Rock Stars Make An Appearance at Airlie Beach Race Week

Tasmanians are leading the charge in Performance Cruising Division 2 at Airlie Beach Race Week. Brett Cooper scored a second place yesterday and backed it up with a win today with his and wife Jacinta's Melges 32, Crusader Clennett's Mitre 10.

Photo: Shirley Dodson

"The weather has been tailor made for the Melges. The beat from the start suited us, as was the reach to Pioneer Rock. We stayed in touch with the guys we had to beat, and then on the passage to the Molles we hung in with them,” Cooper said.

"We put the big A5 kite up and the breeze had moderated a bit, so that was perfect. We hedged a little and think we have more in the bag to offer. Twirler (Darren Jones) is arriving tomorrow and will do the rest of the week with us. He may re-cut our new sails when he's had a look."

The Tasmanian sailor says they are lucky to have any sails at all. 

"One set was in Townsville, another in Brisbane and the battens were in Sydney."

The rockstar crew includes Jones, a world champion one-design sailor; Stacey Jackson, a Volvo Ocean Racer and skipper of the all-women Wild Oats X boat that finished second overall in 2018 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race and Tassie offshore sailors Luke Watkins, Sam Tiedemann and gun foredeckie, Ben Archer.

"We couldn't do without him. Were very fortunate to have so many good people on board."

ABRW Media