Hooligan, Swish and Infotrack podium in Pittwater Act 4

The 2021 MC38 season champion and home club team has taken their first scalp for 2022 on Pittwater by four points.

Marcus Blackmore’s Hooligan, sailing for the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, led the nine-boat fleet on day one and consolidated on day two, beating Steve Proud’s Swish and the Indy Beck skippered InfoTrack on overall points. 

“The racing was awesome; the level is as high as it’s ever been,” said Hooligan’s tactician Ben Lamb.

Five different winners from seven races and the victor of last month’s Act 3 placing seventh overall shows how quickly results can flip in this class.

Act 4 Full results

Sunday recap thanks to Tilly McKnight Media

On their success Lamb added: “We’ve been sailing as a team for a long time on various boats and it feels like we are a real unit. Marcus did an excellent job driving and leading us this weekend – it’s a pleasure to be on board.”

Saturday’s gusty 15-23 knot winter sou’westers marked Ian Box’s helming debut in the tightknit one design class. Thor’s owner Matt Hanning had work commitments so Box, owner of the Middle Harbour-based XP44 Toy Box 2, stepped in.

“It’s a fun boat to sail - very physical. You need the right team,” Box said. “Yesterday we had plenty on while today was a whole lot easier – and I liked the nice flat water of Pittwater,” added the yachtsman who is more familiar with the swell and chop of Sydney Harbour.

Two MC38s fell foul on Saturday including Thor, a race three withdrawal after their mast was over-jacked.

Shaun Lane and Quentin Stewart’s Lazy Dog retired from race two after losing their hydraulic mast jack, which also sprayed oil around the boat. “We had to bail out of that race and set up a jury rig, then we couldn’t get full tension in the rig so we just hung in there for the rest of the day,” Lane said. “It was fixed overnight and we picked up boat of the day on Sunday. We worked hard for that result – it wasn’t a gift. The fleet is so compressed.”

Proud’s second-placed Swish team, with Billy Sykes calling tactics, is the benchmark for upwind speed according to Lamb. “Swish is sailing really fast and their set-up and upwind boat speed is impressive. Our next goal is to match them upwind.” 

Sunday’s cool 6-10 knot southerlies changed the pace for the strong fleet but not the never-ending fight for placings. An incident at the top gate in the final race saw Ginger’s bow sprit end up in Rapid Pay’s cockpit, the two boats tangled briefly until crews separated them. Ginger was fouled by umpire Tom Spithill.

Middle Harbour Yacht Club will host Act 5 of the MC38 season July 23-24 on Sydney Harbour before some of the fleet are trucked to the Whitsundays for Hamilton Island Race Week, August 20-27.

The class’s championship series will then resume from Middle Harbour Yacht Club the weekend of September 17-18.

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MC38Class
Insta: @mc38aus
Website: https://mc38racing.com/

Lisa Ratcliff - Australian MC38 Association media

Photos by Tilly McKnight Media...

Read more: Hooligan, Swish and Infotrack podium in Pittwater Act 4

MHYC Senior Members Lunch

After a wait of 3 long years, last Sunday MHYC members who have been members of our club for 20+ years were eventually able to catch up once again.

Everyone agreed it was a fun day and the new caterers did a fantastic job providing us with a delicious 3-course meal that (currently) they had to cook at one of their other venues. I am looking forward to eating at the club again, when the new kitchen facilities open up.

As always, we present MHYC badges to those that reach another decade of membership. This had to be backdated for the last 3 years to catch up since our last Senior’s Luncheon in 2019. Next year we will also need to purchase a 70+ badge for the longest member at our club William Regan.

We recognised the 25 longest members of our club, 12 of which attended the luncheon. I was able to catch up with 3 more at the Cruising dinner function on Monday night and have inserted their photos.

We usually have a guest speaker, however this year it was a little different, we looked at historical changes to our yacht club premises since its beginning. Our Commodore, Peter Lewis gave a sneak preview of proposed future changes. A more detailed report will be presented at the AGM.

Numbers were down this year due to late notice, the ongoing COVID/Flu problem, and people escaping the cold weather, however, I feel confident that we will be back to normal next year. I really want to encourage more of our younger 20+ members (there were 45 members this year) to get involved and come along and possibly reunite with old friends.

Read more: MHYC Senior Members Lunch

MHYC 2022 Winter Education Program

The quieter, cooler months is a great time to refresh your knowledge and skills in preparation for the coming summer season.  MHYC has scheduled a series of evening presentations, along with some daytime practical sessions, designed to inform and educate keelboat owners and crews as well as our race management officials and volunteers.

Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to let us know if you would like to attend any of the sessions below…..

Keelboat Sailing Information Program

Race Officials & Volunteers Education Program

To register for the Club Race Officer Course on August 3 & 10 - click here

There are a variety of accredited courses delivered by Australian Sailing and other providers for Race Officials & Volunteers.  These include Protest Committee Member, Regional Judge, Umpire, State or National Race Officer, Official Class Measurer, Radio Operator, Powerboat Handling and First Aid etc.  If you would like more information, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Read more: MHYC 2022 Winter Education Program

Christmas in July

The last MHYC Feature Race for the 2021-22 season, Christmas in July, was sailed on Saturday in a light north-westerly.  It was also the finale of the Beneteau Race Series.  As the breeze failed fill in as forecast, the fleet completed a shortened course. 

First home in Division 1 was Jack Stening & Colin Gunn’s Stormaway, just half a boat length ahead of Georgia Express (Andy Forbes) with Contentious (Brian Lees) third.

Neil Padden’s Wailea claimed the Beneteau Division win from Farr’n Away (Graeme Lee) and Currawong (Graham Raspass).  With two wins and a second place in the three race Beneteau Series, Wailea finished 6 points clear of Freedom (Steve Smith) with Farr’n Away third.

To view the Christmas in July results – click here

To view the Beneteau Race Series results – click here

Read more: Christmas in July

Winter Pursuit Race 2

Eight yachts competed in todays Winter Pursuit Race. It was a clear day with a tricky westerly breeze, with some spinnakers used successfully and some not at the start.   

Bob Cox came in first place on Nine Dragons, and an extremely close finish for the next three yachts, one second apart finishing in a tricky light breeze at the club house. Second place Wailea (Neil Padden), third place Stormaway (Jack Stening and Colin Gunn), followed by Dania (Peter Charteris) also just one second away.

For Full Results click here

Read more: Winter Pursuit Race 2

Sprints in the Winter Sunshine

After a very gloomy couple of weeks, the sun was shining and a moderate south westerly made for some very enjoyable sailing on Saturday.  Races 5 and 6 of the Winter Sprint Series were sailed from Spring Cove toward Middle Head.

Tracy Richardson and the crew of Artemis were fast out of the blocks, winning the first race from Stormaway (Jack Stening & Colin Gunn) and Dania (Peter Charteris).  With Artemis retiring from the second race with a broken backstay, another Adams 10 rose to the challenge.  Brian Lees’ Contentious took the win – again from Stormaway and Dania.  Many thanks to RO Toby Gursanscky and the Race Management Team for some great racing.

Next Saturday, July 16, is the Christmas in July Feature Race.  Let the Sailing Office know if you are sailing (spinnaker or non-spinnaker) and dig out your Santa Hat and Christmas Costume.

For the Winter Sprints Results - click here

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Welcome to Winter Feature Event

It was a glorious sunny day for the start of the Welcome to Winter Feature Event today, in a light westerly breeze. A small fleet headed out on Course one for a downwide start with Contentious getting the gold star for the best kite hoist for the handfull of spectators watching onshore at Clontarf Beach.In Division 1 Jack Stening was first across the line on  Stormaway followed by Georgia Express (Andy Forbes) in second and Tempo (Michael Smith) in third place.In Division 2 Brian Lees got the gun on Contentious followed by Innaminka who took this opportunity to share around the helm with all the crew!. 

For full results click here    

Read more: Welcome to Winter Feature Event

Combined Clubs Prizegiving

The prizegiving for the 2021-2022 Sydney Harbour Combined Clubs Summer Series was held at Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron last night.  Congratulations to the MHYC boats on the winners podium:

• Advanced Philosophy (Peter Sorenson) – Division 1 IRC 2^nd
• Innamincka (John Crawford) – Division 3 ORC 1^st
• No Friends (Geoff Charters) – Division 2 PHS 3^rd
• Rumba (Rob Carr) – Division 2 PHS 1^st, IRC 3^rd
• Wailea (Neil Padden) – Division 2 ORC 2^nd, IRC 2^nd

To view the series results – click here

Read more: Combined Clubs Prizegiving

MHYC Annual Presentation Night

The MHYC Annual Presentation Night was held on Saturday the 14th May for the 2021-2022 season. Skippers and crew got together for a night of celebration in the Harbourview Room overlooking the Marina on a star lit night.

Trophies were awarded and achievements recognised across the Offshore and Inshore Divisions, Cruising and Twilights Series including Women's Helm.  The hard work of volunteers, committee members and staff was recognised along with the wonderful support of the club's sponsors. 

A number of special awards were announced, including Crew Member of the Year awarded to Matthew Miles, a regular sailor on Innamincka, Waterborne Again and Kaotic and the MHYC Flag Officers Participants Award for the MHYC Yacht having participated in the greatest number of MHYC Events in the Winter and Summer Seasons going to Neil Padden on Wailea for the second year in a row.

The R.B. Cooper Perpetual Award for Voluntary Service is presented to a Club Member whose outstanding voluntary service is deemed to have contributed most to the affairs and wellbeing of MHYC in a membership year was a very popular winner this year being presented to Marg Fraser-Martin by MHYC Chairman Special Events Ian Box. Marg's images capturing the club’s broad range of on-water activities rolled across the screen during the evening and have populated our Facebook posts, website and publications across the year.

The Norman G. Booth Trophy (nominated for consistent racing with the MHYC and with emphasis on enthusiasm, improvement, sportsmanship and Clubmanship throughout the season) is to be awarded at a later date.

The very special Tig Thomas Memorial Trophy to recognize MHYC members who have competed in interclub events

and major championships was this year awarded to youth sailor Will Wilkinson for his many achievements racing the Optimist.

Also this year we crowned the inaugral 'Jule's Trophy' for MHYC Yachtswoman of the Year trophy to Tracy Richardson.

For a full list of Perpetual Tropy Winners click here

Congratulations to all of our winners!

Read more: MHYC Annual Presentation Night