Bar's Dry: Snow Gets Wind Up After Brindabella Smashes Race Record
Sydney Morning Herald
Monday August 2, 1999
Maxi yacht Brindabella turned in an astonishing performance in the Sydney to Southport race, smashing the race record by 3 1/2 hours.
The race began in the Harbour at 1 pm on Saturday and 386 nautical miles later, Brindabella stormed across the finishing line at 4.35 pm yesterday, three miles ahead of Wild Thing, which also bettered the previous record by about three hours.
The fast time showed the power of modern yachts when they have strong following winds.
After they finished, both yachts headed for the Southport marina but became stuck on sand when they tried to cross the bar.
They had to wait until high tide to get off and into harbour.
Brindabella's owner, George Snow, put out an urgent call for assistance, claiming he "was dying of thirst", and supplies were taken to the maxi as the crew waited for the tide to rise.
The leading boats had an incredible ride up the coast, pushed along by a building southerly which hit 35 knots for most of yesterday. Brindabella reported yesterday morning that it was averaging 15 to 17 knots and reaching speeds of 20 knots as it surfed down the waves.
The wind was expected to ease overnight, slowing the smaller yachts and giving Brindabella a chance to grab a rare line-honours and corrected-time double.
The strong wind took its toll on the fleet and there were several retirements with damaged gear, including Future Shock, skippered by David Witt, which lost its mast in the early hours of Sunday morning off Port Stephens. It was able to reach safety without further problems.
At the time, Future Shock held a narrow lead over Brindabella and Wild Thing.
Most yachts report shredding spinnakers in the strong winds.
The race was run by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia and was its first big event under the new safety regulations introduced after last year's fatal Sydney to Hobart race.
Rob Kothe, who lost his boat Sword of Orion and crewman Glynn Charles in the Sydney to Hobart storm, was in the Sydney-Southport aboard his new Sword of Orion. He had a trouble-free run up the coast, reporting that "conditions were superb".
© 1999 Sydney Morning Herald