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News
2006
Last boat finishes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race

Last boat finishes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race

NEWS
04 Apr, 2006 07:04:00 PM

Skipper Impeccable winner IRC and IMS

Last boat finishes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race

Impeccable’s arrival at Southport marks the end of another successful Sydney Gold Coast Race which saw 38 yachts finish the 384 nautical mile race and five retire.

As if more than three days at sea wasn’t enough to test the crew on Impeccable, just a couple of hours out from the finish, the last boat to complete the Sydney Gold Coast Race was becalmed in between two storm fronts but managed to avoid a drenching.

“That was a long race” the ever polite John Walker, the oldest skipper in the fleet at 83, admitted to the finish team as Impeccable received confirmation of its finish time - 6.30pm this evening giving them an elapsed time of 3 days 6 hours 39 minutes.

A 22-time Rolex Sydney Hobart veteran, John only began ocean racing at 60 on the Peterson three quarter tonner Impeccable he built in 1980.

While Impeccable didn’t place on handicap in this race, Walker, a three time CYCA Ocean Racing Veteran of the Year has a string of race wins and placings to his name including an overall handicap win in the 2004 Sydney Mooloolaba Yacht Race.

“You can’t win them all,” he laughed from Southport Yacht Club where the crew received a rousing welcome as they berthed at the Club.

“It was a frustrating race but the weather and the company was good. I can’t say I didn’t enjoy it,” Walker added.

Impeccable’s arrival at Southport marks the end of another successful Sydney Gold Coast Race which saw 37 yachts finish the 384 nautical mile race and five retire, four due to minor damage sustained on the first night of heavy running ahead of a blusetery sou'wester and one due to lack of wind!