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.

Read more: Celebrating our Sailors - Part 5

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 4^th.

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

Read more: Farr 40s Smokin’ on Sydney Harbour

Super Group Spring Regatta on November 28 & 29

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 43^rd 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.

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

Read more: Super Group Spring Regatta on November 28 & 29

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

Read more: Busy Weekend of Inshore and Offshore Sailing

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.

Enter SSORC.

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

MHYC Women's Twilight

It was a perfect evening to kick off the MHYC Women's Helm Twilight Pointscore with a fresh north-easterly and comfortable temperature.  

Winners were Skye Patton / Kayimai (Div 1), Samantha Gallagher / Galan (Div 2), Anna Alvsdotter / Slac-n-off (Div 3) and Catherine Thornton-Rofe / Kaotic (Div 4).

Divisional winners in the open fleet of 46 boats were Highly Sprung (Mark Spring) for Div 1, Galan (Samntha Gallagher) for Div 2, Arawai (Derek Minihane) for Div 3 and Thiseldo (Kevin Bloor) for Div 4.

For the Women's Twilight Results - click here

For the ThursdayTwilight Results - click here

Read more: MHYC Women's Twilight

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 2^nd place and Rumba in 3rd place.

For full results - click here

Read more: Pacific Rigging Wednesday Series

MHYC Dominate at the Gosford J24 Regatta

Eight boats from Sydney Harbour ventured up to the Gosford Sailing Club for the J24 Regatta over the long weekend.             

This included four MHYC boats, Ace, Innamincka, Waterborne Again and Okavango Delta.The breeze was a North Easterly sea breeze with blue skies and sunshine and no sign of the rain that has been endured in the past.

Eleven boats battled it out for the prize on the beautiful Brisbane Waters with 4 races completed on the first day taking advantage of the fresh breeze followed by 2 races on the Sunday.The scratch winner of the regatta was Ace, skippered by David West who was on equal points with Innaminka, skippered by John Crawford. The final result was decided on a count back. Third was Sailpac skippered by Sean Kirkjian with his team from Pacific Sailing School. 

4^th Kaotic – Garth Riley, 5^th Okavango Delta – Janette Syme, 6^th Blackjack – Alvaro Mejia, 7^th Bandit – Terry Wise,

8^th Starpac – John Gardner, 9^th Pacatack – Wendy Tuck, 10^th Waterbourne Again – Matt Miles, 11^th Artesia – Cameron Cooke.

The handicap winner was Blackjack skippered by Alvaro Mejia from Pacific Sailing School, second on handicap was Okavango Delta skippered by Janette Syme in her new boat co-owned by Rhoslyn Humphres. Third was Kaotic skippered by Garth Riley in his first J24 Regatta.

Congratulations to winner Dave West, sailing consistently fast with many top places.

A big thanks was passed on to John Crawford who was at the NSW Association head for over 10 years and welcome given to new president Chris Lee for MHYC.

 To the Race Regatta team headed again by Peter Walsh, we thank you for arranging the perfect conditions and perfect race starts.

All the boats and crew are looking forward to the State Titles to be held at RPAYC at the end of the month.

For more information click here

Read more: MHYC Dominate at the Gosford J24 Regatta