Sailing legend returns to Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta on eve of his 99th birthday

The man they nicknamed ‘Wingnut’, the indefatigable Gordon Ingate OAM, is returning to race at the Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta, being staged on the weekend of 1-2 March – just shy of his 99^th birthday.

A regular at the event, Ingate confirmed, “Yes, I’ll be 99 on 29 March, which will put me in my 100^th year.” It is a fitting way to celebrate the event’s  20^th anniversary.”

One of Australia’s most famous sailors, Ingate, was in the winning Australian team at the 1965 Admiral’s Cup with Caprice of Huon, which he also sailed to second overall in the 1972 Sydney Hobart. He skippered a Tempest at the 1972 Olympics and is the oldest living Olympian and skippered Sir Frank Packer’s Gretel II at the 1977 America’s Cup.

He campaigned in the 5.5 Metre and Dragon classes, winning the prestigious Scandinavian Gold Cup and Prince Philip Cup respectively - the latter at the ripe age of 91 in 2018 – his fourth Cup win. The boat was ‘Whimsical’, which he has competed in and scored wins at past Sydney Harbour Regattas.

“And I’m still sailing and still winning races. I got two firsts and a second sailing Jasnar at the CYCA last month and now I’m looking forward to going in the Sydney Harbour Regatta,” says a still debonair Ingate, who has lost none of his zest for life.

The Wally Ward designed Jasnar is Ingate’s entry in the Classic Yachts division of the SHR. Crew are David Giles and his daughter, Amy, who were in Wingnut’s winning Prince Philip Cup crew. Giles is a four-time Star class Olympian with Bronze from Atlanta 1996 and a former America’s Cup sailor. He and Amy have sailed with Ingate for years.

Scott Lawson is ready to fire up Firecracker again and is looking to defending the inaugural FarEast 28R Australian Championship that he won at this regatta last year. Six windward-leeward races over the duration will decide the outcome.

“We’ll get a very strong fleet again and defending is about managing risk,” Lawson explains. “The essence of our success is all the preparation we do. We started a month ago with things like making sure the mast and new sails are tuned.”

Lawson, whose 27-year-old son Harry will come from Perth to join the crew that includes skiff legend, Andrew ‘Dolly’ Divola, said  there are some owners new to the class. “There’s a lot of enthusiasm among them too, so we’re expecting a tight regatta again.

“It’s a very well run regatta - we have our own start – under a Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron team who do a great job. And the regatta brings everyone together for a Championship each year, so it’s very convenient.” 

On Gordon Ingate competing, Lawson said, “He is amazing – an icon of our sport.”

Five boats have already committed in the Super 50s, headed by the incomparable Marcus Blackmore with the latest Hooligan. First Light (Peter White), Highly Sprung (Mark Spring), Frantic (Mick Martin) and Virago (Robert Kelly) are all owners keen to topple the master of this division, but they know it won’t be easy.

Blackmore said, “I won’t be able to sail, but the boat and crew will be there. I told them it’s time they had a couple of women on board. Nina Curtis has been there for a while and now we’ve got Katie Spithill, so I’m thrilled to bits about that. Nina’s in the middle of the boat and Katie’s the alternate steerer. Mal Page is calling tactics and Richie Allanson’s on the main.

“We’ve done a bit of work to the boat, taken weight out of the bulb and put it inside the boat. We’ve done a little bit of work on the sails with Alby Pratt, who’s also on the boat.”

Ross Hennessy conquered the Super 40 class with his Ker 40 Mk3, Condor, at this event last year. On the weekend, he cleaned up at the Pittwater Regatta. Among his rivals there were Revolver (Michael Ritchie) and Little Nico (Adrian Walters/David Hamilton), who will be out to retaliate at the Sydney Harbour Regatta where Condor is also expected.

In the race to enter the Middle Harbour Yacht Club (MHYC) hosted Sydney Harbour Regatta Open Class, Khaleesi (Sandy Farquharson), Toybox 2 (Ian Box), Bullwinkle (Peter Farrugia) and Wailea (Neil Padden), were in earliest.

And it was MHYC’s Toybox 2 that did best in the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club’s ORC NSW Championship at Pittwater on the weekend, with Box taking the opening race and finishing second overall in Division 1. He is primed for the second round.

Bullwinkle placed third in Division 2, so he too is ready to race. Khaleesi and Wailea also made the trek from MHYC to Pittwater and no doubt both are looking forward to bettering their results on home turf.

The Dragons, a former Olympic class, will hold their NSW Championship at this event and all  other classes and divisions will be out in force too, including a wide variety of boats in the Performance Spinnaker divisions that light the Harbour up each year.

While MHYC is the Organising Authority of the Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta, it could not be held without the assistance of the following clubs and their volunteers:

Cruising Yacht Club Australia (CYCA); Manly Yacht Club (MYC); Royal Australian Navy Sailing Association (RANSA); Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (RPAYC); Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club (RPEYC); Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron (RSYS); Sydney Amateur Sailing Club (SASC) and Sydney Flying Squadron (SFS).

There is a class for everyone, so take advantage of the extended Early Entry before 2359hrs on 25 February when entries close.

For the Notice of Race and to enter, please visit: www.shr.mhyc.com.au

Di Pearson/MHYC media

Read more: Sailing legend returns to Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta on eve of his 99th...