Wedgetail in the frame

Ian Grant looks forward to the 58th Brisbane to Galdstone yacht race

Bill Wild’s 12.8m sloop Wedgetail has firmed as the outright favourite to win line honours in the 58th Brisbane to Gladstone yacht race over the Easter weekend.

The exciting maxi-chaser became the top line honours contender when race record holder Grant Wharington ( Skandia) and four times line honours champion Sean Langman ( AAPT) declined to enter.

However the 42 yacht fleet is competitively strong with 2003 Rolex Sydney Hobart champion Michael Spies ( Sirromet Life Style Wine) lining up for a tactical struggle against the 2002 Rolex Hobart champion Quest now racing as Quest of Queensland and the 1968 Hobart winner Koomooloo to duel for the prestigious 58 year Courier-Mail Cup and record the fastest corrected handicap time.

The sensationally fast Hugh Welbourne-designed Wedgetail launched in 2005 has claimed the title of Australia’s fastest pocket-rocket after she outpaced larger yachts to complete the grueling 628 n/ml Rolex Sydney-Hobart race with an impressive 9.1knot average speed in late December.

Her crew will not have any maxi’s to chase however skipper Bill Wild and sailing master Kevin Costin have an excellent opportunity to claim a place in race history as the shortest waterline length yacht to win the line honours title since 1949 when Hoana power sailed before moderate to fresh spinnaker sailing trade winds to complete the 308 nautical mile course in 47 hours 8 minutes 25 seconds.

There is also a strong chance that Wedgetail following on from her remarkable 6th overall in her first Sydney Hobart race could also win the Gladstone race on handicap sharing a rare honour with previous line honours and handicap trophy winners Kyeema (1950), Solo (1958, 1959), Ballywho (1975) and Grundig (2002).

Wedgetail has the proven potential to out pace her slightly larger line honours trophy rival Kevin Miller’s Quest of Queensland however her crew will need a favourable fresh south east breeze to log the necessary speed to outrun their relatively high IRC handicap rating to claim an outright win over Sirromet Life Style Wine, Quest of Queensland, Koomooloo and the Gladstone plywood built Sharpie Wistari.

This remarkable yacht now racing in her 41st year has the distinction of winning four races (1971.1976, 1977, 1982), and her new generation skipper Scott Patrick believes the ‘Old Girl’ still has the speed potential to win again.

“Wistari finished a close third last year behind Saltash 11 and Pagan 11 so we are not chasing the impossible dream all we need is a fresh wind (20-25 knot) spinnaker sailing forecast to be a chance,” he said.