The 2024 SOLAS Big Boat Challenge, the final race of the One Circular Quay Australian Maxi Championship, has lived up to its name yet again.
It was bound to be an eventful race with a fleet of eight top-of-the-range maxis and mini maxis battling it out in 15-20 knot southerly winds with gusts up to 30 knots.
Wild Thing 100 had a glamour start. Grant Wharington’s 100-footer with her short rig still intact, powered over the start line towards the pin end, followed by Matt Allen and James Mayo’s Master Lock Comanche and Christian Beck’s LawConnect. Not long after the start, the fleet hoisted their spinnakers en route for the top mark at Cannae Point, Manly.
On Wild Thing 100’s strong start, Master Lock Comanche’s Mayo said, “We’re not surprised by its downwind speed. It lights up.”
Master Lock Comanche soon took a small lead over Wild Thing and held on to it to the mark at Manly. The 100-footer rounded the Cannae Point mark in first place, followed by LawConnect in second and Wild Thing 100 in third – the latter two approaching the mark side by side.
“We had a good start,” Wharington said. “Unfortunately, we need 20-knots to do well upwind. But we are encouraged by our performance today.”
The fleet rocketing off the start Photo: Andrea Francolini
Wild Thing 100’s mast is smaller compared to its maxi competitors – it is the same rig it wore as an 80-footer before Wharington lengthened the yacht to 100 feet. Despite that, the Queensland yacht still enjoyed a stellar performance, reaching boat speeds of up to 29-knots.
“The first downwind today was fantastic,” Wharington said. “[Master Lock Comanche and LawConnect crew] are the best sailors in the world. There are lots of manoeuvres, especially on a short course, anything can go wrong. We were just off Comanche at the first mark with Law Connect.
“We love this race, it’s always enjoyable,” Wharington ended.
From the Cannae Point mark, the fleet worked their way up to Shark Island (Rose Bay), reached back to Cannae Point and then another upwind to Shark Island, followed by a tight reach to the finish line off the Sydney Opera House.
On the upwind legs, Master Lock Comanche and LawConnect got away from Wild Thing.
LawConnect, which took Line Honours in last year’s SOLAS Big Boat Challenge, didn’t go down without a fight. Christian Beck’s 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Line Honours victor, was on Master Lock Comanche’s tail on the first upwind to Shark Island.
LawConnect’s sailing master, Tony Mutter, is feeling hopeful after their performance.
“I thought we got round the track better than [Master Lock Comanche] did, once we got going,” Mutter said. “I thought they would be faster than what they were.
“Our crew work went well; we pride ourselves on that. For us it’s the biggest thing we can do, is make sure the crew work is good, especially for the [Sydney] Hobart.”
Wild Thing 100 approaching the finish line Photo: Andrea Francolini
Master Lock Comanche responded by covering LawConnect. It worked – the team, who on the weekend won the 172 nautical mile Cabbage Tree Island Race on both Line Honours and Overall, had a near perfect sail and extended their lead over LawConnect. They stormed across the finish line to finish 54-seconds ahead of their rival.
This was Master Lock Comanche’s co-skipper, James Mayo’s, first ever Big Boat Challenge, and he couldn’t be happier.
“I’ve been watching [the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge] for 30 years,” Mayo shared. “I loved it (the race today) – how could you not. This was the most spectacular big boat day I’ve seen.”
The SOLAS Big Boat Challenge is the last time we will see the maxis battling it out on the water ahead of the 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, which starts on Boxing Day at 1pm.
“The momentum on our boat continues,” Mayo said. “We had no stuff ups, we’ve got more confidence, a sense of belief in the boat and the crew, but it (Rolex Sydney Hobart) will all come down to the wire. And if it has enough downwind, Wild Thing will be there as well.”
LawConnect in hot pursuit of Master Lock Comanche - Photo: Andrea Francolini
