The top two TP52s from the 2018 Australian Yachting Championships will be back to defend their place at the top of the class when the 2019 version commences on Port Philip Bay on 17 January. This year’s event will be hosted by the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron, and competition will be fierce with several other contenders now registered and ready to challenge.

Earlier this year Australia’s TP52 owners introduced a TP52 Australian Circuit that will take the fleet up and down the New South Wales coast, but Matt Allen (owner of Australia’s first built TP52, Ichi Ban) is encouraging the fleet to take the racing to Melbourne from 21 – 24 January.

Joining Ichi Ban is 2018’s runner up, Geoff Boettcher’s Secret Men’s Business, and Chris Dare’s locally owned boat, Ambition, already joining the event.

“The Bay” as it’s locally known can dish out varying and challenging conditions at that time of year, which can make for excellent competition. With seasoned teams out there like Syd Fisher’s Ragamuffin, 2015 Rolex Sydney to Hobart winner, Balance/Quest and Marcus Blackmore’s TP52 Hooligan it is sure to be a hot competition.

This year the Australian Yachting Championships will be flowing onto Royal Geelong Yacht Club’s Festival of the Sails which starts on Australia Day, 26 January 2019. With only one day apart boats travelling from interstate or overseas have the option of staying and competing in two premier events.

To make the 2019 event a true blue water competition there will be an additional layer to Division one which will include the score of the 2018 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. With nine TP52s already entered the flagship offshore event their scores will be included into the Australian Yachting Championships.

Photo: Andrea Francolini