Engineering
Wild Oats X1 Record Ninth Rolex Sydney Hobart Line Honors Victory Overturned, Comanche Declared Winner
Hobart, Tasmania (December 28, 2017) – Congratulations to Jim Cooney and crew of Comanche for being awarded line honors and the new course record in the 2017 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race. It was a tremendous battle between Comanche and Wild Oats XI. We are hopeful to see many more in futures races. We also would like to congratulate and cheer on all the crews who battled for the Tattersall Cup. Without these competitors the race would not be the spectacle that it is! Reichel/Pugh competitor’s included: the Oatley’s RP 100′ Wild Oats XI and RP 66′ Wild Oats X, Peter Harburg’s RP 100′ Black Jack, Bruce Taylor’s RP 40′ Chutzpah, and Tony Walton’s RP 46′ Hartbreaker.
Hobart, Tasmania (December 27, 2017) – Late Thursday evening, the 12-year-old Reichel/Pugh-designed 100′ Wild Oats X1 took line honors for the ninth time since launching in 2005. Wild Oats achievement was quite remarkable, having trailed Jim Cooney’s much newer Comanche much of the race they found plenty of speed in the windy downwind conditions and in the light air up Tasmania’s River Derwent. Wild Oats XI smashed last year’s record of one day 13hrs 31mins 20secs by after passing Comanche and crossing the Castray Esplanade finish line 26 minutes and 24 seconds ahead, in the new time of one day 8hrs 48mins 50secs, taking 4hrs 42mins 30secs off Anthony Bell’s Perpetual LOYAL’s record. This is a record ninth line honours for Wild Oats and a third record as nobody in the history of the race has achieved this honour before.
VIDEO | Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2017 – Downwind Class
Unfortunately, Wild Oats was involved in an incident of not keeping clear of her rival the 100’ Comanche exiting Sydney Harbour. Following a protest by the Comanche, an International Jury met on the 28th in Hobart and upheld the protest, imposing on Wild Oats X1 a one-hour penalty for failing to keep clear, stripping her of Line Honors victory allowing Comanche to secure the title.
“In the end, the race to be first home on the water came down to a single maneuver judged to have been mistimed. Yet to remember the Line Honors for this reason would be and injustice. This was yacht racing in its purest form. Man and machine against the elements in all their guises.” – courtesy of Rolex
Reichel/Pugh’s other 100’ design Black Jack, took 3rd overall after leading the fleet out of Sydney Heads. Black Jack was originally Alfa Romeo and launched in 2005 taking 2nd in line honors to Wild Oats that year. Alfa went on to huge success in Europe and came home to take line honors from Wild Oats in the 2009 Hobart Race, after setting a new course record in the 2009 Transpac race. Alfa was then sold to Europe as Esimit Europa which went on to dominate Maxi racing in Europe. She was this year sold to Australian Peter Harburg who renamed her Black Jack.
Black Jack leads out of Sydney Harbor on S2H 2017
Reichel/Pugh designs capped off a great year, our latest Wallycento design the 100’ Galateia won the Wally Class at the Maxi Rolex Cup in Sardinia and Galateia, and the 100’ Magic Carpet³ took 1st and 2nd place in the 2017 Wally Class Season’s Championship.For all information visit rolexsydneyhobart.com
More from The Guardian: “Wild Oats XI smashes record to win Sydney to Hobart race in thrilling finish”
source: Di Pearson, RSHYR media
image: Wild Oats XI was first across the line in battle on Derwent – ROLEX/Carlo Borlenghi
Wild Oats X1 built by McConaghy Boats, Australia
Alfa Romeo built by McConaghy Boats, Australia
Magic Carpet³ built by Wally Yachts, Italy
Galateia built by Green Marine, UK
REICHEL/PUGH’S HISTORY IN THE 630nm ROLEX SYDNEY TO HOBART BLUE WATER CLASSIC:
- R/P Yachts have won the Rolex Sydney-Hobart Race Overall (on handicap) in 2005, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014
- Since 1996 RP Maxis have taken Line Honors 11 times including a record four times in a row by 100’ Wild Oats XI in 2005-2008
- R/P designs have reset the course record three times in 1996, 2005 and 2012
- Wild Oats XI has taken Line Honors a record eight times in ten years (2005-2014)
2017 – 100’ Black Jack – 3rd in Line Honors – P. Harburg
2017 – 40’ Chutzpah – 3rd Division 2 (IRC) and 8th overall corrected time – B. Taylor
2017 – 66’ Wild Oats X – 4th Division 0 & 7th in Line Honors – The Oatley Family
2014 – 100’ Wild Oats XI – 1st to Finish and 1st Overall – B. Oatley – 8th Line Honors Win In 10 Years
2014 – 40’ Chutzpah – 1st Class 2 (IRC) and 2nd Overall corrected time – B. Taylor
2014 – 52’ Scarlet Runner – 1st Division 1 ORCi and 2nd Division 1 IRC – R. Date
2013 – 100’ Wild Oats XI – 1st to Finish – B. Oatley
2012 – 100’ Wild Oats XI – 1st to Finish & First Overall (Trifecta Win and Course Record Set: 1 day 18 hours, 23 minutes and 12 seconds) – B. Oatley
2012 – 63’ Mini Maxi LOKI – 2nd Overall & 1st IRC Division 1 – S. Ainsworth
2012 – 66’ Mini Maxi Black Jack – 3rd Overall IRC & 1st Overall ORCi – P. Harburg
2011 – 63’ Mini Maxi LOKI – 1st Overall – S. Ainsworth
2010 – 100’ Wild Oats XI – 1st to Finish – B. Oatley
2010 – 51’ Secret Men’s Business 3.5 – 1st Overall – G. Boettcher
2009 – 100’ Alfa Romeo – 1st to Finish – N. Crichton,
2009 – 100’ Wild Oats XI – 2nd to Finish
2008 – 100’ Wild Oats XI – 1st to Finish (Record 4th Consecutive Line Honors Win) – B. Oatley
2007 – 100’ Wild Oats XI – 1st to Finish – B. Oatley
2006 – 100’ Wild Oats XI – 1st to Finish – B. Oatley
2005 – 100’ Wild Oats XI – 1st to Finish & Overall Winner Corrected Time (Trifecta Win and Course Record Set: 1 d, 18 h, 40 m and 10 s) – B. Oatley
2005 – 100’ Alfa Romeo – 2nd to Finish & 2nd on Corrected Time in Fleet – N. Crichton
2002 – 90’ Alfa Romeo – 1st to Finish – N. Crichton
1996 – 80’ Morning Glory – 1st to Finish (Course Record Set: 2 d, 14 h, 7 m, 10 s) – Dr. H. Plattner
Tags: Line Honors, Line Honours, RSHYR, Wild Oats
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Reichel/Pugh Collaborates with Italian Builder Perini Navi for the 42m EVOLUTION Superyacht
The Perini Navi 42m Sloop introduces a number of innovative features to the market that will offer owners the perfect blend of sailing performance and offshore cruising capability amid spacious luxury. This yacht represents the next evolution of Perini Navi styling, building on the heritage of the brand and with a renewed emphasis on sailing performance. The Reichel/Pugh hull and appendage shapes have been developed using their latest knowledge in performance superyacht design and state-of-the-art design tools, including an extensive CFD program. This hull shape, combined with a finely tuned and well-proportioned sail-plan ensures the yacht will offer exceptional balance and seakeeping which Reichel/Pugh yachts are known for around the world. It is exciting for our design team to be collaborating with Perini Navi, who has such a great history of delivering quality superyachts with an impeccable finish and trusted strength.
Tags: 42m EVOLUTION Superyacht, Perini Navi
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An R/P Icon Relaunches: Introducing the new Black Jack 100
Following design modifications by Reichel/Pugh and McConaghy Boats to the new Black Jack’s hull, appendages and sail plan, the Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race in nine days will be their first critical test and tune up for the 2017 Sydney/Hobart. Behind the scenes, Peter Harburg’s Black Jack campaign, headed by Mark Bradford and Alex Nolan, is putting in thousands of hours of detailed preparation for the Rolex Sydney Hobart in December. Follow the launch at Black Jack Yachting with images in thanks to Andrea Francolini Photography. Read More …
Tags: Black Jack 100, Black Jack Yachting
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Modern Composite Materials
Many of the R/P team members are involved in their respective areas of expertise through local engineering communities and professional societies. Recently, R/P composite structures engineer Adrian Sawyer, SAMPE member since 2012, shared some of our work with his colleagues in the Southern California composites industry. An incredible testament to the strengths of modern composite materials, the recently-launched Baltic 130 Custom is made up of over 4 football fields worth of carbon fiber, but its structural weight is still less than 20% of the yacht’s full displacement.
130 demold pictured
photo courtesy of Baltic
Reichel/Pugh’s Iconic Design 146 Heads Home for a Major Revamp
OVER TEN YEARS AFTER LAUNCH R/P DESIGN 146 PREPARES TO TAKE ON THE 2017 ROLEX SYDNEY HOBART
built by McConaghy Boats, Sydney
The R/P team has been commissioned to update the new 100’ Black Jack and is currently conducting a comprehensive CFD study to develop new foils for the 2003 design. Modifications will be completed by McConaghy Boats, Sydney and the boat will compete in Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s July, 384nm Sydney-Southport race in full Black Jack livery as a tune for the December’s showdown to Hobart against Wild Oats X1 and other contesting Maxis’.
Originally commissioned by Neville Crichton, Reichel/Pugh’s first 100’, the canting ballast Alfa Romeo was designed in 2003 and launched for the 2005 Rolex Sydney-Hobart Race. Alfa Romeo 100 took 2nd place in that Hobart to Bob Oatley’s R/P-designed line honors winner Wild Oats X1. Alfa Romeo then headed to Europe to relentlessly set records before heading back to Australia in 2009, but not before setting a new Transpac Race record along the way. Once back in Australia, Crichton’s impeccably prepared Alfa Romeo again faced a rematch with her near sister-ship Wild Oats X1—this time soundly trouncing the Wild Oats for Hobart line honors in 2009.
These two Reichel/Pugh 100-footers dominated the Maxi scene for over a decade with Wild Oats taking line honors in the Sydney Hobart race a record 8 times, winning twice overall on corrected time and beating the course record twice.
After the 2009 Hobart race Alfa was sold to a European owner, renamed Esimit Europa and continued to dominated big boat racing in Europe for five years.
Australian, Peter Harburg has purchased the Esimit Europa to bring her home as his new Black Jack. Reichel/Pugh welcomes Peter back into the family, having owned the 66’ canting ballast pocket maxi Black Jack who took 3rd overall in the 2012 Sydney Hobart race and 1st overall ORCi.
The R/P design team is honored to be updating their design, which has dominated for so long. These designs are further proof of the innovation and longevity that comes with the R/P brand.
Photo credits / Guido Trombetta, Carlo Borlenghi, Andrea Francolini, Daniel Forster
Featured above / The Rolex Spirit of Yachting film featuring the 72nd Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is coming soon. This 25-minute documentary will cover the action, highlights and memorable moments of one of the world’s most respected and revered offshore races. Witness this record-breaking race from behind the scenes, with exclusive footage of the yachts in action and interviews with the key players. Fore more details visit: rolexsydneyhobart.com
Tags: Alfa Romeo, Black Jack, CFD, Crichton, Esimit Europa, Harburg, McConaghy, Rolex Sydney Hobart, RP100
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Newport Beach, CA (August 25, 2019) – Congratulations to Alec Oberschmidt and his team for the overall win (and B division win for the third year in a row) at the 2019 Long Point Race Week aboard their Reichel/Pugh-designed 50’ racer Staghound. David Clark’s ULDB 70 Grand Illusion with Reichel/Pugh-designed keel and rudder appendages was 2nd in ORR Division. Grand Illusion won the Transpac overall in 2015. 
Cowes, Isle of Wight (August 17, 2019) – Mark Rijkse’s Reichel/Pugh-designed GP42 42° South (ex-Seawonder 007) shone brightly at the 2019 COWES WEEK, scoring four bullets in six races to win Class IRC 0, winning the prestigious Brittania Cup and New York Yacht Club Challenge Cup in two of those races. 
A piece of Dr. Skip Sheldon’s legacy lives on as his 66’ racer-cruiser Zaraffa continues to win with the grateful U.S. Naval Academy Varsity Offshore Sailing Team.
As the 50th Transpac kicks off this week Reichel/Pugh wishes all owners and crews a safe race, especially our very own Naval Architect and Structural Engineer David Oliver who is navigator aboard the 60’ Good Call.
Porto Cervo (June 8, 2019) – The 12th edition of the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta was organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in the waters of Porto Cervo, Sardinia and hosted 20 boats ranging from 25 to 52 metres in length. Reichel/Pugh-designed 100’ Magic Carpet3, owned by YCCS member Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones, won Class “A” ahead of the 33-metre Inoui and the Wally 107 Open Season with a perfect scoreline across all three races. The Silver Jubilee Cup, assigned to the top yacht over 30 metres with an interior cruising set-up and in the division with the most competitors, also went to the WallyCento Magic Carpet3. Jim Pugh was apart of the racing team.
Ensenada, Mexico (April 28, 2019) – Congratulations to all competitors in the 72nd annual Newport to Ensenada (125nm). On the heels of its 2018 Sydney-Hobart victory, the Australian-based Reichel/Pugh 66’ Canting Keel Mini Maxi ALIVE (formerly Black Jack & Stark Raving Mad) earned the NOSA Trophy for overall best elapsed time, the Amigo Trophy awarded to a first-time skipper and the Lahaina Yacht Club Trophy for best elapsed time all PHRF. Congratulations to owner Phillip Turner, skipper Duncan Hine and the entire Alive Yachting team. 
RP100 Black Jack is Winner of 2019 Brisbane to Gladstone Line Honors and Four Cities Cup for best performing yacht.
St. Barths (April 21, 2019) — Launched in 2010, Les Voiles de St. Barth is an event created specifically to keep the long, colorful history of racing on the island vibrant — building on Loulou’s Regatta back in the 1970’s with its 100 sailboats to the Transat AG2R, the Route du Rose, and the St Barth Bucket Regatta. The 2019 regatta marked the 10th anniversary and fielded scores of teams across nine classes, despite the remaining traces of hurricane Irma, which ravaged the island in September 2017.