David Doherty’s Matador and Karl Kwok’s Beau Ideal claimed major divisional honours at the LGT Wealth Management Australia Cup, concluding a 12-race series on Sydney Harbour on Sunday, 1 November. The event, organised by the Australian TP52 Sailing Association and hosted by the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, featured 16 Grand Prix teams racing across five days.
The regatta included weekday twilight races, a Friday passage race, and a full weekend of windward-leeward racing. With no discards, every result was crucial across the series.
Matador excelled in both the TPR and IRC TP52 categories, while Beau Ideal dominated the Super 40 standings across SFR, IRC, and ORC, achieving a perfect record of 12 wins from 12 races in IRC.
Matador finished the series with results of second, first, and first in Sunday’s races, totalling 19 points under both TPR and IRC systems. The TP52 secured nine race victories, adding the Australia Cup titles to its earlier wins in the 2026 Pallas Capital Gold Cup.
Owner-skipper David Doherty reflected on the team’s performance, noting the initial challenges of integrating new crew members but acknowledging their strong performance once they gelled. He expressed satisfaction with the regatta’s results, despite a few races being given away.
Virago secured second place overall after winning Sunday’s opening race and finishing second in the next two, concluding with 30 points on TPR and 27 on IRC, while Matador’s winning margins were 11 points on TPR and eight on IRC. Highly Sprung, helmed by Mark Spring, completed the podium with third place on both ratings.
In the Super 40 division, Beau Ideal narrowly defeated Edge, finishing with 32 points, four ahead of the Dunning 44. Beau Ideal’s Sunday performance included finishes of third, second, and third, while Edge won races 10 and 12.
Five boats secured race victories across the week, showcasing the competitive nature of the fleet. Chris Dare’s Ambition had a strong showing on Sunday, lifting from sixth to fourth overall.
Beau Ideal achieved a clean sweep on IRC with a total of 12 points, well ahead of Edge and Ross Hennessy’s Condor. Under ORC, Beau Ideal also completed 11 wins from 12 races.
With Gavin Brady at the helm and Dean Barker on tactics, Beau Ideal’s performance followed its earlier successes in the Super 40 Gold Cup. Skipper Karl Kwok noted the enjoyment of the event and the quality of sailing conditions, highlighting the twilight racing format that he initially had doubts about.
Kwok expressed confidence in the team’s progress and their preparations for future races, including consideration for the Rolex Sydney Hobart. The event successfully brought together a diverse array of sailors, offering a varied programme on Sydney Harbour.
Full race replays, daily highlights, and interviews are accessible via the event website and TP52 Australia’s YouTube channel, featuring commentary from Nic Douglass, Peter Shipway, and Katie Spithill.
Watch the race replays: Sunday 1 November
Saturday 31 October, Part 1 | Saturday 31 October, Part 2.
Full results, replays and event coverage: www.australiacup.org
Source: Nic Douglass / @sailorgirlhq
#SailingAustralia #AustraliaCup #SydneyHarbour
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