Geoff Boettcher's RP51 Secret Mens Business 3.5 Teri Dodds

Within two hours of winning the Lincoln Week Regatta, Geoff Boettcher’s Reichel Pugh 51 Secret Men’s Business 3.5 had left  from South Australia, making the trek to Sydney, for the Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta with the intent to hold his position as leader of the prestigious four-part Audi IRC Australian Championship.

Having come away with the top score from the first leg of the Championship at Audi Victoria Week in January, Boettcher and his crew returned to their home state to compete at Lincoln Week, which they wrapped up yesterday with two second places.

They are now doubling back for the 1,000 nautical mile delivery to Sydney for the regatta that will be staged on Sydney Harbour on March 6-7, and time is of the essence.

“Timing is critical,” said Boettcher. “If we get a blow we won’t make it.” Their ETA based on the forecast puts them into Sydney Thursday evening, leaving just one day to strip the boat of its cruising gear and get it ready for racing.

On his prospects at the Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta, Boettcher has no doubt. “We are playing hard. The boys are really fired up, but we are also aware it’s not our backyard.” To assist with local knowledge he has hired a couple of local guns including tactician Sean Kirkjian.

In the final race of Audi Victoria Week sailed on Geelong’s Corio Bay, Boettcher and his Secret Mens Business 3.5 crew had just one last chance to regain control of the lead in the Championship. Showing blistering boat speed thanks to recent modifications, their second place was enough to overcome Terra Firma to win the trophy.

The Audi IRC Series win at Geelong was the first break for Boettcher following a run of bad luck that looks to be finally turning around with this and yesterday’s grand prix IRC win at Lincoln Week Regatta.

Secret Mens Business 3.5 is the current Audi IRC Australian Championship pointscore leader on 1 point from Nicholas Bartel’s Sydney 47 Terra Firma (VIC) on 2 points while Canute, Peter Horn’s King 40 from New South Wales, the Division 2 winner at Audi Victoria Week, is third.

Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta is the second stage of the Audi IRC Australian Championship with the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Race in July the third and finally Audi Hamilton Island Race Week in August the decider.

By Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta Event Media