One Design Trophy day one bites Farr 40 fleet

By Lisa Ratcliff/Australian Farr 40 media           

Gusty southerlies offshore on day one of the Farr 40 class’ Middle Harbour Yacht Club One Design Trophy turned the boats into a real handful and caused two retirements in the opening races.

“It was pretty ugly,” said class president Gordon Ketelbey back at MHYC inspecting Zen’s rigging after a broken vang forced them out of race two. “Looking at pictures of the top of the mast we’ve possibly got rig issues; I’m not sure if we’ll sail tomorrow.” Later Ketelbey confirmed Zen won’t be a starter on day two. Also one of his crew was sent for a precautionary check-up after a flying pin from the blown vang hit him.

Joe de Kock, skipper of the Newcastle based Good Form, finished up at Port Macquarie Private Hospital with a suspected broken ankle and rope burn from an incident in race one and a third Farr 40, Rob Davis and Andy Baker’s Nutcracker, dropped a crewman with a sore back ashore then headed back out for the third and final race of the day.

Two races were completed offshore in the Manly Circle in 16-18 knots gusting to 24, and a third inshore in similar wind strengths. Principal Race Office Phil Yeomans reported the sea state offshore was good and the breeze stayed pretty steady at 180 degrees; just that there was a fair bit of broken gear plus injuries. “It’s been a busy day,” the PRO surmised.

The tactician/strategist combination of David Chapman and Julian Plante that works so well on Leslie Green’s MC38 Ginger swapped to a mainsheet/tactician combo on Tom and Allan Quick’s Outlaw, and proved just as fruitful. Three wins chalked up and the newest owner with plenty of previous Farr 40 experience pulling the ropes leads the opening event of the summer-long series of three weekend regattas before the states and finally the 2018 national title next March.

“Tom drove and did a nice job at his second regatta; he’s getting the hang of it quickly,” said Plante as the crew tended to an engine issue. “It was definitely challenging today, we got away cleanly and went the right way but it wasn’t easy.  It’s a pity there was some damage, and we didn’t escape either with our broken exhaust manifold. It’s one of those days everyone’s come home with a story or two.”

Speaking on their performance on day one of Outlaw’s debut points regatta, owner/driver Tom Quick said, “Today was an awesome hit out for us and really well run; the offshore races were a highlight. Every one of my crew did a phenomenal job and the fleet is just a great bunch of people.”

Second overall is Jeff Carter’s Edake and third is Rob Pitts’ Double Black, the second Melbourne boat.

Saturday afternoon’s dock party at MHYC is thanks to Double Black crewman Dean Van Teylingen and his business Ropeable. “This is our second season doing the Farr 40s with Double Black and it’s definitely worthwhile us coming up from Melbourne,” Van Teylingen said. “I’m happy to support a great class with some hospitality, and I’m always available to help with any running rigging needs.”

Racing is due to recommence at 1100hrs on Sunday October 22 on Sydney Harbour and the forecast is for light northerlies swinging to sou’easterlies and building slowly to double digits by late afternoon with a 40% chance of rain.

Whether the MHYC race management team can complete a set of four races will depend on the wind strength and steadiness in the face of cloud banks that tend to pull the breeze in different directions, making fair racing tricky.

For the latest results and information about the Farr 40 One Design Trophy - click here

Read more: One Design Trophy day one bites Farr 40 fleet

Race Officials Training at MHYC

A Club Race Officer Course was held at MHYC on 24 & 25 October.  Aimed at educating people who wish to become involved with officiating in sailinmg, the course was led by Club PRO Phil Yeomans with assistance from Sailing Manager David Staley.  Race Officers play an important role within sailing, conducting racing at clubs, and enabling organised participation and competition.  Eleven club members participated along with three volunteers from other clubs.

MHYC is also hosting a half-day Australian Sailing Club Judge Seminar on Sunday 12 November from 9:00am to 1:30pm. The seminar will be led by Erika Kirby.   Judges play an important role within sailing ensuring on water adherence with particular rules and also in their capacity as members of protest committees to settle disputes off the water. Seminar enrolment is $65 and includes an Australian Sailing badged Zhik dry long sleeved polo shirt for participants once accredited.

To register for the Club Judge Seminar – click here

For more information about volunteering and officiating, contact Catherine Rofe in the Sailing Office - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Read more: Race Officials Training at MHYC

Smuggler first in for Sydney's Unique Ocean Racing Regatta

Sebastian Bohm’s Rogers 46 Smuggler is the first entry received for the 40^th Sydney Short Ocean Racing Pointscore (SSORC) hosted by Middle Harbour Yacht Club on 25^th and 26^th November.

The yacht has been extensively campaigned since 2015 in Sydney and interstate including the Airlie Beach Regatta and Hamilton Island Race Week and the owner and his crew are keen to participate in the opening offshore regatta of the season.

Celebrating its 40^th anniversary, Sydney’s Short Ocean Racing Championship under the progressive thinking of the Middle Harbour Yacht Club, continues to meet the constant evolution of yacht racing.

Widely regarded as ideal preparation for the serious yachts entering the major offshore races each summer, the SSORC is also another opportunity for regatta regulars to take on the blue water in the brilliant Sydney sunshine.

For this year’s edition Saturday will be a competitive Ocean Passage Race. At same time, the fun and challenging Seven Islands Race will be held for inshore yachts with a separate division for the Super 12 and Jeanneau Cup fleets.

MHYC is introducing some innovations for the Sunday racing, replacing the shorter race format with a single Ocean Race using a hybrid course of laid and virtual marks to provide competitive racing for all types of boats.

The 2017 SSORC will also feature as part of the Sydney 38 East Coast Championships and the Farr 40 One Design Series.

The Saturday Passage race also forms part of the Middle Harbour Yacht Club and Cruising Yacht Club of Australia Ocean Pointscore and many yachts will race over both days towards the final trophy.

The Super 12 Fleet will race on Saturday in the Seven Islands Race and on Sunday inshore to compete in the MHYC Super 12 Spring Regatta.

Entries are now open online at www.ssorc.mhyc.com.au   

Read more: Smuggler first in for Sydney's Unique Ocean Racing Regatta

MHYC Summer School Holiday Camps

All the details have been released for the upcoming summer holidays.

Summer Program 2017/18

Tackers Camps: (Ages 7-12)

Tackers 1 – Having Fun!

Tackers 2 – Tricks & Techniques

Tackers 3 – Sailing Fast

4 day Camps – current MHYC Youth Members $395
Non Members $495 (includes MHYC Youth membership  through to August 2018)

Youth Discover Sailing Camps (Ages 12-18)

International Cadet, 420, Melges 20’s

4 day Camps – current MHYC Youth Members $395
Non Members $495 (includes MHYC Youth membership  through to August 2018)

All information at www.juniorsailing.com.au

Course Dates

Tackers Holiday Fun 9am - 3pm

Youth Discover Sailing Camps 9am – 3pm

Mon- Thurs   18^th - 21^st December

Mon – Thurs   8^th - 11^th January

Mon – Thurs 15^th - 18^th January

Mon – Thurs 22^nd – 25^th January

Fun sailing orientated holiday camps for 7 – 18 years of age

A great way to make new friends, adventuring around the Harbour and learning all the aspects of sailing

Safe, supervised holiday fun on the water!

Read more: MHYC Summer School Holiday Camps

MHYC Youth Season Kicks Off

Sunday 15 October is the beginning of a busy upcoming season for Youth Sailing Activities at MHYC.

Off the back of the Winter and Spring sailing and regattas, our attention now focuses on the training and racing for the upcoming National Campaigns for the Optimist, Cadet, 420, 29er and Nacra members. Regular Sunday racing has been going for a few weeks now with Cadets and 29ers joining in the fun, with Sunday racing continuing with the Centreboard Club Championships Races 4, 5 & 6 in the Middle Harbour Sound. Backed by professional Race Officers, the kids will be able to gain valuable racing and training experience in a supportive and safe club environment.

Next Sunday is the Summer Season Open Day with a welcome to the club and information sessions for the upcoming season from key staff and committee members. These sessions are aimed to assist parents become more involved in the club and assist in the running of the on water racing program which without parental involvement each week cannot go ahead. There will be an update on upcoming training session for parents and details of our planned social activities.

As always we need help to make this happen as it's your club!  

We are also launching the Sail-For-Kids www.sailforkids.com.au initiative which is for members to donate old sails to the club and if sold at sailexchange.com.au, the club will get 60% of the funds! Developed by previous Rear Commodore Carl Crafoord, all funds will be donated to the club via the Frank Likely Trust for use on specific programs including Instructor training grants and major vessel capital purchases. We are very lucky to have the support of The Frank Likely Trust and Sail for Kids and we encourage you to clean out your garage in support of our MHYC kids!

The Learn to Sail hits overdrive starting this Sunday at 9am as Term 4 commences with our professional, fun and experienced team of Instructors and Coaches including Nick, Conor, Tania, Maddie, James, Jayden, Charlotte, Kurt, Madi, Kiah, Shaun & Xavier.

Tackers (5-12) – Primary Age

• Tackers 1 0900 - 1100
• Tackers Zero – (5 – 7yrs) – Starts Sunday 22 – YES it's back! Free Parent and Head Instructor run fun for kids to become comfortable with the MHYC beach and boats. Please sign up online – don’t just turn up.
• Tackers 2 1130 - 1330
• Tackers 3 1400 - 1600

Youths (12 – 17) Secondary School Age

• Start Sailing 1 & 2 and Better Sailing 0900 - 1200

• Start Racing and Better Racing 1230 - 1530

Racing Squads

At present we have a small active racing squad of 29ers, Optimists and Cadets, however we are planning for other squads to be formed and including 420s and Nacras with an enhanced program. Speak to your Divisional Representative to get more information and suggest what you would like to see happen!

• Optimist Racing Squad 1230 - 1530

Club Racing

• Briefing 1230 
• 1355 warning signal - 1400 start
• Sailing Instructions on MHYC website and in MHYC Centreboard Handbook 
• Results to be posted same day

Communications

As we all know communication is the key and to this end the committee is working on introducing more communication mediums to achieve this aim.

We have launched the following;

• Team Snap – app and web base platform for communication and availability of members for various events.
• Volunteer Roster – web based forum for allocation and rostering of volunteer activities which keeps you updated on what is going to happen and where you need be to assist.
• E-news for Youth Members and parents and anyone else that would like to keep up to date.

We are sending out invites to all Youth members and parent's emails, however if you would like to be included just let us know and we will get you signed up.

Fun Social Activities

Your Youth Committee is planning some fun events over the coming season including:

• Instructor v Kids Races
• Adventure Sailing Days
• Beach BBQ after sailing
• Movie Nights
• Kid's Discos on Friday 20 October, Friday 17 November and a special Christmas Disco on Friday 15 December
• Sunday Sounds on 29 October from 1300  - we plan on a fun afternoon post sailing for kids and parents to wind down before the busy week ahead

Your Youth Sailing Committee and Staff are passionate in making MHYC the best place to have fun and sail for our kids. We are keen to promote new fun ideas to make this a reality. With a great beach, awesome club facilities, yummy food for kids and adults  -  why not enjoy everything your club has on offer.

The Team @ Youth Sailing

Follow us on;

• Facebook
• Instagram 
• Website

Read more: MHYC Youth Season Kicks Off

Outlaw's runaway Farr 40 win  

By Lisa Ratcliff/Australian Farr 40 media   

Five firsts and a second added up to an incontestable series win for Tom and Alan Quick’s Outlaw in the Farr 40 class’ Middle Harbour Yacht Club One Design Trophy contested on Sydney Harbour October 21-22.

Jeff Carter’s Edake with Jordan Reece calling tactics won the final race six and finished runner-up and Double Black, Rob Pitts’ Melbourne entry with Steve McConaghy on tactics, finished third overall.

Joe de Kock’s Newcastle Farr 40 Good Form was back out with the fleet, the skipper wearing a moon boot to support his ankle which was injured when he accidentally stepped into the mainsheet which then loaded up in a gybe in strong winds on Saturday. Doctors at Lake Macquarie Private Hospital don’t believe de Kock sustained any broken bones but can’t diagnose him properly until the swelling and bruising settle down.

This afternoon de Kock and his son fly out to South Africa for a three-day mountain bike race starting Friday. “I think I’m going be OK, I’m staying positive and I haven’t found out too many details from the doctor…just in case I can’t do the bike race,” he laughed. “By chance I’m going to Cape Town first, to my family of doctors – I have my X-rays in my luggage.”

On Good Form’s season so far he said: “Well we can’t do any worse, yesterday we didn’t finish a race and today we finished last in all three. We have lots of excuses but we’ve got to do these things better. Before I became a boat owner I didn’t realise how hard it was to get eight good sailors together for regattas, let alone practice. Having said all that we had a great weekend.”

Edake skipper Jeff Carter was delighted to collect the final bullet and happy with second overall. “As usual in the Farr 40s it was very close racing,” he said. “Hats off to the Outlaw crew; they’ve got a team of guys who know how to sail a Farr 40 and they have a world champion boat underneath them. Also special thanks to my crewman Noel Holder who came back on board on the main after a year off.”

Winds NE to ENE built to 12 knots by mid-afternoon before the sky darkened and crews copped a drenching when a sou’east change passed through. By that stage the trophies were already decided, handy margins separating the first, second and third placegetters.

Bringing nine crew up from Melbourne for a two-day regatta in Sydney is no easy feat, so for Nutcracker co-owner Rob Davis the hospitality extended by MHYC and the other Farr 40 owners means a lot. This season he and second owner Andy Baker have brought in Sydney based Michael Coxon from North Sails as tactician, and it’s added a new dimension to their program.  “We’ve learnt as much from him this weekend as the whole of last season,” Davis praised. “He’s a great teacher and a great imparter of knowledge.”

The next Farr 40 event is the Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship November 24-25 (non-pointscore) followed by the Newcastle OD Trophy December 9-10, 2017.

For the latest results and regatta information - click here

Photography by Jennie Hughes.........

Read more: Outlaw's runaway Farr 40 win  

29ers on the water at MHYC

The first races in the Centreboard Club Championship were sailed today off Balmoral in a steady 10-15 knot north easterly.

Six 29ers and a sole International Cadet turned up for the first session and these races will be an advantage as the 33 race club championship progresses. 

Lachie Brewer and Max Paul, fresh from their 6th place at the 29er Worlds in August, made a clean string of first places in the 29ers today.

To view the results - click here

Read more: 29ers on the water at MHYC

Centreboard Club Championship continues

Racing in the MHYC Centreboard Club Championship was cut short today with the arrival of some thundery showers during the afternoon. 

One race was completed for Division 1 (29ers) and Division 2 (International Cadets & 420s), with Madeleine Sloane taking the gun for the 29ers and Natasha Nisbet first in Div 2 in the Cadet.  The Optimists in Division 3 completed 2 races, with Mischa Barrat winning both races today.

To view the latest results – click here 

Read more: Centreboard Club Championship continues

Giant Steps Charity Regatta

Giant Steps Charity Regatta

The Giant Steps Charity Regatta will be held on Friday 30th October - whilst only a small event compared to other regattas, it is equally as important to them to support their annual fund-raising objectives providing much needed assistance for children with autism.  If you are interested in donating your yacht and be willing to take on board 8-10 "guest crew" to participate in this race, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Sailing Manager David Staley on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. as soon as possible.

To view the event details - click here

Read more: Giant Steps Charity Regatta