Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race 2024

News
2003
Redrock Communications skipper thankful for safety courses

Redrock Communications skipper thankful for safety courses

NEWS
28 Jul, 2003 10:22:00 AM

Redrock Communications skipper thankful for safety courses

"I knew exactly how to deploy the life raft, I am glad our crew did the courses,” skipper says

A pleasant 10-15 knot sou’easter is delivering the remaining boats in the Sydney Gold Coast Race to the finish with the last yacht in the fleet, Michael Kelaher’s Santana expected early tomorrow morning.

Santana rejoined the race after assisting in the rescue of the crew from the yacht Redrock Communications, which sank after hitting a rock this morning just over nine miles north east of Coffs Harbour.

In a recent conversation with Joe Goddard, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s chief executive, the skipper of Redrock Communications, Chris Bowling, said he was thankful for the Sea Safety Survival courses he had completed in order to qualify for this Category 2 race.

"I knew exactly how to deploy the life raft, I am glad our crew did the courses,” he said.

The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia is now a recognised leader in Sea Safety training for crews that compete in its ocean races.

Joe Goddard added: "The Australian Search and Rescue Organisation (AusSAR) picked up the EPIRB signal soon after the boat hit the reef and alerted club officials. Thanks to the fine efforts of our Emergency and Race Management team and Coffs Harbour and Lismore Water Police, the crew were picked up very quickly.”

The chase for handicap honours in the 18th annual Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race is on and crews from the 20 yachts now finished, while celebrating their arrival at Southport Yacht Club, are keeping a close eye on the positions of those still at sea via the Yacht Tracker on the official race web site.

Based on this morning’s 0700hours radio position report, the line honours winner Grundig is also the IRC overall handicap leader with second over the line, Ludde Ingvall’s Luna Park Sydney second on handicap and the little Mumm 36 from Queensland, Bill Wild’s Corum in third.

Corum was the first Queensland boat to finish.

After four sked reports, Andrew Cochrane’s well-sailed Stewart 34 Pendragon from Sydney was still leading the IMS division, holding out Farr 50 Syd Fischer’s Ragamuffin and Bob Steel’s 2002 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race overall winner Quest.

In PHS division, Tony William’s Balmain Experience was leading from Witchdoctor (Rum Consortium) and Geoff Lavis’ UBS Wild Thing.

Eye Candy, skippered by Geoffrey Boettcher from South Australia was leading the fleet of Sydney 38s in their One Design division with Graham Gibson’s Hidden Agenda and Gordon Ketelbey’s Wadadli in third.