2014 AUDI IRC AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP IRC FLEET
From April 17 to 20, more than 30 yachts and crews will vie for the pinnacle of IRC handicap racing in Australia and the chance to hang aloft a new North Sails spinnaker emblazoned with “2014 Audi IRC Australian Champion”.
Among combatants this year are Bruce McCraken’s defending Audi IRC Div B champion Ikon from Hobsons Bay Yacht Club in Victoria, and Tassie’s Tony Lyall who crosses Bass Strait with his TP52 Cougar II.
Winner of last year’s TP52 Southern Cross Cup, Karl Kwok and his mostly Kiwi crew on Team Beau Geste will represent the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club and Matt Allen’s thoroughbred 60-footer Ichi Ban will be one to watch as the crew wrangle their new Carkeek design around the cans.
Australian and NZ based TP52s will join the national IRC fleet this year and there could be up to five TP52s among the Div A starters.
NCYC commodore Phil Arnall isn’t just looking on, either – he’s entered his Corby 43 Anger Management, albeit with one small obstacle.
“Following Coffs, our first race back at NCYC was the Australia Day regatta when we broke our mast,” said Arnall. “We are now looking at our options, but one way or another we’ll be on the start line.”
Visit ncyc.net.au for more information.