Rockal Evans ticked another item off his bucket list on his debut competing in the largest offshore keelboat regatta in Australia.

The Bermudian was among the TP52 Matador, which finished runner up in the IRC Division 1 at the 2022 Audi Hamilton Island Race Week.

“It was definitely a bucket list regatta ticked off my list,” Evans told The Royal Gazette. “The race was super tight between the top four boats.

“Some races were four hours long and we still finished within minutes of each other. Most of the races were passage races around the Whitsundays Islands.”

Evans and his fellow colleagues were a model of consistency as they posted six top-three finishes in the seven-race series, including two firsts.

However, they were ultimately pipped by Max Klink’s Botin 52, Caro, for the title by two points.

Matt Allen’s Ichi Ban, the defending champion, rounded off the podium in third.

“The team was very pleased with the result we got each day,” Evans added. “To beat last year’s Sydney to Hobart winners, Ichi Ban, shows how great we sailed as a team and how well polished the programme Matador has put together.”

Another highlight for the multiple national champion was competing alongside compatriot and fellow grinder Mustafa Ingham on board David Doherty’s 52-foot yacht.

“Sailing with a fellow Bermudian was definitely one of the highlights for me,” Evans said. “It was good to catch up with him and chat about home on and off the water.

“My main role was forward-grinding pedestal, controlling the jib sheet and hoisting/dropping of the asymmetric spinnaker along with trimming the spinnaker.

“Mustafa‘s main role was aft grinding, pedestal controlling and trimming the main sheet and linking in to help with hoist, drops and gybes of the asymmetric spinnaker. The list is going on for both of us.”

The 36th edition of the championships was held from August 19 to 26 and hosted by the Hamilton Island Yacht Club.