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  • From Smuggler to Min River | Meet the 2025/26 Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore Competitors

From Smuggler to Min River | Meet the 2025/26 Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore Competitors

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  • 18 Sep, 2025 01:35:00 PM
From Smuggler to Min River | Meet the 2025/26 Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore Competitors

From Smuggler to Min River | Meet the 2025/26 Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore Competitors

It’s that time of the year again – block entries are officially closed for the 2025/26 Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore. There are 37 block entries and 39 yachts entered in this weekend’s Flinders Islet Race.

The pointscore consists of six offshore races which are the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast (384nm), Flinders Islet (88nm), Tollgate Islands (260nm), Bird Island (83nm), Cabbage Tree Island (172nm) and Rolex Sydney Hobart (628nm) races.

Meet the yachts that are predicted to make waves on the racecourse and battle it out for the highly sought after title – 2025/26 Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore champions.

Can Smuggler Retain its Title?

Seb Bohm’s JV TP52 Smuggler is back. After years of commitment and focus, the Smuggler crew lifted the 2024/25 Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore trophy for first place Overall. This came off the back of a steamer of an offshore season where the yacht landed on the podium for four of the six Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore races.

Bohm’s ambition extends beyond the 2025/26 pointscore, with aspirations to win the 80th Rolex Sydney Hobart.

“We obviously want to win the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race, that is the jewel in the crown of ocean racing worldwide,” Bohm said.

So far, it seems that the yacht is headed in the right direction. Smuggler, helmed by Tim Davis, placed first in the opening race of the 2025/26 Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore – the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race (July 26).

But there’s no room for error when you’re up against competitors like Rob Appleyard’s Reichel/Pugh 69 Moneypenny. The WA entry, formerly owned by offshore veteran Sean Langman, won the start of the 2025 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast. Its slick black hull led the fleet for majority of the work to Sydney Heads until it was overtaken by the Maxi Wild Thing 100.

Unfortunately, Moneypenny was forced to later retire due to hull damage. But she’s fixed and raring to go for the remainder of the pointscore.

In an interview with CYCA Media earlier this year, owner/skipper Appleyard said: “Moneypenny has a good record so far. So hopefully we can keep up the boat’s reputation.

“We’re sailing to win.”

And who could forget Anthony and David Johnston’s Reichel/Pugh Maxi 72 URM Group. The 2023/24 Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore champions are back, following their untimely dismasting in the 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart.

Regulars Return

What would an Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore be without Richard Hudson’s Pretty Woman? The IC 45 MOD has been an Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore regular for years. The 2022 Ocean Racing Veteran of the Year will no doubt have his eyes set on improving upon second on IRC Overall and second in the IRC Corinthian Division in the 2024/25 Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore.

Another familiar face is Double Handed entry Jiang Lin’s Min River. The JPK 10.30 placed first on IRC in Division 2 and in the Double Handed Division of the 2024/25 pointscore. Joining Lin for this weekend’s Flinders Islet Race is one-half of Disko Trooper_Contender Sail Cloth – Jules Hall. Hall’s usual Disko Trooper_Contender Sail Cloth co-skipper Jan Scholten joined Lin for the 2025 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race where they placed fourth on Double Handed IRC.

Other Double Handed entries to keep an eye out for include Edward Curry-Hyde’s Sun Fast 3300’s Toucan. Toucan won the Double Handed Division of the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast but won’t be competing in Flinders Islet Race. And then there’s the J/99s, which are Paul Beath’s Verite, Chris O’Neill’s Blue Planet, Rob Frayne’s J/99 The Gaffer, Ian Smith’s Jupiter and Shane Connelly’s Rum Rebellion.

“Newbies”

For the first time Ronald Epstein’s JPK 11.80 Bacchanal has entered all six races of the Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore. The US entry has a lot going for it. It most recently placed second on IRC Overall in the 2025 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast.

Bacchanal’s fellow Noakes Sydney Gold Coast competitor First Light has also entered the pointscore.

Skipper/owner Elizabeth Tucker was blown away by her and her crew’s amazing Noakes Sydney Gold Coast result. The Class 40 placed second on IRC Division 1. Tucker said she was not sure First Light could replicate the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast results for the rest of the pointscore.

Unfortunately, her budget does not extend to new sails that would give the yacht a competitive edge and, she added, the prime wind conditions for First Light are “limited”, but the yacht“absolutely flies” in 20-knot reaching conditions.

“We’re probably not going to get a good IRC result Overall but that doesn’t mean we can’t try,” Tucker said. “The Noakes Sydney Gold Coast shows us that with the right conditions we can do well.”

Peter Vanderwal and Shane Diethelm’s Sumatra also had a blinder of a Noakes Sydney Gold Coast. The Swan 48, comprised of a “rag tag bunch of mates” according to Vanderwal, placed first on PHS Overall and PHS Corinthian after they took a “massive risk” and chose the offshore route.

The Sumatra crew has set their benchmark for the remainder of the season. The pressure is on to top the scoreboard for the five remaining races. Their first test is this weekend with the Flinders Islet Race, which kicks off from Sydney Harbour on Saturday 20 September at 1000hrs.

Blue Water Sunday Sessions

After each Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore race, keep the energy going with this get together for the whole Club! All Members and guests are welcome to join crew and owners, enjoy live music and catch up with fellow sailors over a well-earned drink.

Along with the race results, there will be Beer and Pizza Prize Draws throughout the afternoon.

Whether you’re swapping race tactics, sharing a few laughs, or just soaking in the atmosphere, this is the perfect way to unwind and celebrate together.

 

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