| SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA-(7-7-2004) The new `kids on the block` for this year's Ingles Sydney Gold Coast Race will be three generations of the Victorian Troon family and their `straight out of the box` Reichel Pugh 46 called XLR8, which was launched just two weeks ago.
The Troon family has been sailing out of Royal Geelong Yacht Club for 18 years. Father Graeme has spent 64 of his 74 years racing boats and he project managed the construction of this all-carbon fibre 46-footer that was designed by Jim Pugh in the United States and built by Hart Marine in Mornington, Victoria.
Sons Ross, 49, Steve, 47, principal helmsman Michael, 36, and grandson James, 20, will join their father for XLR8's inaugural ocean race. Graeme and all three sons also work for the 134-year-old family commercial construction business H. Troon Pty Ltd.
`We knew where the gaps were after racing at last year's Hamilton Island Regatta on our 36-footer and as a family, we decided then we'd have a red hot go at designing and developing a very fast IRC racer,` says Steve Troon.
Sydney Hobart Race veteran Ross Lloyd from North Sails has been the driving force behind the boat's technology and he will join the crew for the 19th annual Ingles Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race and Hamilton Island Race Week where they are hoping to clean up on IRC handicap.
Sporting an imported keel with a trim tab and a Southern Spar mast, XLR8 is 100 percent carbon fibre with a minimal internal fit out for the best IRC rating.
International yachtsman Peter Dorean will also join the crew for the race to warmer waters at the end of this month once he's finished his stint as the sailing master on board Hasso Plattner's latest maxZ86 Morning Glory.
The remaining crewmembers hail from Ballarat where the Troon boys grew up sailing dinghies on the local lake. From there they began making the 1-hour journey to Geelong to venture into various classes including racing a Bull 9000 against CYCA Director Rod Skellet for many years.
Weather dependent, XLR8 will leave Sandringham Yacht Club this weekend for the Cruising Yacht of Australia in Sydney where she is expected to compete in the remaining two BMW Sydney Winter Series races for some vital last minute fine-tuning before the start of the 384 nautical mile season opener on July 31 at 1.00pm from Sydney Harbour.
The CYCA's Sailing Office has received a second Victorian entry, Grant Wharington's line honours favourite Skandia, also built by Mal Hart Marine.
Entries for this year's Ingles Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race close July 15 and the CYCA expects a late rush of applications next week will bring the total number of entries close to the 70 mark.
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