Newport to Coffs Race: Don’t go out in the current today or you’re in for a big surprise
by Jennifer Cook 31 Dec 2017 12:30 UTC
27-29 December 2017
About Time - Newport to Coffs Coast Yacht Race 2017 © Jennifer Cook
After leading the fleet for most of the way in his Cookson 50, About Time skipper, Julian Farren-Price's decision to go out wide nearly cost him the line honours he was desperately seeking, after three handicap victories in the Newport to Coffs race.
About Time got caught in the strong southerly current when the wind died and slipped from first back to fifth position. During the night the crew of About Time valiantly plugged away to get back in to shore and back into contention.
Julian said, "I previously did not have a boat that would allow me to get line honours but I do now - and I am very excited to be first across the line in the Coffs 37th race".
About Time was followed across the finish line by Shakti a Rogers 46 skippered by Doug Coulter. Thirty minutes later Anger Management, a Corby 43, skippered by Phil Arnall crossed the finish line followed closely by Swish, a Kernan 44, skippered by Steve Proud and then Elena Nova, a Judel & Vorlijk 42, skippered by Craig Neil.
Anger Management, skipper Phil Arnall, was pretty happy being third across the line which put him in a great position to take out first place in both the ORCi and IRC divisions and second in the PHS division.
Phil said "it was a very good race, it was uphill all the way so the crew did a lot of hard work in terms of tacking and sailing the boat hard into the breeze. He said "after 10 years of competing in the Coffs race he was not tempted to go out wide to catch more wind and stuck to tacking up close to the shore".
On board Elena Nova was Martin Baum from Germany, representing the race sponsor Pantaenius Yacht Insurance. Martin said he was amazed at the beauty of the coastline and the wildlife after sighting, dolphins, penguins and even sighting a shark along the way. The Coffs Race is often called the 'rock hop' because boats tend to hug the coast line to get out of the strong current. Martin said "Its amazing. There is just one beautiful beach after another all the way up the coast. He said "Many times we were so close inshore to the beaches that he could hear the sound of the cicarda's chirping in the forests".
Visit the Coffs Race page on the RMYC website and view the official results for the 2017 Pantaenius Newport to Coffs Coast.