AUS Update- Brisbane to Noumea Leg Finishes

With Tilting at Windmills crossing the line at 1530 in what was a beautiful afternoon in Noumea, it brings a close the 2012 Sail Noumea Ocean Race for the Brisbane to Noumea leg which started at the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron.

This confirmed Matt Percy and his crew on Alacrity, the winning of the double. Line Honours and IRC Division. Alacrity winning on IRC corrected time by over 2 hours completing the race in 4 days, 15hours and 18 minutes from the local favourite 41SUD-Komatsu skippered by Jean-Luc Eplaas. Third place went to Blunderbluss from RQYS skippered by Tony Kinsman.

The PHC division brought someclose results with the two handed crew Marc Stuard and RIchard Combrink sailing their yacht Euphoria II to win the division over Lloyds Brokers Too Impetuous skippered by Rudy Weber. Rudy and his crew had a fantastic race giving the guys in the newer lighter 'faster' boats a run for their money, switching places for line honours throughout the race. Third place went to Matt Percy on Alacrity.

This year with two boats competing for the 2handed trophy, Bruce McKay and his crew Cronulla Sailing Club took advantage;of the light weight boat and its downwind speeds to cross the line in 3rd place overall. But with Marc Stuart fighting right through to the end, the 2 handed trophy this year goes to Eurphoria II for its handicap win over Wasabi on corrrected time of just over 19 hours.

In the cruising rally, two boats successfully competing the leg from Brisbane. ISIS X skippered by Nick Stump completed the leg quicker than the racing yachts but in different weather, to take the cruising division trophy for 2012 from Charlies Dream

RQYS would like to pass a huge thank you to all the members and staff at the CNC Yacht Club in Noumea. Their offering to help no matter what the problem is, whethers is 3am or 3pm has been fantastic and as all the sailors are saying- some of the friendlyest people to meet the end of a ocean race!