Audi King of the Docklands

Racing in the first three heats of the Audi King of the Docklands in Melbourne © Andrea Francolini / Audi

Racing in the first three heats of the Audi King of the Docklands in Melbourne © Andrea Francolini / Audi

Racing in the first three heats of the Audi King of the Docklands in Melbourne © Andrea Francolini / Audi

Three crews on their way to winning an Audi

Crews fought all the way from start to finish in gusty conditions on Victoria Harbour yesterday evening in the first three heats of the Audi King of the Docklands in Melbourne, none more enthralling than the final heat in which America’s Cup and match racing stars Gavin Brady, Rodney Keenan and Mark Bradford came off best to the cheers of the loud crowd gathered.

Racing America’s Cup-style off Waterfront City, with international umpires handing out penalties for infringements, the selected crews could see the prize that will be awarded to the winner late tonight following a further three heats – an Audi A4 2.0-litre TDI sedan – while they sailed on the other major prize, a new SB3 dinghy, donated by Oceanburo, both to be presented to the newly crowned ‘Audi King of the Docklands.’

Participants, ranging from teenagers to a yachtsman or two in their seventies, are the divisional winners from the many classes sailed at Skandia Geelong Week last year. At the high end were America’s Cup sailors, at the other, winners from the cruising divisions – you could not get a more diverse group.

Up until just over one week ago, none knew they were in the running for over $100,000 worth of prizes - the largest sailing prize ever offered in Australia.

“Unbelievable,” said America’s Cup and match racing helmsman and tactician Gavin Brady when he came ashore after him and his crew won the final heat of the night.

“I’ve never won a car before – now I’m in for a chance to win an Audi. In all my years of racing around the world with all the top sailors at America’s Cups and major match racing events, nothing like this has ever been on offer.

“We (he, Keenan and Bradford) race the top sailors from around the world – it was tough racing against the top Aussie sailors,” said New Zealander, Brady, who is not sure how they will share the prize should they win tonight.

Brady and his crew did not have it all their own way either. Ironically, amongst others, they had to sail off against a crew skippered by Roger Hickman, who both Brady and Keenan are sailing with at this year’s Skandia Geelong Week. They also faced the current Australian Sportsboat champion, Chris Williams from Sydney.

Hickman got the best of the start and led around the track until the second work where, Brady says, “Hicko left a hole and we sailed through it.”

Other heat winners included a Melbourne father and son team, Jock and Hamish MacAdie who did not give themselves a chance. “We were up against the runners-up of the SB3 Nationals and the pre-race favourites to take home the prize (a Geelong team skippered by young hot shot sailor Brendan Garner); I’d love to win the Audi – they are a very impressive car,” exclaimed a thrilled Jock MacAdie.

The MacAdies’ win was all the more incredible because Hamish sailed with sprained ankle, three cracked ribs and a perforated ear drum – all sustained separately – and all on his right side. “It was worth every minute of it – when I heard what the prize was, I took painkillers and we went out there to do our best,” said Hamish who has his heart set on a yachting career in Europe.

Australia’s Melges 32 sports boat champion, Heath Townsend, all the way from Western Australia won the second heat. Townsend regularly drives around Australia towing his boat to the various regattas.

“It would be great to win the Audi – he needs something decent to tow his boat to regattas with,” quipped crew member Heath Walters.

Only the winners of each of the six heats goes through to the final tonight at the Docklands and it will be a clash of the titans as the battle for the title of the new Audi King of the Docklands.

A big crowd is expected again this evening and racing starts from 6.00pm. Immediately following the six-boat sail-off, Anna Burgdorf, Audi’s General Manager Corporate Communications, will hand over the keys to the brand new Audi A4 to the winners.