25th annual Pittwater & Coffs Race - Update

Big breeze blows Balance to Coffs lead

The 25th Pittwater Coffs fleet still at sea last evening received a silver anniversary present, with a 20-25 knot southeasterly bringing a large group of mid-sized boats home fast, after dawn.

Just before dark last night, the waiting crowd on Mutton Bird Hill watched Bob Oatley's Wild Oats X, cross the finishing line at 17:40. Nine minutes later Stephen David's Wild Joe crossed, having led the race briefly, less than 10 miles from Korfs Islet.

Dockside Bob Oatley commented; 'It's been a big month for the Oats team. It's been a lot of fun. I really enjoyed being with the guys for this race.'

Stephen David was smiling, anticipating a handicap victory. 'We managed to stay with the bigger boat; it was a lot of fun. We did much better in the light conditions.'

Third across the line was Dick Cawse's 60 footer, Vanguard. 'We have a frustrating day with little breeze in the morning. Last night we had good breeze off the edge of a thunderstorm and that brought us home with speed.'

Around 10pm the southeaster came in hard and the large group of boats that had been becalmed off Charmhaven arrived into Coffs Harbour, between 6 and 7 am. There are now only 11 boats still on the water, some of the tailenders could be blown home faster than expected but the leader board is now clearer.

IRC Division C leader, Paul Clitheroe's Beneteau 40.7 Balance, stormed home she finished with a host of higher rated boats to capture her own division and IRC Overall from Wild Joe, and Jim King and Bruce Staples Murray 37 Dark and Stormy Witch.

Standing beside his boat this morning, Clitheroe was tired but very happy. 'We concentrated on keeping moving when we hit the soft patches. Even half a knot made all the difference, when you are almost becalmed for ten hours. I think that is what won the race for us.'

Wild Joe has won Division A from Nigel Holman's Sydney 39 CR Cuckoos Nest with Bill Ebsary's Le Billet third.

Climbing onto the dock, Holman was grinning. 'We sailed through the Sydney 38's by yesterday morning and then we parked and they came through us again.

'South of Smokey Cape, we hit the beach hard, found a nice lift and then good breezes all the way here. The boat performed beautifully, she is a delight to sail. I am certainly enjoying my ocean racing.'

Bill Ebsary's Le Billet was regularly leading into the 'parking lots', then having to sail through the fleet again. However, a steadier breeze would have been more suited to the Beneteau 44.7, dubbed La Bandit, by sailors who envy her IRC handicap.

Just as the fleet has changed over the last 25 years, so have the sponsors and the event publicity.

For three consecutive years two resorts in Coffs Harbour 'Pelican Beach Resort Australis and Quality Resort Nautilus' have sponsored the very popular Solitary Island Race and awarded winners with a weeks accommodation.

This years event also brings onboard two new supporting sponsors SeaSpray Magazine one of New Zealand's longest running titles and now fully international. SeaSpray is a high quality 'coffee table' publication that surpasses even some of the most lavish international publications. While SeaSpray is sold internationally in selected and highly targeted retail outlets, it is primarily a subscription-based magazine.

Along with SeaSpray is Yachtworld.com the Internet's leading online boat sales marine publication containing the largest photo database of new and used power and sailboats for sale and charter on the World Wide Web.

The official event airline carrier is QantasLink who offer all crew members, family and friends of the Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Series discounted flights from Sydney to Coffs Harbour and vis versa.