Wedgetail

Bill Wild returned to ocean racing with Wedgetail last year after an 18-month hiatus from the sport and immediately reaped rewards, securing line honours and finishing second overall to Syd Fischer’s TP52 Ragamuffin in this year’s Pittwater to Coffs Harbour race. The Queenslander went on to finish fourth on line and second in IRC Division 1 of the Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race in July and it was enough to convince Wild to give the Rolex Sydney Hobart another crack. However Wedgetail’s fortunes changed as she was dismasted off Tasman Island in gale force conditions.

Taking ownership of Wedgetail, originally known as Yendys, in 2010, Wild sailed her in the Rolex Sydney Hobart that year and finished ninth on line, sixth overall and third in IRC Division 1. The custom Reichel/Pugh 55 has an impressive race record including podium places in the Rolex Trophy Series and the Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race. In the Rolex Sydney Hobart, scored a sixth in IRC Division 1 in 2009, sixth IRC overall and first in Division 1 in 2006 and scored a Division 1 third in 2007. Wild’s previous Wedgetail, the Welbourn 42, also had a strong offshore race record, including sixth overall in the 2005 Hobart wins and places in the majority of offshore races.

Competitor Details