A strong fleet of 77 yachts will be racing in the Annual 384-nautical mile Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race, 2016 will host the largest fleet since 2010. Three (3) Southport Yacht Club (SYC) vessels including Glenn Burrell Jeanneau 42DS Wildflower 2, Phil Bell Olsen 40 She and David Hows Beneteau 445 Ocean Gem, will be competing in the event.
Having heavily competed in Queensland Regatta’s over the past two years since Ocean Gem’s arrival from Auckland, New Zealand in November 2013. Ocean Gem has had numerous wins including Line Honours in the 2016 Coffs to Paradise Yacht Race, Overall Club Champion in SYC’s Sail Paradise Series, and first (1st) place Cruising Division in the Queensland Beneteau Cup, 2015. ‘I am very passionate about Ocean Racing, and look forward to competing in my first Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race later this week’ said Hows. This will be the first in a long line of events David and the crew from Ocean Gem will be competing in with their lead up to the 2016 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race held on December 26, 2016.
Previously skippered by Peter Rodgers, She has had a great run of success, having sailed in 17 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. Now owned and skippered by Phil Bell, it will be the skippers first Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race. ‘As a vessel designed for rough weather elements, we have high hopes for She in this ocean race’ said Bell.
The race starts on Sydney Harbour at 1300 on Saturday 30th July 2016.
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.
Southport Yacht Club will be hosting the finish of the race.
Photo caption:
- Ocean Gem – Overall Champion Bartercard Sail Paradise 2016
- She – Competing in Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race