On Cloud IX

Crew win Audi A4 Avant following Audi Sydney Harbour Regtta reports Anna Burgdorf

The crew of Susan and Howard Piggott’s yacht, Cloud IX, are on a high after winning an Audi A4 Avant at the inaugural Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta.

The Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta, held on 4 and 5 March, is the biggest yacht race to be held on Sydney Harbour since the 2000 Olympic Games. 217 yachts in 17 divisions competed in the Regatta on the weekend, and a Final Challenge event was held yesterday at Eastern Creek Raceway for the 17 class winners.

Each division winner nominated two crew members to test their driving skills in an Audi TT Coupe 3.2 quattro on a motorkhana course designed and run by Audi Driving Experience trainers, Brad Jones and Andrew Jones. The nimblest combined timescore decided the Final Challenge and the ultimate prize – an Audi A4 Avant.

Cloud IX owner and skipper, Howard Piggott, said that his bowman, Matthew Farrell, and navigator, Shane O’Connor, accepted the nomination to contest the Final Challenge on Sunday night (5 March) on the team’s behalf.

“We are all absolutely thrilled. It’s a great crew and we’ve been sailing together for about three or four years now. We’re all like family. This Regatta was one of the most-professionally run events we’ve been part of, and it was great to have Audi as major sponsor,” Mr Piggott said.

“We didn’t know the result of the Final Challenge until 9pm Tuesday night when it was announced at the Middle Harbour Yacht Club. The tension just kept rising all evening until we were announced as the ultimate winner,” Mr Piggott said.

Mr Piggott added that his crew would definitely get to share in and enjoy the Audi A4 Avant major prize.

Audi’s managing director, Joerg Hofmann, announced the ultimate winner of the A4 Avant at the Official Prize Ceremony.

A celebratory beach party at Middle Harbour Yacht Club followed the evening’s formalities.

Cloud IX is a 36.7 foot Beneteau yacht, competing in the IRC 3 Division. The yacht is moored at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia in Rushcutters Bay. Martin and Lisa Hill’s Estate Master (Sydney 38 Division) and Bob Oatley’s Wild Oates X (IRC Division 1) took second and third place Respectively in the car challenge.

The crews of all three boats have also been invited to attend a special ‘Yachties’ Audi Driving Experience day as an additional prize.