Winners on Cloud IX

A report from the Final Event of the Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta

It’s a first for Sailing in Australia, and the Winners are on Cloud IX.

The crew of Susan and Howard Piggott’s yacht, Cloud IX, are on a high after winning the Audi A4 Avant in the Inaugural Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta.
With 217 yachts racing in 17 divisions on seven course areas on Sydney Harbour over the weekend of 4-5 March, the Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta represented Sydney Harbour’s largest sailing spectacular since the 2000 Olympics.

A noted highlight of the Regatta was the 'Final Event'. Divisional winners competed in the 'Final Event' held at Eastern Creek Raceway on Tuesday morning 7 March, 2006. Each division winner nominated two crew members to test their driving skills in an Audi TT Coupe 3.2 quattro on a motorkana course designed and run by Audi Driver Experience Trainers, Brad Jones and Andrew Jones. The nimblest combined timescore decided the Final Event 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 5 March on the team’s behalf. "We are 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,” Piggott said.

“We didn’t know the result of the Final Event until 9pm on Tuesday evening when it was announced at the Official Prize Presentation at Middle Harbour Yacht Club. The tension just kept rising all evening until we were announced as the ultimate winner.,” Piggott continued.



Martin and Lisa Hill’s Estate Master (Sydney 38 Division) and Bob Oatley’s Wild Oats X (IRC Division 1) took second and third place respectively. The crews of all three boats have also been invited to attend a special ‘Yachties’ Audi Driving Experience day as an additional prize.

Dates for the 2007 Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta are 3-4 March, 2007.

Final top three in each division:
IRC 1:
1. Wild Oats X – Bob Oatley (RPAYC)
2. Loki – Stephen Ainsworth (CYCA)
3. Shogun – Robert Hanna (RGYC)
IRC 2:
1. Sirromet Lifestyle Wine – Michael Spies/David Beak (CYCA)
2. Honeysuckle – Ray Harris (MHYC)
3. Nips-N-Tux – Howard De Torres (CYCA)
IRC 3:
1. Cloud IX – Howard & Susan Piggott (CYCA)
2. Farrout Edake – Jeff Carter (RPAYC)
3. This Way Up – Ray Carless (MHYC)
PHS 1:
1. Viva La Vita – Tony Bates (MHYC)
2. Imagination – Robin & Annette Hawthorn (CYCA)
3. Good Form – Joachim Fluhrer (RPAYC)
PHS 2:
1. Esoteric – Chris Thorpe (MHYC)
2. Out of Sight – Matt Wilkinson (CYCA)
3. Disko Trooper – Jules Hall (SASC)
PHS 3:
1. Zin Zin – Greg Kearns (PSSC)
2. Slips – Stephen Churm (SASC)
3. Short Circuit – Guy Stening (RSYS)
PHS 4:
1. Bar-celona – Marco Tapia (SASC)
2. Clewless – Guy Irwin (SASC)
3. The Grooves – Michael Stovin-Bradford (RSYS)
Classic:
1. Carinya IV – Jim Nixon (MYC)
2. Redpa - Peter Scott (SASC)
3. Eudoria – John Sturrock (MHYC)
Adams 10:
1. Contentiious – Brian Lees (MHYC)
2. Boxer – Paul Henke (DSC)
3. Eve’s Delight – Lindsay Rose (MHYC)
Sports 30:
1. London Calling – Stuart Bancroft (BSC)
2. Obsession II – Neil & Bruce Tavener (MHYC)
3. Diana - Philip Grove
Cavalier 28:
1. Trickerie Bay – Scott Lamb & Bruce Bowden (RSYS)
2. Dancelot – Richard Pearse (RPAYC)
3. Scuttlebutt – Greg Purcell (RSYS)
Dragon:
1. Whim – Gordon Ingate (RSYS)
2. Wizzardry – Anthony Armstrong (RSYS)
3. Isis – Wolf Breit (RSYS)
Etchells:
1. Dot – Matt Whitnall (RSYS)
2. Bald Eagle – John Dunn (RSYS)
3. Feathers Chalkbeans – Michael Jones (MHYC)
J24:
1. Kaotic – Hugo Ottoway (SYC)
2. Innaminicka – John Crawford (MHYC)
3. Ace – David West (MHYC)
Yngling:
1. Got a Inkling - Nicky Bethwaite (RSYS)
2. Good Question – Neville Wittey (RSYS)
3. Pourquoi – Hamish Jarrett (RSYS)
Sydney 32:
1. If – Martin & Anna Cross (RPAYC)
2. Reality – John Groves (RPAYC)
3. Jester – Dave & Zorana Bull (MHYC)