TP52 Pallas Capital Gold Cup Finale at Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club - Preview
by Nic Douglass for @sailorgirlhq 16 May 22:50 BST
17-18 May 2025
Peter Farrugia leads a new team into the TP52 Pallas Capital Gold Cup © Nic Douglass for @sailorgirlHQ
The Act 4 Finale of the 2025 Pallas Capital Gold cup will be sailed on Pittwater from Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club this weekend, 17-18 May, including an addition to the fleet with a local team, led by Rear Commodore of Yacht Racing, Peter Farrugia, putting their hat in the ring.
"It's pretty amazing. I haven't been on one of these boats before, let alone steered one or crewed on one, so it's been a baptism of fire," said Peter Farrugia of today's first training session.
"We got out there and did a few great things, made some small mistakes. Luckily it was light breeze, but we're really looking forward to the next two days. It's going to be epic," Farrugia exclaimed.
And while the team of Pittwater local heroes haven't sailed together on a TP52 before, Farrugia reflected that their team work was coming together quickly.
"We've got Jan Scholten up the back doing tactics. We've got Chris Dawson on the main and Simon Grosser, Lauren Crossman, Tom Brewer - he's in the trim role, doing a great job. And then we've got someone pretty special up on the bow, Tommy Braidwood. And there's just really good cohesion there".
"We're trying to keep a quiet boat. That worked pretty well today. But as the pressure lifts and the breeze lifts, we'll see how we go with all our manoeuvres. It's a big ask for people to come on. A new team and a helmsman that's not really been on one before".
"But I think, yeah, if we stay positive and work hard, we'll do really well. And that's the aim of the game".
The main reason that teams take part in the TP52 class in Australia, besides the incredible racing, is the camaraderie.
"Peter White, who has the other first light, is a great guy. We've connected, obviously, through the charter. He's been wonderful to deal with".
"Craig came around, the President, this morning and said g'day. That was really nice of him, he's a great guy. The Hooligan team has been amazing to us. We park right next to them here in the dock. So they've been helpful as well, on a number of fronts".
"They [the TP52 Australia fleet] love this sort of racing. It's pretty much the pinnacle of monohull racing in Australia".
"Terry Wetton's doing a wonderful job to get this many boats together with his TPR rating AND a wonderful group of people out on the water".
"So, yeah, looking forward to it. It's going to be epic," he echoed.
Going into the final event, David Doherty's Matador leads Marcus Blackmore's Hooligan on IRC. Seb Bohm's Smuggler is third behind Hooligan, with Koa, the top Corinthian team in fourth. On TPR, Matador is clear ahead, with Smuggler in second, Koa in third, and Hooligan in fourth.
The racing will be live streamed in full on the TP52 Australia Facebook channel.
Thanks to naming rights sponsor Pallas Capital and also to Zhik for their support.
Class website: www.tp52aust.org.au