An eventful night at sea saw five retirees from Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race. Just before midnight, two boats added to the retiree list with Craig Ellis’ ‘Future Shock’, sailing in the shorthanded Division returning to Newcastle whilst ‘Imagination’, a Beneteau 47.7 retired to Port Stephens.
The first yacht to pull out was the Hick 35 ‘Brand X’ , after being dismasted when a heavy gust hit the fleet around 8pm south of Port Stephens. She headed back to Newcastle and is now safe in the Harbour.
Then followed ‘Wonderland’ with sail issues and ‘Katinka’ reporting steering damage. Both are safe in Port Stephens and Newcastle respectively.
Craig Eliis from ‘Future Shock’ reported that, “Unfortunately we got hit with a 35 knot gust, broke the mast head halyard letting our laminate kite go over the bow and underneath the yacht and of course around the keel, after about an hour all lines were cleared and we decided to head into Newcastle Harbour, one lumpy ride under motor.
