Since arriving from the USA 16 months ago, Cougar II has enjoyed a relatively successful season with podium finishes in nearly every Victoria regatta and most recently taking the big one at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, winning the hotly contested grand prix division. The boat also finished third in the Audi Australian IRC Championship.  Alan and the crew now have unfinished business in the Rolex Sydney Hobart from which they were forced to retire from a front running position in 2007, due to a fractured chain plate.  A full season of experience with the boat and a selection of new sails for the race should certainly put Cougar II in a competitive position once again.  Cougar II will also enjoy close racing with an even larger fleet of new 50-footers in this year’s Hobart Race.  Alan hopes they can improve on the 2005 Sydney Hobart result with his smaller boat, also name Cougar, when they finished 2nd in class.

Name Cougar II Race name Cougar II Launch year 2005 Sail number SM 5200 Owner Alan Whiteley Skipper Alan Whiteley (2) Sailing master P Williams (11) Crew P Milne (7), M Wilson (2), S Whiteley (1), J Mackay (1), D Heller (1), A Cole (6), R Leaper (7), B Kellet (8), J Davis (1), J Marshall, C Nolan Club Sandrigham Yacht Club State VIC Type TP 52 Designer Farr Builder Cooksons Construction Carbon LOA 15.85 Beam 4.41 Draft 3.28

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