(Sydney, Australia)- On an uncharacteristic grey, rainy day with a
shifty 10-15 knot SSE wind, the two brand-new McConaghy Boats built
J/70’s, YKNOT and JAMES sailing in a mixed fleet, finished 1st and 3rd
in Div 2 of the 179th Sydney Harbour Australia Day Regatta held on 26th
January. The regatta is proudly acclaimed as the oldest continuously-conducted annual sailing regatta in the world, and has been conducted each year since 1837 to commemorate the anniversary of the first European settlement of Australia.
JAMES
took an early lead with the running start from Point Piper up the
harbour to the Obelisk mark, followed by a two-sail reach to Lady Bay.
On the beat back to Neilsen Park, YKNOT got ahead as the two J/70’s
threaded their way through the many fleets competing on the harbour.
JAMES and YKNOT traded places for the second lap of the harbour with
YKNOT coming out the better at the Shark Island mark for the last time,
and extending as JAMES got caught up with some larger yachts rounding
the same mark. YKNOT took the win with JAMES 3rd, split by a modified
30 footer.Steve and Sue from YKNOT had this to say about their first regatta win in their new J/70, “It was great to get the win after some tight racing with JAMES. We have been steadily improving since taking delivery of the McConaghy-built J/70 in October last year. Getting some time on the water and racing with other J/70s in this regatta and the recent Australian Sports Boat Association Nationals is really helping to tune the boat (and skipper and crew!). We are enjoying sailing the J/70 and racing with a great bunch of J/70 owners who have been happy to share their knowledge and get us up to speed.”
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