This Week in Yachting – 21st Nov 2024
Along with 65 other competitors Southport Yacht Club’s Painkiller Forte skippered by Rod West and She skippered by Philip Bell, will be racing in next week’s Annual 384-nautical mile Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race.
She is no stranger to the Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race, having competed in several races in her 20 year offshore racing career with previous owner Peter Rodgers. “Enjoying 20 plus knot winds, She is looking forward to some fair winds to show off what the vessel can do” said Bell.
Bell adds “This event is a critical part of our build up to the 2015 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, and a chance to see how our main competitors are faring. All of our main rivals are in this event, so it will give us a great bench marketing opportunity”.
“Whilst this year does not have a large number of Queensland competitors, it is a great start for those of whom are competing to give heart and encouragement for a larger Queensland continent to compete in future years” says Bell.
Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race is the start of back to back racing for She, following north to compete in the Brisbane to Keppel Yacht Race.
Having competed in previous Sydney Coffs Harbour Yacht Races this is Painkiller Forte’s first Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race. “As an advocate for the Southport offshore fleet, I would like to see the fleet size grow over future years. I am also looking forward to sailing in a longer race while representing Southport in this prestigious event, competing alongside fellow Southport vessel She” says Rod West.
West adds “I think our location in Southport, our fleet of vessels and our yachting administration is taking us back to the halcyon sailing days of the 1980s, when Southport yachts were amongst the most competitive in the county. I would like to think that Painkiller Forte’s example might encourage more family yachts to compete in offshore passage races of this nature”.
Prior to West purchasing Painkiller Forte, the yacht had never raced. West is on a pathway to achieve a category 1 in 2016, so this year’s category 2 event is the perfect lead up.
She and Painkiller Forte are currently in Sydney along with fellow Southport IRC competitors Alacrity and Leeway preparing for the start of the 30th Annual Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race.
Southport Yacht Club wish all the Southport competing vessels and their crew along with their fellow competitors all the best for the race and we look forward to warm welcome upon their return.
The race starts on Sydney Harbour at 1300 on Saturday 25th July, 2015.
The first boats in the fleet are expected to arrive sometime on Sunday, depending on the weather conditions, updates will be emailed throughout the event.
A total of four Southport Yacht Club vessels will be this year competing in the 2015 Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race including, Matthew Percy’s Beneteau First 44.7 Alacrity, Tony Horking’s Northshore 38 Leeway, Rod West’s Jeanneau 45.2 Painkiller Forte and Philip Bell’s Olsen 40 She
Southport Yacht Club will be hosting the finish of the race.
Photo caption:
- Painkiller Forte, Skipper Rod West
- Southport Yacht Club, Gold Coast
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