50 yachts confirmed for the 2010 Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Race

10:40 AM Tue 22 Dec 2009 GMT

'Wild Oats X1 - the clear favourite and will be out to take line honours, handicap and the race record triple crown.' Damian Devine

The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club today announced a fleet of 50 yachts has been confirmed for the start of the 2010 Pittwater to Coffs Harbour race, the first offshore race of the new decade commencing on 2nd January.

When entries were closed on Friday 18th December, RPAYC Commodore Russell Murphy said, 'over the next few weeks a lot of people will be doing a lot of ocean racing along the Australian coast and I wish them all well. For the Pittwater - Coffs Harbour series, we have a fabulously diverse fleet ranging from Bob Oatley's Reichel Pugh designed 'Wild Oats XI' to two Cavalier 35's, 'Infinity' and 'CHorse'.

'We extend a warm welcome to each competitor in the Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Race and the associated series. We have no doubt the 29th regatta will once again be competitive, challenging and fun for all concerned'.

Also one of the smallest in the fleet, Sanyo Maris a Tasman Seabird co-owned by Tiare Tomaszewski, John Green and Clean Up Australia's Ian Kiernan, pulled out of this year's Hobart race and is a welcome competitor for the Coffs race. Built in 1958 she will add some charm as the oldest in the fleet and could be a real handicap chance if heavy conditions prevail.

In terms of handicap contention there's a bunch of boats including the Beneteau 44.7's 'Le Billet' and 'Alacrity', 2009 winner 'About Time', the Cookson 12, the custom Murray 37 'Dark & Stormy Witch' and Howard Piggott's new Beneteau 40, 'Flying Cloud'. Experience counts for a lot in this race and for Bill Ebsary, owner/skipper of 'Le Billet', this will be his 24th race to Coffs who won back to back race and series crowns in 2007 and 2008.

Another force to be reckoned on handicap will be the Staples/King Murray 37 custom 'Dark & Stormy Witch', under the helm of Brian Ellis and Bruce Staples. They've been there before, having previously claimed the podium as overall IRC winner of both the passage race in 2002 and Coffs series in 2005.

Brian Ellis is another of the true veteran's of the race and this trip to Coffs he will be racking up his 26th Coffs race. He is hoping for 'downhill conditions all the way, that will suit us just fine. We'll just go as fast as we can.'

Another contender for handicap honours will be Pretty Woman, the Farr 45 that finished a close second to Bruce Hogan's Marten 49 Perpetual Mocean in the 2009 Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Race & claimed a series second on handicap behind the Julian Farren Price Cookson 12, About Time. On board will be co-owners RPAYC Commodore Russell Murphy, Mick Lockley, the 24 year Coffs veteran Richard Hudson & a host of graduates from the RPAYC Youth Development Program ranging from the 24 year old James Catts to the 15 year old novice Max Voss, doing his first offshore race. Commodore Murphy said 'each year it's a treat to sail with these young guys. The fact that they come back from work, uni & overseas sailing commitments is a tribute to Royal Price Alfred Yacht Club and its youth sailing commitment. This year we have a great team of extremely savvy sailors and doubtless we'll have a lot of fun'.

Last year's Line Honours winner 'Perpetual Mocean', a Marten 49 is back and she will realistically have her work cut out for her to defend her title given the big boat end of the fleet led by Bob Oatley's 'Wild Oats XI', who will be clear favourite for the race to take home the coveted Coffs Harbour Bell Trophy for the second time. She will be out to achieve the treble in line honours, handicap and the race record, currently standing at 18hrs 29mins 14 secs as well as back to back Hobart/Coffs victories.

At 66ft, the Reichel Pugh 'Black Jack' owned by RQYS Peter Harburg is next in line and the only other real serious threat to 'Wild Oats XI' .She will be ready to pounce if 'Wild Oats XI' makes any errors or suffers any breakages during the 226nm race. Rounding out the big end of the fleet are Bruce Absolon's Volvo 60 'Spirit of the Maid', 'Margaret Rintoul V', a Frers 61 and the 18.3m Elliott Sloop, 'Future Shock.

Both 'Spirit of the Maid' and 'Black 'Jack' will make the trek down from Queensland for the race and series before backing up with a number of others to compete in the inaugural Coffs-Paradise race and Sail Paradise series. The umbrella event for all three series is known as the Australian East Coast Offshore Summer Circuit.

One thing's for sure there will be plenty of action down on the docks in Coffs Harbour for locals as the bulk of the fleet in the 12m-15m range will be closely bunched as they cross the finish line. They will be out in force to barrack home their home town entrant B52, a Sydney 41.

Commodore Murphy went on to say 'Time will tell whether conditions for the 2010 Pittwater - Coffs Harbour Race are kind to competitors, but ocean racers are continually reminded of risks attendant to our sport & this year has heralded a number of new steps in our entrant's preparation process. I thank them all for their solidarity, understanding and patience, albeit I am also alert to the notion that whilst we have to properly administer safety, we will never be able to ameliorate all the risks of sea travel'.

The 50 entrants represent a dozen yacht clubs with six boats Queensland. The 226nm 'warm water' classic is the first ocean race of the new decade and the fleet will be honoured to get away under the starter's gun from the majestic start boat Cambria II.. The start line is between Barrenjoey Headland and Lion Island in the heart of Broken Bay at 1pm on Saturday 2nd January 2010.

The third and fourth race of the series will be the Solitary Island races in Coffs Harbour on Tuesday and Wednesday fifth and sixth of January followed by the prize giving at Coffs Harbour Yacht Club later that evening where the overall IRC Series winner will take home a brand new carbon fibre wheel valued at $3500 courtesy of McConaghy Boats.

Pretty Woman will be a real handicap contender after finishing with a bunch of 2nds last time around. - Damian Devine

Twice IRC race and series winner Le Billet will be back to challenge for handicap honours. - Damian Devine

The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club will provide regular updates on the progress of the yachts which will be posted on the event website at www.pittwatertocoffs.com.au

The final list of entries can be viewed on the website at www.pittwatertocoffs.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&;task=view&id=17&Itemid=35

Race merchandise is now on sale at The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club and includes Musto polo shirts, t-shirts and caps.

by Damian Devine