With just two days of competition left at the Silver Jubilee Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, it appears just two boats (both CYCA members) remain in the running to win the second Audi IRC Australian Championship – and a new Audi Q7 performance SUV.

Following yesterday’s divisional win in the Whitehaven Beach Race, Bob Steel’s TP 52 Quest is closing in on the pre-regatta favourite, Peter Sorensen’s Sydney 36CR, The Philosophers Club.

Less than one point separates the two Sydney boats. For Sorensen, a two-time 18 footer world champion, and his Middle Harbour Yacht Club crew to be beaten from here, they would have to finish runner up in the IRC Passage division and Quest, which is flying the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s burgee, would have to better their position in the IRC Grand Prix division 1 – but only by a small margin.

“With four firsts, we are looking pretty good. It would be hard to see us being beaten but stranger things have happened,” said Sorensen this morning.

However, Sorensen is not one hundred percent comfortable with the idea that the four part Championship series trophy is already his.

“There is so much at stake, the Audi Q7 and winning the IRC Australian Championship….I’m not comfortable that we are there yet.”

For Steel, his salvation and the ultimate prize could be realised if Sorensen finishes second in division.

“I’ve always wanted to own an Audi and my current car is due to be replaced but Sorensen is going to be hard to catch from here. He’s sailed such a great series,” praised Steel this morning.

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week regatta director Denis Thompson is watching the final points shuffle with great interest.

“Peter Sorensen has got one foot in the door but it’s too tight at the top to say for sure,” Thompson said today. “The Championship could still be won by Steel.”

The Silver Jubilee Hamilton Island Race Week is the deciding round of the four-part Audi IRC Australian Championship which began back in January with Skandia Geelong Week, followed by Middle Harbour for the Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta, and onto the CYCA for the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race.

The final results will be calculated on the highest scores from three of the four part Championship.

The Audi IRC Australian Championship is endorsed by Yachting Australia.