Wild Joe is one of the world’s fastest 60 foot sailboats, built by the Australian Azzura Marine boat factory in 2002, based on the design of the world renowned Reichel/Pugh design team. The boat was introduced in the offshore sailing circuit as the first boat with a collapsible kiel. Its first owner was Australian winemaker Bob Oatley, who intended to use the boat for quick family trips, however, only three weeks after its launch, Wild Oats (by its original name) proved to be so quick and maneuverable for racing purposes that its owner was able to beat larger boats with better performance capabilities in the handicapped roster (time-adjusted racing), such as Wild Thing or Alfa Romeo and captured a trophy at its very first regatta. Since then, the boat’s performance has been unbeatable and is today rated as one of the fastest sixty footer sailboats in the world, it possesses an outstanding IRC number, hence can achieve magnificent results in handicapped (time corrected) racing. Following a change of ownership, the boat received a new name, Wild Joe, since Oatley insisted in keeping the name of his boats intact and all his new boats were also designated Wild Oats. The name and ownership change did not interrupt the boat’s success series, and up to now, it holds the record at the Pittwater Coffs Harbour Race, a regatta at which it captured four IRC victories. It also came out on top at the Sydney Gold Coast IRC regatta, twice at Hamilton Island Race Week, and it proved to be the fastest boat at the Sydney-Moolooabah regatta as well. It primarily showed its capabilities at distant overseas regattas, but had multiplied wins at both in shore (close to shore), offshore, and long ocean racing events alike. At offshore, or open water races, the boat is guided by a 9-10 member crew, while at in shore, or close to shore races, such as the Rolex Capri Sailing Week, or the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, it typically needs 16 experienced sailors, so that the team can execute all necessary tasks at ease. The Hungarian team was able to acquire the legendary boat and would like to achieve respectable results at the most famous offshore cup racing events, at the Rolex Trophy, and by doing so, it aims to take a first step towards professional open sea team regatta sailing, so that it can pioneer the way for ambitious and proven domestic small boat racers towards this challenging and heretofore relatively scantly known, yet attractive and tough racing format.
Wild Joe Details
LOA: 18,50 méter
Beam: 4,01 méter
Draft: 4,10 méter
Weight: 9.900 kg
Material: Carbon Nomex
Sails: North Sails
Mast Height: 27,5 méter
Crew: 10-16 fő
Design: Reichel/Pugh
Builder: Azzura Marine
Year of lunch: 2002.
