Cougar II

Anthony Lyall, a doctor at Beaconsfield in northern Tasmania, purchased this TP52 from Victorian Alan Whiteley in late November 2011, after racing his former yacht, Valheru, a modified Elliott 13, for some years. Lyall has been practicing in local waters and making a lasting impression in the Audi Showdown series. In November, he cut 22 minutes and 20 seconds from the 18 year-old Maria Island record of 19 hours 50 minutes set 18 years ago by the maxi ketch Tasmania and took the treble of record, line and overall honours.

In first Rolex Sydney Hobart hit-out with the TP52, Lyall took Cougar II to a good 11th overall and sixth in IRC Division 1. When owned by Whiteley, the yacht finished second overall in the 2008 Rolex Sydney Hobart, which shows she has the legs.

Earlier this year, Lyall made the long trek up to Sydney to campaign the boat in the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race, where she finished 24th overall. One of four Tasmanian entrants, and one of six successful TP52's, means she will have stiff competition from her own breed, not to mention the rest of the top boats entered in the 50-55ft range. Sailing under the burgee of the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, the race's finishing partner, Lyall will need to pull something special out of the bag.

Competitor Details