Past winners return for Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta

3:27 AM Wed 4 Mar 2009 GMT

'Audi Managing Director Joerg Hofmann (left) toasts Ben Nossiter (right) with his crew on winning the new Audi' Andrea Francolini / Audi &copy

Victory at a regatta where a luxury vehicle is the major prize is a very appealing inducement for yachties Australia-wide and numbers continue to grow since Audi became partner of Middle Harbour Yacht Club to present the Annual Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta.

Since the inaugural regatta in 2006, Audi has awarded six cars to winners of the Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta and a further two for the overall Audi IRC Australian Champion for 2007 and 2008.

On the second weekend of March, competitors will battle it out to win the brand new Audi Q5 compact SUV, amongst them, many winners of previous Audi Sydney Harbour regattas.

The Audi Q5 compact SUV is new to Australia having only been seen some five days ago at the Melbourne Motor Show. 'The Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta is the 'Opening Weekend' for Audi Q5.

2006 - Inaugural Audi winner

Howard Piggott was the inaugural winner a stunning Audi A4 Avant in 2006 after a divisional win on his Beneteau 36.7 Cloud IX - and taking out the Audi Final Challenge.

'I won a grey Audi A4 Avant - it was on display at Middle Harbour (Yacht Club) during the event, I remember checking it out and hoping.. I drive it everywhere and drive the boat gear around in it. The A4 has all the bells and whistles. It's a great little car and I'm still enjoying it, says Piggott, from the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.'

This year he is back with his Beneteau 34.7, Brilliant, which he sailed at the Regatta last year. 'We are prepared. We've raced all through summer and we're currently leading IRC Division C in CYCA's Short Ocean Pointscore. We enter all our races to win, so the boat is always well prepared,' he said.

2007 Two Audi winners

At the 2007 Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta, CYCA member Alan Kendall was the overall divisional winner of PHS Division 1 with his Beneteau 42.7, Talon, and went on to win the Audi Final Challenge at Eastern Creek Raceway to claim his A4 Avant.

Audi's Managing Director Joerg Hofmann announced Kendall's prize and handed over the keys to a brand new Audi A4 Avant. As a major supporter of sailing in Australia, Hofmann is always keen to reward success in keelboat racing, citing this as a great link to the Audi brand's competitive spirit.

Steven David (Wild Joe) won the Audi A3 Sportback. His name was drawn out of a hat, lottery-style, at the 2007 prize giving - another spur of the moment decision by Audi's Joerg Hofmann, to encourage a record number of entries for the 2007 Regatta. David could not, and would not, believe his luck.

'I couldn't make the prize giving, so some of my crew went along to represent me. One of them, Josh Whittaker, rang to tell me I'd won the Audi. I didn't believe him, so I rang Ian Smith and he confirmed it. I raced down to Flying Fish on Jones Bay Wharf where the prize ceremony was well underway.'

Originally, David, who cannot make the Regatta this year, said he would give the bright yellow car to his wife, but after driving it home, changed his mind: 'It's a great car. I sold my Jag and I drive my Audi. They make fantastic cars and they're great supporters of sailing. I'd love to have the new S5 Coupe,' he enthused.

Audi Managing Director Joerg Hofmann (left) with 2007 Audi car winner Brian Lees and his wife - Andrea Francolini - Audi &copy

2008 - Two more Audi winners

Middle Harbour YC member, Ben Nossiter, was the lucky winner of the A4 at the 2008 Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta. Nossiter's triple-Olympic son Anthony, or Nocka, as he is known, helped Dad to a win the Adams 10 division on Sirius, following up with success at the Audi Final Challenge.

As a member of the Australian Sailing Team, of which Audi is a sponsor, Nocka has driven Audi cars for a while and had his eye set on the prize, but Ben had other ideas.

'He thought he was going to get the car, but he had no chance. I love the car. I'm entered in the Regatta again this year and if I'm lucky enough to win a second Audi, then I might give him the car I won in 2007 and keep the new one for myself. We'll see,' Ben laughed.

Due to other sailing commitments, Nocka won't be around to help Ben out this year, but as a regular at Middle Harbour regattas, Ben feels confident of a good showing.

Ironically, a second Adams 10 owner from Middle Harbour YC, Brian Lees came up trumps in the lottery for the Audi A3 prize the same year.

Just prior to drawing Lees out of the hat, Joerg Hofmann said: 'The lottery is an extra incentive for yachts to compete for fun, even if they weren't likely to win their division. Every boat entered is in the draw for the car, so anyone can win.'

Lees says of his win: 'I had a Merc and I sold it when I won the A3. I'm really pleased with it. I was very happy to win it, believe you me. I haven't driven it out of the city yet, but I want to take it for a long run.'

'I've got a top crew organised this year and I bought new sails with the aim of winning the brand new Q5 SUV this time,' says Lees who has entered his Adams 10, Contentious, again.

Audi IRC Australian champions back

The two Audi IRC Australian Championship winners, Rod Jones (Alegria, 2007) and Peter Sorensen (Philosopher's Club, 2008) are going at it hammer and tongs again this year at the regatta.

Jones will front up again on his Archanbault 40 Alegria. However, Sorensen has been poached by decorated yachtsman Peter Hill to sail his new Beneteau 45 Ruth Magic to a regatta win and hopefully an Audi IRC Australian Championship win. Both are keen to be the first to win a second Audi.

Jones is leading the chase after winning Division 2 in the first leg of the Championship at Skandia Geelong Week. Sorensen finished runner-up. Both are convinced they will win.

Jones, who drove away in a brand new Audi Q7 SUV from Audi Hamilton Island Race Week's prize giving ceremony in 2007, says: 'I will be at Middle Harbour's regatta and my aim is to try to win. I want to be the first person to win a second Audi car - they're great cars.'

The agent for Archambault in Queensland, Jones' yachts are always kept up to scratch. He is back with his latest Alegria, an Archambault 40 launched last year. He and the crew have been doing some serious training in preparation.

Although it will be Peter Hill who will take the car away should they be the ultimate winners at the Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta, Sorensen, a hard driving skiff and sports boat name, is keen to see Hill, the father of Middle Harbour YC Commodore, Martin, drive away in the Audi.

'I said from the beginning that I bought my yacht (Philosopher's Club) with the express purpose of winning the series so I could win the Audi - I've been sold on them for a while now. I love driving around in the car and I'd love for us to win another one - and that's what I'm going for,' says Sorensen, who helms Ruth Magic for Hill.

Sorensen said that some modifications have been made to the boat to make her faster in the light airs. 'We will be competitive at the Regatta, I can assure you of that,' he said.

Middle Harbour Yacht Club's (MHYC) Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta 2009 will be held this weekend, 7-8 March.

by Di Pearson

Click on thumbnails to enlarge and find more photos: