Crew now the envy of the entire fleet
NOT many crews can say they’ve had the handicap measure of Wild Oats X, though Barry Cuneo’s Envy Scooters can now be added to an exclusive list after earning the pinnacle of the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race silverware this week.
The Queensland-based TP52 crew, who all compete in other classes and typically train the day prior to the start of each major ocean race, are now the toast of the Coast.
They were the first TP from the 11 competing in the 384-nautical-mile race, sailing into the IRC overall top spot on Tuesday not long after line honours winner Wild Oats X.
Pushing them all the way from the Sydney Harbour start on Saturday was Matt Allen’s Botin 52 Ichi Ban, which finished second TP over the line and second on IRC overall results.
Third on corrected time was Sam Haynes’ TP52 Celestial. Cuneo attributes Envy Scooter’s winning run north to the experience of his closeknit crew, and meticulous preparation.
“The saying is ‘proper planning and preparation beats piss-poor performance,’’ he said.
“Conditions suited us – mostly 12 to 16 knots to a maximum 18 knots out of the south.
“We had very good intelligence on the weather, we made good decisions, and there were no breakages.
“We went out there and smacked it.”
The race marks stage two of four in Envy Scooter’s Sydney to Hobart preparations with the crew set to also compete in the Brisbane to Hamilton Island Yacht race tomorrow after also winning the Brisbane to Gladstone battle earlier this season.
“After we won the Brisbane to Gladstone I thought wouldn’t it be amazing, as an unrealistic goal, to win all four,” Cuneo said. “It’s seemingly impossible but we’ve started off pretty well.”
Cuneo’s crew included Kevin Costin, Stacey Jackson, Brian Donovan, Todd Anderson, Curtis Skinner, Stuart Skinner, Josh Topy, Lewis Brake, Alex Gough, Peter Elkington, Alexander Watson, Paul Hermann and Bianca Cook.
WE HAD VERY GOOD INTELLIGENCE ON THE WEATHER, WE MADE GOOD DECISIONS, AND THERE WERE NO BREAKAGES BARRY CUNEO