A new campaign is joining the Pallas Capital Gold Cup fleet, with John Bacon’s Edge arriving in Australia ahead of the opening Act. The Dunning 44 brings with it a crew that includes several sailors from last season’s TP52 programs, enhancing the already competitive Super40 lineup.
Katie Spithill, who drove the Hooligan program at the final LGT Wealth Management Australia Cup event last season, has joined the team as the strategist. “Keen to get started,” said Spithill. “The boat was built here in Mona Vale at McConaghy’s and then went to the United States. John Bacon has brought her home after doing one regatta with the overseas team.”
With the programme still very new, the team is only just beginning to get familiar with the platform. “I can’t comment too much on the boat and its performance at this stage as I’ve only seen it in pictures,” she said. “We’re planning to get out for two days of sailing before the event to get more familiar with the boat as she is so new to us.”
Spithill also welcomed the continued growth of the Pallas Capital Gold Cup: “It’s great to see the Pallas Capital Gold Cup growing. Terry Wetton and Craig Neil have come up with a fantastic format, and it’s already shaping up to be a strong fleet on the entry list.”
The boat Edge was built by McConaghy Yachts in 2020 for a US owner. Bacon purchased the boat in 2022, with the team’s only event so far being the New York Yacht Club Race Week that same year. The yacht has now arrived in Australia and will make its local debut in the lead-up to the Pallas Capital Gold Cup.
“She’s brand new to the Australian circuit,” said tactician Darren “Twirler” Jones. “The boat arrived in mid February and our initial sailing will be the week before the first Super40 event.” With modifications made to the yacht since it last raced, the team expects a steep learning curve. “Time will tell,” Jones said. “Prep has gone well but we are in a little bit of uncharted water. Mods were carried out after NYYC Race Week that we haven’t had a chance to test yet, so to say we have plenty on is probably an understatement, with only a few of us having raced the boat before.”
The crew includes a diverse mix of experience and talent: “It’s a great team on board. A good mix of male and female sailors, pros and amateurs, blended with some great youth sailors.” For the team, the opening event will be as much about building systems as it is about results. “The first event is going to be a great challenge. Not only learning the yacht and what makes her tick, but also what makes us tick as a team and how best to utilise the skills on board,” Jones explained.
“It will be long days and longer nights analysing data and assessing our performance so we can set some solid team goals. No result goals as yet, but performance goals for sure.” Despite the learning curve, the team is eager to line up against what Jones believes could be one of the strongest fleets assembled in the country. “JB and the whole team are super excited and looking forward to lining up against what is probably the best performing 40 foot rating fleet ever assembled in Australia.”
The combination of proven sailors, crossover talent from the TP52 fleet and fresh programmes like Edge reflects the momentum building around the Pallas Capital Gold Cup. With the Super40 fleet taking shape alongside the TP52s, the series is quickly emerging as one of the most exciting and competitive rating battlegrounds in Australian sailing.
For more information on the Pallas Capital Gold Cup, visit www.GoldCupRegatta.com.
Image credits: Supplied by the Edge team
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