The 118nm Port Hacking – Bird island race, which took place over the weekend, was a resounding success for McConaghy Boats, old and new, in the all important build up for the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.
Sailing yacht WILD OATS XI at the 2012 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Race - Photo credit to Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi
Bob Oatley’s Reichel Pugh 30m super maxi yacht Wild Oats XI claimed line honours and second on IRC, while Tony Kirby’s brand new Ker 46 Patrice won ORCi and claimed 3rd on IRC in conditions that favoured the bigger boats. In only his third event, coming fresh from winning the Sydney Short Offshore Championship last weekend. Tony’s new 46 footer beat the bigger boats and its contemporaries overall after finishing sixth on line in good time, firming its Hobart chances.
One of the oldest boats in the McConaghy stable, Roger Hickman’s Farr 43 Wild Rose (originally launched as Wild Oats for Bob Oatley in 1985) continues to lead the CYCA Blue Water Point score winning division 2 on both IRC and ORCi.
Overall winner on IRC was Grant Warrington’s 30m Super maxi yacht Wild Thing, benefiting from some last minute optimisation from the McConaghy Sydney team, with a new rudder blade designed by Fred Barrett. The rudder was refitted to Wild Thing only minutes after it was completed on Friday morning, just in time for Grant and his team to head out for a shake down on the Harbour. Whilst at the McConaghy’s Mona Vale factory to inspect his rudder Grant spotted the carbon fiber McConaghy power boat steering wheel, and decided it was a must have accessory for his motor yacht to match his McConaghy wheels on his maxi yacht.
McConaghy’s Sydney team is working around the clock at the moment helping with last minute repairs and modifications to Anthony Bell’s luxury yacht Perpetual Loyal.
Counting down the minutes to the Big Boat showdown on the harbour tomorrow, all the super maxis will be in fighting form thanks to the support of McConaghy tireless team of highly skilled tradesmen. A well deserved break is planned for McConaghy Staff tomorrow with a day out on the MC38 to watch results of their hard work in the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge.
Good luck to all McConaghy Boats skippers and crew.
