speed as they punch into the current.
Given the long range forecast, Andrew Short, the new owner of race record
holder Andrew Short Marine Brindabella, admits he is probably the only one
thinking about the record. “I’m not disappointed it won’t be broken this year,”
admitted Short today. The race record set in 1999 stands at 27 hours 35
minutes 03 seconds.
On board the Canberra Ocean Racing Club’s Bavaria 44 Namadgi, two of the
seven crew have been charged with keeping a close weather eye on
conditions heading north. Champion balloonist Sean Kavanagh and father
Phil, a hot air balloon manufacturer, will play a key role in reading synoptic
charts and clouds.
“We’ll be relying on Sean and Phil to give us precise information on wind so
we can determine our strategy,” said skipper Rick Scott-Murphy.
Namadgi is owned by a syndicate of 26 ACT based owners who make up the
Canberra Ocean Racing Club and each year they alternate between racing
and cruising. For the past three months the crew has been travelling
fortnightly from Canberra to Pittwater on Sydney’s northern beaches to
prepare the boat and crew train for their northern campaign which also
includes Audi Hamilton Island Race Week.
“Because we don’t have the same level of access to the boat, it’s a dedicated
effort for the crew which makes them very committed to the campaign,” said
Scott-Murphy.
Having sailed a Flying 15 on Lake Burley Griffin mid-winter, and given the
forecast above average daily temperatures, Rick and his wife are looking
forward to a balmy Audi Sydney Gold Coast.
David Beak, skipper of the Beneteau 44.7 Mr Beak’s Ribs is also closely
monitoring the weather and is happy with the light to moderate forecast
however he’s hoping to stay well clear of what could end up being a “parking
lot somewhere off Byron Bay” in the latter stages of the race.
Skippers will attend this Thursday’s race briefing at 6pm at the Cruising Yacht
Club of Australia where the official pre-race forecast will be delivered by the
Bureau of Meteorology. A final weather briefing to be held at the club at
8.30am on the morning of the start, Saturday 28 July, will give skippers and
crews the latest weather information before they leave the dock.
This year 3G mobile users will have access to race standings and abbreviated
breaking news via their mobiles at http://goldcoast.cyca.com.au/mobile/ and
both the Audi Sydney Gold Coast and Audi Sydney Mackay fleets will carry
tracking devices with up to date positions in the fleet and on handicap
available under Yacht Tracker on the official sites
http://goldcoast.cyca.com.au and http://.mackay.cyca.com.au
Audi Australia www.audi.com.au
Further information: Lisa Ratcliff, CYCA, 0418 428 511 or
[email protected] or Anna Burgdorf, Audi Australia, 0401 990
230.
Audi Australia is the biggest supporter of competitive yachting events in
Australia. The German luxury carmaker is the naming rights sponsor of the
Audi Sydney Southport, Audi Sydney Gold Coast and Audi Sydney Mackay
yacht races and the Audi Winter Series as well as the principal sponsor of the
CYCA’s Youth Sailing Academy.