Podium Finish for Wailea at the Pittwater Regatta
Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (RPAYC) hosted its annual Pittwater Regatta on the 13th and 14th February. The event dates back to 1888. The IRC and ORCi boats were all together in Division 1 of the Estuary Passage Series which had one race per day expanding across the beautiful waters Pittwater Estuary and Offshore.
This year, Middle Harbour Yacht club was represented by just one boat, Wailea, owned by Neil Padden. Wailea achieved a well deserved 3rd place in both the IRC and ORCI divisions.
On Saturday, they started inshore at Longnose Point with a beat to a buoy near the Royal Motor Yacht club, then a long hairy run to the entrance of Pittwater, followed by a hard beat to a buoy off Palm Beach and back. On the Sunday, they had a similar start with a run to Lion Island and hard work back to the finish. With the Southerly wind conditions, the races were almost like a long W/L races.
Neil tells us the racing both days was exhilarating to say the least in 20k Southerly conditions. He was delighted that Wailea even got to 12 ½ knots downwind at times! The sea state at the entrance and offshore was very difficult and they lacked a bit of local knowledge on the inshore side. Despite this, they sailed very well had a great weekend. Neil was just disappointed that more MHYC boats did not participate.
Next year Bob Cox (Nine Dragons), MHYC’s Open Division Sailing Committee member, also hopes that more boats from our club will participate in this great inter club event. This year, we had a few that could not race due to different reasons, including Bob’s boat which, hopefully, will be back in the water again.
Gilli Taylor (crew member on Wailea) tells me that there are quite a few boats from Pittwater that are keen to come and race in our Sydney Harbour Regatta on the 6th and 7th March.
You can view all results here Pittwater Regatta 2021- Estuary Series Results
Julie Hodder
Wednesday Racing Representative
Read more: Podium Finish for Wailea at the Pittwater Regatta
Wet Track for Combined Clubs Racing
A rather dull and wet Saturday reduced the fleet numbers for today’s Combined Clubs Inshore race. The moderate but shifty southerly tested crews sailing multiple laps of a long track provided by Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club.
With only one more race day to come, MHYC crews are now well placed in the Combined Clubs Inshore Series. Rob Aldis’ Khaleesi leads Division 1 on both PHS and IRC, with Toy Box 2 (Ian Box) and Kukukerchu (David Ross) making up the top three on IRC. In Division 2, Bridin Murnion and Another Dilemma are best placed on PHS and MRX (Geoff Pearson) sits second on IRC. Peter Charteris’ Dania is currently third on PHS in Division 3.
In the MHYC PHS pointscore today, Kukukerchu claimed the Division 1 win from Toy Box 2 and Khaleesi. MRX was best of Division 2 ahead of Rumba (Rob Carr, Stephanie Cook & Kerry Burke) and Galan (Mike Gallagher). Innamincka was the only finisher in Division 3.
Brian Lees’ Contentious claimed the Adams 10 win from Rock Solid (Mitch Miller) and Sirius (Garth Riley).
Combined Clubs Inshore Series Results – click here
MHYC Inshore PHS Results – click here
MHYC Adams 10 Results – click here
Marg Fraser-Martin toughed out the wet conditions to bring us some great photos….
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Outlaw claims Farr 40 One Design Trophy at MHYC
Tom Quick and the Outlaw crew from CYCA have won the January Farr 40 One Design Trophy regatta at Middle Harbour Yacht Club.
Outlaw took three race wins from the fine races sailed, but two fourth placings meant the winning margin was a single point. Joe de Kock's Newcastle team on Good Form were second, with Jeff Carter's Edake just another point behind in third place.
Only one race was completed on Saturday, with a light northerly fading by late morning and racing eventually abandoned. Today's south-sou' easterly was reasonably consistent at 10-15 knots, enabling 4 good races to be completed by early afternoon.
The next Farr 40 Regatta will be the NSW Championships, again being hosted by MHYC on February 27 & 28, before the Australian Championships at CYCA on March 13 & 14.
Many thanks to the MHYC Race Management Volunteers for their great work over the weekend and to Marg Fraser-Martin for today's photos.
To view the results - click here
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Super Sydney Harbour Regatta entry open
Four state championships and the addition of Super Group racing to Middle Harbour Yacht Club’s Sydney Harbour Regatta will intensify the kaleidoscope of colour and course area changes will spread the action around the natural amphitheatre of Sydney Harbour over the two-day series, March 6-7, 2021.
The Notice of Race for the 16th edition of the flagship regatta is available here and online entry here. With the usual planning cooperation and on-water support from multiple Sydney clubs, MHYC will deliver superb racing on seven course areas on the traditional first weekend of autumn.
2020 Sydney Harbour Regatta day 2 highlights by Tilly Lock.
State titles for the Sydney 38s, Ynglings, Cavalier 28s and J/70s add weight to those class pointscores. J/70 class president Andrew Tompson says, “I have eight confirmed starters, hopefully it will get to 10 including a bunch of group 3 sailors and ex-Olympians. The standard of racing is improving all the time and that’s exciting.
“The boat to beat will be Reg Lord’s Juno, the state and national J/70 champion for the past three years. He’s planning to sail Corinthian for this regatta – it will be interesting to see if he can hold his place. We see this as our warm-up for the J/70 nationals at Blairgowrie on Port Phillip at Easter where we expect 15-20 boats on the start line.”
Sydney Harbour Regatta Principal Race Officer Denis Thompson believes the ‘super’ concept has plenty of potential. “It has developed from the Super 30s and is designed for like boats, rather than one design. I think it’s a good idea – it will be interesting to see if the owners respond.”
To promote competition in Sydney for a range of sports yachts with asymmetric gennakers, MHYC is trialling a Super Group pointscore within the regular handicap categories for the Super 20s all the way up to Super 50s.
Super 20s, including J/70s, Melges 24s, SB20s, Shaw 650s and VX Ones, Super 30s such as Melges 32s, Farr 30s and Flying Tigers and Super 40s such as the MC38s and Little Nico will sail a mix of windward/leeward and northern harbour passage races.
The Sydney 38 NSW Championship will be staged offshore as will Super 50 racing, incorporating the spectacular TP52s along with yachts of similar size and performance.
To reduce the likelihood of congestion and interference between fleets, Performance Spinnaker and Non-Spinnaker divisions will now race in the main harbour while most fleets sailing windward/leeward courses will compete at The Sound, the area of deep water between North, South and Middle Heads. The Premier IRC divisions will race offshore both days.
Given the scarcity of racing opportunities recently, Thompson anticipates a big turnout, potentially larger than last year’s fleet of 182 boats representing 19 different Australian sailing clubs plus Hong Kong.
The early entry fee is on offer until February 24.
MHYC acknowledges the event’s success is due to the continued assistance of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Manly Yacht Club, RANSA, Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club, Sydney Amateur Sailing Club and the Sydney Flying Squadron.
The club also acknowledges the support of key regatta sponsors Air New Zealand and Robert Oatley Wines and supporting sponsors Club Marine, Fever-Tree and Short Marine.
How to follow the Sydney Harbour Regatta:
Website: https://shr.mhyc.com.au/
Facebook: @SydneyHarbourRegatta
Instagram: sydneyharbourregatta
Winners decided in Summer Optimist Regatta
Ben Crafoord (MHYC) and Walter Heeley (WSC) have been presented the Open and Intermediate first place medals today at Middle Harbour Yacht Club.
The second and final day of MHYC's Summer Optimist Regatta was sailed in a moderate north-easterly freshening to 20 knots as the afternoon progressed. Intermediate sailors did well to get around the course in race six.
At the conclusion of the series, Ben Crafoord ( Underdog - MHYC) claimed the Open Division win from Spencer McKay (No Regrets - WSC) and Isaac Freeman (Problem Child - WSC). In the Intermediate division, Walter Heeley (Fish - WSC) finished on top ahead of Levi Harrison (Wallygator - RPAYC) and Angus Griffin (Pixel - MHYC).
Presentations were conducted by MHYC Vice Commodore Youth Alister Copley and Regatta Coordinator Lisa Wilkinson. Many thanks to Lisa and all the parents who volunteered to make the regatta such a great success.
To view the results - click here
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Rock Solid’s long-awaited nationals victory
Rock Solid has faced 16 consecutive Adams 10 Australian championships and finally the Middle Harbour Yacht Club boat owned by Mitch Miller and Andy and Ben Gunton prevailed at Lake Macquarie, by the slimmest margin.
The new Australian Adams 10 national champion beat the defending champion – Tom and Belinda Braidwood and Backchat – on a countback, Rock Solid’s three wins to Backchat’s two across eight races the decider.
Adams 10 Australian Championship 2021 results.
Video highlights thanks to Beau Outteridge https://youtu.be/6v7qUBkVJuk
Driving back to Sydney, Mitch and Andy said: “We held off some top competition from Tom on his home turf, Allen Stormon from the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, Rob Brown doing tactics on Organised Chaos and a bunch of great sailors. We didn't get any help unbolting the trophy from Lake Macquarie Yacht Club!” Miller laughed, “we had to get our own tools to get it off the wall.”
On his former co-owner Matt Gunton (Ben’s father), who passed away suddenly in 2013, Miller shared the emotion behind the long-awaited victory: “Matt was just as passionate as I was to win the Adams 10 national championship. He was my best mate”.
Rock Solid’s crew included Damien Bassett, Warren Gray, Geoff Piper and Olympic gold medallist Nathan Wilmot. Miller paid tribute to Wilmot’s input: “It took someone like Nathan coming on board, someone who can see further than 20 metres in front of them, to make the difference. He was happy to sail with us numpties. We’ve done well before with the same core guys but got pipped by a point and finished up second or third. It’s nice it went our way this time.”
Miller and his crew enjoyed the fact the Melges 24 state title ran concurrently to their Australian title, sailed off the host club at Belmont in a full range of breezes. “There was plenty of banter after the racing.”
On locking horns with Rock Solid, Tom Braidwood said: “Mitch is such as gentleman. He’s been working away at it for a while, bought new North Sails, got Nathan to do tactics and won it.”
Braidwood is passionate about Adams 10s, describing sailing in the class as “the most fun you can have sitting down, without the arms race”. He regularly twilight sails on his 1989-built Adams 10 at Lake Macquarie with family and mates and once a year takes the good sails out for the national title. His 12-year-old son Eamon joined the Backchat crew for the three-day series, February 6-8.
Gezzabelle, skippered by Commodore of the RPAYC Allen Stormon, finished third overall, three points off the two front-runners.
Garry Gudmunson’s Organised Chaos finished sixth overall and took out the Teak Seater division, for Adams 10s built pre-1991 with teak seats.
The next event for the Adams 10s is Middle Harbour Yacht Club’s Sydney Harbour Regatta March 6-7, where Rock Solid’s crew will aim to defend their 2020 class victory.
Adams 10 Australian president Anthony Poiner says “Adams sailors are mostly a bunch of old skiffies and the class is Corinthian in nature. We encourage fun and inclusivity….esprit des corps…and getting people owning boats and sailing at regattas, even with those ridiculous Hawaiian shirts. This regatta delivered on every one of those counts – 15 boats, over 100 sailors and a truly great time had by all, on and off the water.”
By Lisa Ratcliff
Photos by Beau Outteridge
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Photos by Damien Boldyrew
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Summer Optimist Regatta gets underway
Day one of MHYC's Summer Optimist Regatta was warm and sunny with a light east south-easterly shifting north east during the afternoon. Races were held on The Sound between Grotto Point and the Gowlland Bombora for the twenty five strong fleet.
After the three races completed today, Ben Crafoord (Underdog) leads from Will Wilkinson (Rocky) and Miles Greenwood (Rallar) in the Open Division. In the Intermediate division, Levi Harrison (Wallygator) is ahead of Walter Heeley (Fish) and Angus Griffin (Pixel).
A further three races are scheduled for tomorrow.
To view the results - click here
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Lazy Dog claims the win for MC38 Act 1
Three races in a light to moderate south easterly concluded the MC38 Class Act 1 at Middle Harbour Yacht Club today.
While the sunshine was welcome after yesterday, the breeze varied in direction and pressure to provide a challenge for competitors.
Race 5, the first of the day, saw a clean start and Lazy Dog (Quentin Stewart) stretching their lead as the race progressed.
Race 6 was a different matter, with Lazy Dog and Dark Star (John Bacon) over at the start and Lightspeed (Steve Barlow) ensnared with the start pin. After several unplanned manoeuvres and penalty turns to start the race and a course change for the fleet on lap two, it was Chris Wray and the team on Easy Tiger who presented first to the finish line ahead of Swish (Stephen Proud) and Ginger (Lesley Green). Lazy Dog’s 6th placing was the only blemish on their perfect record for the weekend.
An extra leg to an upwind finish for the final race rounded out the weekend. Lazy Dog was first ahead of Ginger and Infotrack (Indy Beck).
With Quentin Stewart on the helm this weekend while co-owner Shaun Lane was away, Lazy Dog finished on top of the results table in the seven race Act 1 with a margin of seven points from Ginger and Marcus Blackmore’s Hooligan another five points back.
The next MC38 Regatta is the Australian Championships on March 19-21, again hosted by MHYC.
To view the MC38 Act 1 Results - click here
Many thanks to all the MHYC volunteers for race management and to photographer Marg Fraser-Martin who was on the water rain and shine.
Day Two (Action Photos by Marg Fraser-Martin)
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Day One (Action Photos by Marg Fraser-Martin)
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Chaos at Bedlam Point!
Phil Clinton Photo
There was Chaos at Bedlam Point today during the annual running of the MHYC Feature Race to Abbotsford and return for the Chaos Cup and Bedlam Point Cup, this year sponsored by Telstra Business Technology Centre.
Sydney put on a beautiful sunny day with a moderate south westerly for the 11am pursuit start. As forecast, the breeze moderated and became flaky before building again in the south-east. It was at its flakiest when the fleet bunched up and arrived at the Bedlam Point turning mark. It is reported that there was a great deal of discussion between boats at this point!
Winner of the Chaos Cup for first boat in the spinnaker fleet to cross the line was Ian Box’s Toy Box 2. Toy Box 2 was the Division 1 winner ahead of Little Nico (Adrian Walters) and Khaleesi (Sandy Farquharson). Division 2 winner was Brian Lees’ Contentious from Farr ‘n Away (Chris Lee) and Alliance (Ben Thompson).
Winner of the Bedlam Point Cup for the first non-spinnaker boat home was Tim Horkings and Carl Crafoord on Sail Exchange.
The Jeanneau Cup Series, supported by Performance Boating, included today’s Division 3 racing. The winner was David Ferguson's Starstruck, ahead of Galan (Mike Gallagher) and Ca Va (Peter Lewis).
Winners of the Cock of the Club Teams Trophy were Team #3 – Kayimai (Rob Aldis), Contentious (Brian Lees) and Galan (Mike Gallagher).
Thankyou to Telstra Business Centre for their support of the Chaos and Bedlam Point Cups. The Telstra Business Centre North Sydney will focus on a complete technology solution for your business. Visit them at 53 Berry Street North Sydney or call 9900 9900.
To view the race results – click here
To view the Cock of the Club Teams Trophy Results – click here
Marg Fraser-Martin was an eye in the sky today, getting some great images from a very different perspective. A big thankyou once again Marg!
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Some great racing lights up a grey day
While it was something of a grey (and sometimes damp) but mild Sydney day, a moderate to fresh nor' nor' easterly and a variety of competitive events made for some great yacht racing today.
MHYC is hosting the MC38 Class Act 1 of their 2021 season this weekend and kicked off with four races on The Sound. Quentin Stewart and the experienced team on Lazy Dog, last year's National champions and series winners, were fast in race one and just seemed to get faster, taking a clear win in every race. Lindsay Green and Ginger were the next best performed boat, with Marcus Blackmore and Hooligan third after today's races. Three more races will complete the Act tomorrow.
The MHYC Inshore PHS Series continued today with a course set between Manly Point and Chowder Bay. Rumba (Carr / Cook / Burke) were the Division 2 winners from Galan (Mike Gallagher) and Wailea (Neil Padden). Marc Tromp's Waterborne Again claimed the Division 3 win ahead of Dania (Peter Charteris) and Plan B (Brett & Ken Churcher). Chris Lee at the helm of Ace was the best of the J/24 One Designs.
A number of the MHYC boats went offshore rather than inshore today to contest the CYCA Short Ocean Pointscore Series, also conducted by the MHYC Race Team this afternoon. In Division 1 IRC, Toy Box 2 (Ian Box) was 1st, Khaleesi (Rob Aldis) 2nd and Samarkand (Walter Carpenter) 3rd. In Division 2 IRC, the sole MHYC boat Stormaway (Jack Stening & Colin Gunn) took the win. A dominant show by MHYC crews.
Congratulations to all the club boats who competed today.
To view the MC38 Act 1 Results - click here
To view the Inshore PHS and One Design results - click here
To view the CYCA Short Ocean Pointscore results - click here
Marg Fraser-Martin was back on the water today and captured some great photos under difficult conditions..........
MC38 Act 1 Day 1
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MHYC Inshore Series
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A Perfect Day for the January Cup
The January Cup kicked off MHYC’s Saturday sailing for 2021 today under sunny skies and a moderate south-easterly - a lovely day to be on the Harbour. A Two-Handed Race was held in conjunction with the January Cup, attracting ten entries across the two divisions.
Well done top David Ross and Kukukerchu for taking the double in Division 1. Second in the January Cup was Advanced Philosophy (Peter Sorensen) with Stormaway (Jack Stening & Colin Gunn) third. In the Two-Handed, Kayimai (Rob Aldis was second, ahead of Anitra May (Dion Hart).
Ben Thompson’s Alliance also claimed the double win for Division 2 today. Ace (David West) was second in both races, with Innamincka (John Crawford) claiming third in the January Cup and Kaotic (Catherine Rofe) third in the Two-Handed.
To view the January Cup results – click here
To view the Two Handed Race results – click here
Marg Fraser-Martin kept a lens on the fleet from Middle Head today. Here are some of her images…
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