Farr 40 One Design Trophy kicks off at CYCA
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This weekend’s crew declarations resembled a Hollywood all-stars party including the best of the best in the business with Tom Slingsby calling the shots on Bluetack, Will Ryan on Newcastle entry Good Form, Nathan Wilmot on Nutcracker and Tom Burton on Double Black, proving the stature of the class by the talent it continually attracts.
The CYCA dock was buzzing with the most Farr 40’s we’ve seen assembled in Sydney in over a decade. Teams were excited to be back at the home of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race for the first time in many years and the Class would like to thank the CYCA for their great hospitality and race management.
Boat of the day went to Class newbies Brent Lawson and Patrick Delany on Bluetack with Tom Slingsby as Tactician scoring 3.3.1.1 giving them a five point lead over Nutcracker in second place. Lawson and Delany reached the top of their game in the Adam’s Ten class before joining the Farr 40 fleet and both were pleased with today’s result in their maiden Farr 40 regatta.
“We had no expectations today. This was our first race in the fleet and clearly there is nothing wrong with the boat. It’s been a lot of work getting the boat ready and we are really pleased with the results. The wind was kind to us today. Every time we’ve gone out it’s been 25 knots, so today was generous with the wind. Tomorrow will be a bit stronger, which will be a test for us and we will need to be on our game.” Lawson said.
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Delany was at the helm today and is excited to be sailing in the Class. “We like the skill involved in one design racing and it seemed a logical leap up for us from the Adams Tens. We saw a lot of Farr 40’s at MHYC and thought it would be a good challenge for Brent and I.” Delany said.
PRO Denis Thompson ran four races offshore on the Macquarie Circle in 8-10 knots from ESE and all the boats were very evenly matched in these conditions.
Tomorrow’s racing will commence at 10.55am on Sydney Harbour for the final four races of the regatta.
For the latest results - click here
By Jennie Hughes as amended by MHYC
Inshore Sprints and Daydream Shield on Saturday
The Sydney Amateur Sailing Club Cruiser-Racers joined MHYC’s Inshore fleet on Saturday to contest the Daydream Shield Interclub Trophy over two sprint races. Crews were met with fresh to strong breezes across The Sound and a lively seaway to make conditions challenging for all.
Brent Lawson and Patrick Delaney’s BlueTack had Division 1 to themselves on Saturday while a group of MHYC boats race in the Bird Island Race offshore. Mike Gallagher’s Galan took the Division 2 win in both races. Innamincka (John Crawford) and Dania (Peter Charteris) shared the Division 3 honours. Innamincka took out the J/24 One Design prize for both races. In the Adams 10s, Mitch Miller and the crew of Rock Solid had a perfect day out claiming the One Design and PHS wins in each race.
To view the Divisional Results – click here
To view the Adams 10 Results – click here
In the Daydream Shield, MHYC claimed a narrow win in the Division 2 pointscore. Unfortunately SASC were unable to get the two boats necessary to contest Division 3, so MHYC won the combined series by 16 points.
To view the Daydream Shield Series Scores – click here
Saturday was also the first day that the club was able to try out the newly arrived Arvor 28 (to be named the Jack Stening) in its course boat role. The boat performed well in the boisterous seaway and provided a safe (and comparitively dry) platform for our race management volunteers. Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to the fundraising drive. There is still some work to be done to repaint and fit out the boat, so further donations would be appreciated.
Marg Fraser-Martin was on the water for Saturday's racing.......
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43rd Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship open for entry
Middle Harbour Yacht Club’s longstanding Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship (SSORC) will go ahead over the weekend of November 28-29, another positive bounce back from the New South Wales major sailing event doldrums.
Last week the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia announced its intention to keep working towards staging the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race in December. The Saturday SSORC ocean race, part of the CYCA’s Ocean Pointscore Series, is a chance for Hobart race crews to meet some of their opposition on a start line for a valuable hit-out, particularly given the reduced schedule of lead-up races.
Following their Sydney Harbour start on Saturday, the Premier and Performance class and One-Design divisions, including the Sydney 38s and TP52s, will head offshore for a passage race. On Sunday November 29 the competition will switch gear to short course windward/leewards off Sydney Heads, ideally in sparkling summer sunshine and a classic afternoon nor’easter Sydney is renowned for.
Premier division 1 skipper Bob Cox (Nine Dragons) says: “Keiran and Elizabeth Mulcahy’s Soozal and Gerry Hatton’s Bushranger are among the best IRC racers on the east coast, and both have indicated that next month’s SSORC will bring them to the harbour from the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club.”
Bushranger beat Nine Dragons into second at last year’s SSORC, then the tables turned in March 2020 at the club’s annual Sydney Harbour Regatta, the state’s last key sailing event before the coronavirus pandemic dramatically curtailed the sport.
“Nine Dragons is also looking forward to lining up against our old adversary and sistership, Khaleesi, under new owners Rob Aldis and Sandy Farquharson. Once again Khaleesi is showing great speed and will be more than a challenge for us,” Cox added.
Coinciding with SSORC is a new Super Group Spring Regatta, six windward/leeward or short passage races for the Super 20 and Super 30 divisions over the two days. The traditional Seven Islands Race on the Saturday accommodates mixed keelboats with a really interesting course that takes the fleet into confined waterways and fickle winds west of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
A call for interest and entry has gone out to the TP52 class while Sydney 38 spokesperson Mike Logan is talking up his class’ patronage of this year’s SSORC. “There are twenty Sydney 38s between Lake Macquarie, Pittwater and Sydney; if we can get half of them that would be great.”
The Sydney advantage will well and truly be exploited by “the burglar” adds Logan, referring to Peter Sorensen, owner/skipper of Advanced Philosophy and winner of the most recent CYCA Winter Series Sydney 38 division, just one of countless victories from decades of campaigning. “Sorro knows the harbour upside down. He’s sailed on it so many times his results are no longer due to luck.
“For SSORC we will most likely run the Sydney 38 division like the state champs in that we’ll follow class rules in terms of sails but not the crew weight maximum,” advised Logan, the owner of Sydney 38 Thirlmere. “I’m expecting a couple of Pittwater boats, hopefully Risk and Conspiracy. Add in CYCA, MHYC and the Balmain boats and there should be 10-12 Corinthian teams, which are the cornerstone of the class.”
MHYC Special Events Chairman and owner of Toy Box 2, Ian Box says, “SSORC has a fabulous history that we work hard to preserve, while staying innovative. This year we have developed a wider weekend offering to cater for the diversity of racing preferences, and we continue to nurture the heart of SSORC, the Premier and One-Design boats. I encourage everyone to get an entry in and participate.”
Standard entry for the 43rd edition of SSORC applies until 2359hrs on Friday November 20 and thereafter a late entry fee will apply, up until Wednesday November 25 at 2359hrs.
The Notice of Race is now available at https://www.ssorc.mhyc.com.au/ and sailing instructions will be posted to the same website by November 27. SSORC is conducted by MHYC at The Spit with the assistance and support of the CYCA.
Key SSORC sponsors include Helly Hansen, Club Marine, Robert Oatley Wines and Short Marine.
How to follow the SSORC:
Website https://www.ssorc.mhyc.com.au/
Facebook: @MiddleHarbourYachtClub
Instagram: @middleharbouryachtclub
Read more: 43rd Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship open for entry
Youth Sailing Presentations
Commodore Peter Lewis was on hand to award the annual trophies for the MHYC Centreboard Season 2019-2020 last Sunday November 8 following racing. Presentations had been postponed from earlier in the year due to Covid.
In the Centreboard Club Championship, Will Wilkinson finished one point ahead of Angus after nine races to win Division 3 (Optimists). Will also won the 2020 eSailing Club Championship and was selected to represent MHYC in the State eSailing Championships earlier in the year. Second Place in the Club Championship Division 3 was Angus Griffin and third was Jack Gillespie.
A number of Special Award trophies were also presented.
The Marian Packer Trophy was awarded to Jack Gillespie for the most improvement since completing a MHYC Youth Sailing Course. Zara Marks received the Doris Burke ‘Alcyone’ Junior Trophy which is awarded to the crew that rates the highest in consistency, improvement, enthusiasm and sportsmanship. The Seamanship Award, awarded for showing outstanding sailing savvy, went to Luke Swemmer.
Archie Cropley & Max Paul were awarded the John Merricks Trophy for the best performance in a World or International Championship. Archie & Max Paul achieved 3rd (Bronze Medal) at the Youth Sailing World Championships in the 29er Boys held in July 2019 in Gdynia, Poland in a fleet of28 boats. They were 6th at 29er Open World Championships held in early August, also in Gdynia, out of 175 boats.
The President’s Trophy, awarded for the best performance in a National Championship, was this year awarded jointly to two 29er crews - Archie Cropley / Jack Hildebrand and Zoe Dransfield / Madeleine McLeay. Archie & Jack were 1st 29er Boys and 1st Overall at the Australian Youth Championships in January 2020 from 48 boats. Zoe & Madeleine were 1st 29er Girls at the Australian Youth Championships in January and were also 1st 29er Female at the 29er Australian Championships held on 2-8 January 2020.
Congratulations to all our award recipients for Season 2019-2020!
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Pacific Rigging Wednesday Series
It was a lively Race 8 today for Series 1 of the Pacific Rigging Non-Spinnaker Series with twenty six boats heading off on Course 11 in a solid 20 -25 knots Nor’ Nor’ Easterly breeze.
In Division 1, Ian Box took the gun on Toy Box 2 followed by Little Nico ( Adrian Walters) and The Gambler (Stewart McGeady).
Todd Trenear on Equinox was first across the line and the lead Division 2 boat followed by Another Dilemma (Jim Vaughan) in 2nd place and Rumba in 3rd place.
For full results - click here
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MHYC Centreboard Racing on Sunday
It was a great day for MHYC's Centreboard Club Championship Racing on Sunday with a moderate south-easterly in Hunters Bay, Balmoral. Twelve Opti sailors and three 29er crews were on the start line for the three races conducted.
To view the results - click here
Here are some photos from David on the start boat and Rob Bates on the safety boat....
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Celebrating our Sailors - Part 5
As the Annual Presentation Night to celebrate MHYC’s 2019-2020 season was not possible due to Covid-19, we are announcing the award winners online over a period of 5 weeks.
In our fifth and final instalment, we celebrate:
- Shelley Montague – recipient of the Crew Member of the Year Award
- Kayimai (Rob Aldis) – Ocean Series Perpetual Trophy Division 1 and the Winter Rug Up Cup Division 1
- Toy Box 2 (Ian Box) – The Premiers Cup, Selo Cup Division 1 and Chaos Cup Division 1
Shelley Montague – Crew Member of the Year
The Crew Member of the Year Award is presented to a crew member in a division of the Annual Pointscore during the season who displays the characteristics desirable of a MHYC Member and someone other crew members would aspire to emulate.
This year’s recipient is Shelley Montague, crew on the J/24 Innamincka. Shelley is an enthusiastic and reliable crew member who has developed her speciality as a main trimmer. Innamincka was the only J/24 competing in this season’s one-design regattas with a female trimmer. Shelley has also joined the committee of the NSW J/24 Class Association, helping to organise their events.
Kayimai (Rob Aldis)
Rob Aldis’ Dehler 46 Kayimai enjoyed a successful 2019-2020 season winning the Ocean Series PHS pointscore and placing third on IRC. A win in the Winter Pursuit Series also earned Kayimai the Rug Up Cup for this year. Kayimai is also a regular competitor in the Thursday Twilights and Feature Race program at MHYC.
Toy Box 2 (Ian Box)
The Premiers Cup is presented annually to the winning yacht in the Club’s IRC Inshore Annual Pointscore. This year’s winner was Ian Box and his XP44 Toy Box 2. Additional trophies earned by Toy Box 2 in 2019-202 include the Selo Cup for a win in the IRC Offshore Division 1 competition and the Chaos Cup Trophy for Division 1 boats.
Congratulations to all the trophy and award winners for season 2019-2020.
MHYC sailors perform well at the ACT Optimist Championships
Will Wilkinson reports on the ACT Optimist Championships held at Canberra Yacht Club on 24 & 25 October…..
Many sailors travelled from NSW for the two-day regatta, with Middle Harbour Yacht Club represented in the Open Division by Ben Crafoord, Heidi Bates and myself with Meg Bates and Ella Sangster in the Intermediate Division. It was a tough two days of racing.
On day one we sailed 3 races, and overall, we experienced some nice breeze and big wind shifts, making for tricky but fun conditions. During our last race it completely glassed out and because of this, the race took 56 minutes to complete with a lot of sailors timing out. Although I didn't sail as well as I'd hoped, it was an enjoyable day.
On day two it was a chilly 9 degrees with a gusty south easterly! Going into the racing I was sitting 8th on the point score. During our 4 races we experienced big wind shifts on the water, and some big holes in the breeze. I was able to pick the wind shifts better and made some good gains on my score card. Across the two days there was strong competition, with Ben Crafoord, Isaac Freeman (WSC) and myself each winning two races. Miles Greenwood (GSC) also took a win. I placed 3rd overall, finishing behind Isaac Freeman (1st) and Jacob Marks (2nd), who sailed consistently in the regatta. Ben Crafoord finished 4th.
It was the first State Optimist Championship in 2020 and it felt great to be back racing with friends. Congratulation to all the sailors who competed in the regatta.
Thank you to Jeremey Atkinson, President, NSW International Optimist Dinghy Association for organising the regatta, along with the Canberra Yacht club. My thanks also to Brewer Racing, Rob and Tom Brewer for their great coaching.
Results – click here
Will Wilkinson (Rocky)
Read more: MHYC sailors perform well at the ACT Optimist Championships
Farr 40s Smokin’ on Sydney Harbour
The final day of the Farr 40 One Design Trophy was sailed on Sydney Harbour and Nutcracker, with substitute helmsman Ray Roberts, held onto their substantial lead from yesterday to take out the regatta. The standard has now been set, so Melbourne Owners Rob Davis and Andy Baker, whilst ecstatic, will be no doubt be feeling under pressure to similarly perform to this level at the next regatta in November.
Conditions were light and smoky on The Sound today with aerial choppers continuing to put the fires out on North Head. The hazy conditions provided by the fires certainly gave indication of the variability on the first race, which was won by Nutcracker.
Rob Pitts right hand trimmer Mal Parker took over the helm of Double Black this weekend and didn’t disappoint. The crew did an excellent job in the extremely challenging and difficult conditions yesterday, which had even the most experienced owner/drivers having their turn at wipeouts. With consistent scores over two days and placing five out of eight races in the top three, a second place overall and boat of the day was well deserved, no doubt leaving another owner with an ambitious goal to be achieved for the next regatta.
Due to the variability and the wind disappearing, PRO Phil Yeomans made the excellent decision to shorten the final three races to one lappers, thereby ensuring all eight scheduled races were achieved. Communication from the race committee, during difficult starting procedures with an out flowing current, was second to none.
Four races produced four winners today with Gordon Ketelbey’s Zen taking out Race 6, Jeff Carter’s Edake winning race 7 and Joe de Kock winning the final race, positioning Good Form in third place overall.
Due to Covid, this weekend’s regatta which was originally scheduled to be sailed in Newcastle, was moved back to Sydney. A spot on the podium will surely appease our Newcastle owner for the change of venue away from his home town.
Farr 40 Owners and the Class administrator wish to thank Rob Davis, Andy Baker and Rob Pitts for entering their boats this weekend ensuring great, close racing and a decent line up at the start line.
Thank you to all the wonderful staff at Middle Harbour Yacht Club and special thanks to the Race Committee headed by PRO Phil Yeomans and to John and Sandy on the mark boat for a hectic day and a job well done moving marks for all four races.
The Farr 40 Class will next reconvene on the 14th and 15th November 2020, where, if the Victorian borders are open, the postponed 2020 National Championships will be held. If the borders are closed and Victorian owners are unable to travel, the regatta will take place and become part of the 2020/21 series point score.
RESULTS
1st – Nutcracker (Ray Roberts)
2nd – Double Black (Mal Parker)
3rd – Good Form (Joe de Kock)
4th – Outlaw (Tom and Alan Quick)
5th – Edake (Jeff Carter)
6th – Zen (Gordon Ketelbey)
7th – Exile (Rob Reynolds)
By Jennie Hughes
Farr 40 Australian Class Administrator
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Super Group Spring Regatta on November 28 & 29
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Andrea Francolini photo
Middle Harbour Yacht Club has announced a new regatta to promote competition in Sydney for a range of sports yachts with asymmetric gennakers.
The inaugural Super Group Spring Regatta will be part of MHYC’s big weekend on 28 and 29 November, coinciding with the 43rd edition of the Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship (SSORC) racing off Sydney Heads on both days. The annual Seven Islands Passage Race, a clubhouse pursuit start for a varied keelboat fleet, will also be held on the Saturday.
The Super 20s will bring together Melges 24, Melges 20, Magic 25 and J70 classes but could also attract Shaw 650s, VX Ones and other classes. The SB20 Association has shown strong interest, but the border closures due to Covid-19 mean that the Victorian and Tasmanian boats will not be participating in the first year of the event. Kevin Nixon’s Melges 24 Accru will be competing with Heath Walters new boat from RPAYC, with both taking on a variety of other classes on event handicap including Andrew Hurt’s Melges 20 Onya.
Sydney Amateur Sailing Club has become a focus of Super 30 racing and there are a number of similar boats sailing from clubs around the harbour. Farr 30, Melges 32 and Flying Tiger classes are expected to provide the majority of entrants in this division.
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Andrea Francolini photo
Unfortunately the Super 40 group is not expected to be running in 2020 due to a clash of schedule with the MC38 Act 6 in Pittwater. We look forward to their involvement in 2021.
Six races are scheduled for the Super Group Regatta, with a combination of inshore windward-leeward and short passage races planned. Principal Race Officer for the weekend’s racing is Denis Thompson.
The Notice of Race is now published and online entry is open.
For all event information, click here
Busy Weekend of Inshore and Offshore Sailing
It was a busy weekend at MHYC with inshore, offshore and regatta racing on October 17 & 18.
The Farr 40 One-Design Trophy Series kicked off for season 2019-2020 at Middle Harbour this weekend with seven boats enjoying close and competitive racing.
Saturday’s offshore races were sailed in the Manly Circle with a fresh north-easterly enabling four good races to be completed. Sunday's weather was a different matter, making hard work for Phil Yeomans and the race management team. A very light and fluky westerly backed all the way to north-east during the day, making for plenty of course changes.
In the end, a full program of eight races were completed. The Victorian boat Nutcracker, owned by Rob Davis but helmed by Ray Roberts and crewed by a local team, came out on top by four points ahead of Double Black (Rob Pitts) and Good Form (Joe deKock).
To view the Farr 40 Results and photos by Marg Fraser-Martin – click here
Race two of the MHYC Ocean Series was held on Saturday in conjunction with the CYCA Short Ocean Pointscore. Rob Aldis and Khaleesi claimed the Division 1 IRC win, while Ian Box and Toy Box 2 won on PHS. In Division 2, Jack Stening & Colin Gunn’s Stormaway took IRC and PHS winner was Chris Canty’s Galaxy III.
To view the MHYC Ocean Series results – click here
To view the CYCA SOPS race results – click here
The Inshore PHS Series for Divisional Keelboats and the Adams 10 Series also continued on Saturday with 15-20 knots blowing down the harbour and providing some lively racing. Adrian Walters’ Little Nico took the gun for Division 1, John McGrory’s Forty Two was number one in Division 2 and John Crawford’s Innamincka to top boat in Division 3. David West and the crew of Ace were the best of the J/24 One-Designs. Mitchell Miller’s Rock Solid was first home in the Adams 10s ahead of Sirius (Garth Riley) and Another Dilemma (Jim Vaughan). Garth Riley and Sirius took the PHS win.
To view the Inshore PHS Series results – click here
To view the Adams 10 results – click here
Inshore Racing on 17 October 2020
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