The Yachts

Perpetual LOYAL

Perpetual LOYAL

 

As if the rivalry between Perpetual LOYAL and Wild Oats XI wasn’t intense enough in last year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart, Anthony Bell and Wild Oats XI skipper Mark Richards, are set to do it all over again when they take to the start line of the Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race, the first time they have met since the Hobart race.

The Oats team beat Bell and co. over the line by three hours and 10 minutes in last year’s Hobart after Bell’s mix of celebrities and yachties crew took the lead from Oats on the first night.  

With his former Greg Elliott designed LOYAL, Bell came close to snatching line honours from Wild Oats XI in the 2011 Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race. Just nine minutes and 22 seconds separated the two at the end. Bell got his revenge though, beating Wild Oats XI by 3 minutes and 8 seconds in the subsequent Hobart race. He is looking for winds of 25 plus knots so his yacht can come into her own.

The newest celebrity crew member to join Bell’s heavyweight team including America’s Cup and VOR sailors is Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke, who will have to overcome seasickness and a fear of sharks in his maiden ocean race as he aims to help raise funds for the LOYAL Foundation, which has raised over $4 million for children’s charities to date.

On purchasing the yacht early last year, Bell had to literally re-build her after the keel snapped off, causing her capsize in the 2011 Rolex Fastnet Race when under charter to an American who named her Rambler. She was originally christened Speedboat and took line honours in her debut outing, the Newport Bermuda Race. More modifications took place this year, including reducing the weight of the keel bulb and some other tweaks designed to increase performance.

 

 

Competitor Details

Yacht Name Perpetual LOYAL
Sail Number SYD 1000
Owner Anthony Bell
Skipper Anthony Bell
Navigator Tom Addis
Crew J Flannery, N Burridge, M Clarke, L Hornsby, G Telford, J Morris, W Parker, T Oxley, A Connole, P Caligeros, A Beashel, M Coxon, G Attrill, N Beaudoin, T Mutter, P Merrington
State NSW
Club CYCA
Type Juan-K 100
Designer Juan Yacht Design
Builder Cookson Boats
Construction Carbon
LOA 30.48
Beam 7.35
Draft 6.22