Out Front

Wednesday, July 14th, 2010

With the entry of the 98 foot maxi Lahana in the Brisbane to Keppel Tropical Yacht Race, a three way battle will evolve for line honours and perhaps the race record between her and the two Reichel Pugh 66 footers Black Jack and Wild Oats X. Common sense would suggest the 98 footer will win a canter, but canter is the operative word. Both the RP66s have canting keels, Lahana does not.

Whilst the canting keels give these two a big advantage in a reaching race, allowing them to be driven harder it is also indicative of the nature of the boats. Black Jack and Wild Oats X are both set up with no expense spared or any concession to speed. This no holds barred attitude is reflected in the crews of the three boats. Both 66 footers will have the crack crews, with some of the cream of Australian yachting aboard. Lahana on the other hand has a more laid back approach to racing.

As Lahana’s owner Peter Millard says “Our form to date as a big boat has not been all that competitive and we live in hope Steve Bradbury style. However we certainly enjoy a low key max fun approach to our offshore yachting; albeit with 25 thirsty crew plus family and friends we can generate our own low pressure system in most clubhouse bars and that’s almost as much fun as a win!”

“As a Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron member it will be a thrill to be back on Moreton Bay once again for our first Keppel race start with Lahana and heading in the right direction away from a chilly Sydney winter. It will be great to see the two RP66 canters slug it out and we hope to hang in there with them to watch it.”

Maybe Peter is selling his boat a little short: surely if the wind is moderate the huge waterline length advantage of Lahana will allow her to glide into Keppel Bay ahead of her two smaller rivals. Mark (Squark) Bradford, skipper of Black Jack, feels they can beat Lahana, noting that the big boat seems to have it share of moments on the water and a few retirements. He does temper his enthusiasm with the acknowledgment of Lahana’s size and power.

Squark is upbeat about a number of points in this year’s race; the battle for line honours and the duel with Wild Oats X being but two of them. He believes the two RP66 are of identical speed and in 21 races between the pair it is 11 to 10 in Oat’s favour. He says “most of the time it is very close, usually the one that wins the start goes on to beat the other”.

Squark also feels with the quality of entries that the race itself; has now developed to a point where it is a major part of the Australian yachting calendar and sees a dilution of Sydney’s dominance in the sport. He went on to say “It is exciting to see quality Sydney boats coming to race with us in our waters”.

In Squark’s opinion another exciting aspect is the show case of competitive 40 footers in this race and on Moreton Bay. He points out it is similar to the strength of 50 footers that has blossomed on Port Phillip Bay; once again a good thing for Australian yachting as it decentralizes the Sydney power base.

Another interesting point is that whilst those three big boats will be blasting away out front, they will be closely watching the yacht tracker and noting the radio scheds to see just how the slower boats are doing. No doubt also hoping that the wind will soften behind and allow them the line honours, IRC and race record. In 2009 that treble that was taken out by Black Jack, in the race record time of 29 hours 24 minutes and 11 seconds.

You can bet Mark Richards and his Wild Oats X crew will have a firm eye on that record and setting one of their own.

By: Mystery Yacht Racer

The Club Marine Brisbane to Keppel Tropical Yacht Race is the signature event of the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron. The race starts at 1500 hours on Friday 6th August.