The Audi IRC Australian Championship has wrapped up for another year, and as was expected, has grown in popularity, with numbers increasing to a record 144 boats for this fourth edition.
There were so many top-drawer entries in 2010 , including some new yachts that kept the stalwarts honest, and sailing enthusiasts were kept on the edge of their seats, so close was the racing in each of the three IRC divisions.
Last day of the Audi Hamilton Island Race week 2010 - Fleet Photo Credit Andrea Francolini
Special mention has to go to Harvey Milne and his Aroona crew representing the Royal Motor Yacht Club at Pittwater in NSW and to Victorian Michael Hiatt and his Living Doll team from the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria.
Aroona, a new Archambault 31 and Living Doll, a two-year old Farr 55, are the only two yachts that contested the entire four events of the Audi IRC Australian Championship and ironically, both finished second in their respective divisions, keeping the winners of each on their toe.
Competing in the IRC Grand Prix division, Living Doll finished second to Loki, the new Audi IRC Australian champion. Out on the in IRC Passage 2 courses, Aroona and division winner Local Hero (owned by Peter Moseley but with Matt Owen at the helm), kept everyone spellbound, as the lead of the division see-sawed between the two daily. They went into the penultimate day tied on points – Local Hero coming off the victor by one point after winning the last race; Aroona was second – and that’s how it ended.
Audi Australia’s Managing Director, Uwe Hagen paid tribute to all involved: “This Audi IRC Australian Championship could not happen without the support of all the sailors, so I thank you all for making this possible. I also thank all the families and of course, the race officials and delegates, who help make this great regatta the success it is.”
The Championship comprised of: Audi Victoria Week in January, Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta in March, Audi Sydney Gold Coast Race at the end of July and culminating with Audi Hamilton Island Race Week in August.
In a first for the Championship series, major sponsor, Audi, has partnered with ONE in 2010 and the highlights from each regatta will be shown nationally following each round of the series.
Highlights from Round 4 of the Audi IRC Australian Championship can be viewed on September 27 at 8.30pm on ONE.
The final top ten placings for the 2010 Audi IRC Championship are:
Loki (Stephen Ainsworth, NSW) 13.21 points
Aroona (Harvey Milne, NSW) 13.52
Canute (Peter Horn, NSW) 18.53
Local Hero (Peter Moseley, NSW) 22.58
Shogun (Rob Hanna, Vic) 28.05
Two True (Andrew Saies, SA) 28.67
Living Doll (Michael Hiatt, Vic) 31.16
Onya (Andrew Hurt, NSW) 36.09
Secret Mens Business 3.5 (Geoff Boettcher, SA) 39.63
Flying Cloud (Howard Piggott, NSW) 40.26
Di Pearson
