Formerly Gold Coast Express which, as a syndicate yacht, raced and won every race in her division in the 1980 Clipper Cup Series off Hawaii, Middle Harbour Express tried to emulate her performance of 1982 but was dismasted early in the series. She was designed to the old One Ton rule by Laurie Davidson, but she would find it hard to race against the modern crop of larger and more purposeful one tonners. She will find it harder still to stay in front of the nimble half and three quarter tonners in this Race.