MHYC Keelboat Sailing Winter Program

Make the most of the cooler months with MHYC program of events on the water and on land.

Afloat

The Winter Pursuit Series kicks off on May 13 with another race in June and two in July.  This is followed by the Leading Edge Series of four pursuit races each Saturday in August.  Four Winter Sprint Series race days are also scheduled, commencing on May 20 and concluding on July 29, with two windward-leeward races each day.  In between, we have two Feature Races – Welcome to Winter on May 27 and Christmas in July on July 15.  You can enter these as spinnaker or non-spinnaker and fully crewed or two-handed.

To view the Winter Pursuit and Leading Edge Series Schedule and Sailing Instructions – click here    

To view the Winter Sprint Series Schedule and Sailing Instructions – click here   

To enter any of these series – click here    

Ashore

There are a series of activities scheduled between May and October to educate, inform and assist members prepare for the 2023-2024 sailing season.

For additional details on each of these sessions – click here

Read more: MHYC Keelboat Sailing Winter Program

2022-2023 Keelboat Results

MHYC Ocean Pointscore Series 2022-2023

Inshore Annual Pointscore 2022-2023 (Mixed Keelboat & Adams 10 - Passage & Sprints)

Inshore Sprints Pointscore 2022-2023 (Mixed Keelboat, Adams10 & Farr 40)

Inshore IRC Annual Pointscore

Inshore Pointscore Division 12

Flagstaff Marine Thursday Twilight Non-Spinnaker Series 2022/23

Smithy's Waterproofing Women's Helm Twilight Series

Series 1 - Pacific Rigging Wednesday Non-Spinnaker

Series 2 - Pacific Rigging Wednesday Non-Spinnaker

Series 3 - Pacific Rigging Wednesday Non-Spinnaker

Series 4 - Pacific Rigging Wednesday Non-Spinnaker

Winter Sprint Series 2023

Winter Pursuit 2023

Leading Edge 2023

Feature Events

Harbour Trek (Incl Beneteau Cup Race 1)

Seven Islands Race (Including Jeanneau Cup Race 1)

January Cup & Two Handed Cup (Incl Jeanneau Cup Race 2)

Chaos Cup & Bedlam Point Cup 2023 (including Beneteau Cup Series Race 3)

ANZAC Day Two Up Cup

Welcome to Winter 2023

Christmas in July 2023

Jeanneau Cup Series 2022-23

Beneteau Cup Series 2022-2023

Read more: 2022-2023 Keelboat Results

Gentle Wednesday Race

The Pacific Rigging Wednesday Non-Spinnaker Race was a quiet affair today, with the north-easterly not rising above six knots.  The fleet managed most of Course 2, sailed between Eastern Channel and Manly, but were shortened at Edwards Beach.  First home in Division 1 was Gordon Ketelbey’s Zen, ahead of Gambler (Garth Riley) and Austmark (Gunther Schmidt-Lindner).  Graeme & Chris Lee’s Far N Away took a four-minute win in Division 2, beating home Renaissance (Gary Carless) and Stormaway (Jack Stening & Colin Gunn).

For the race results – click here

Read more: Gentle Wednesday Race

Free Get Checked Day - Sun 20th August 2023

MHYC holds two annual Get Checked Days for Equipment Audits, which allows Club Members the perfect opportunity to have their boats audited prior to the new sailing season commencing free of charge. The dates for the 2023-2024 season are Saturday 24th June and Sunday 20th August 2023.

Bookings for an equipment audit are to be arranged directly through the MHYC Sailing Office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Inflatable PFD's can be serviced by Boatie Afloat with drop-off and pick-up at the MHYC Marina Office. Get in early to avoid delays in the lead up to the Get Checked Days by contacting Tom Pyne on 0418 242 637 to book in.  Fire extinguisher testing or replacement will be available at the club on the morning of the Get Checked Days. For more information contact David Lavings on 0408 425 460.

Presentation of a Boat for Inspection process

• Boat owners are to complete an Equipment Compliance form prior to the inspection. Audit form can be downloaded here
• The owner or his representative should carry out an initial inspection and tick/sign the appropriate box - making sure to check expiry dates and quality of equipment, as well as identifying the location of equipment that may be asked to be presented during the inspection.
• Necessary equipment should be laid out ready for inspection, including copies of service certificates and any additional safety documentation; ie stowage plans, Epirb registration, Life Raft Service Certificates, PFD Service Certificates. (Cat 1 and 2 inspections - owners should have a copy of these certificates on hand to submit to the auditor as a part of the inspection paperwork.)
• The skipper and knowledgeable crew member should be on board during the inspection.
• The owner's Australian Sailing number and vessel registration details and insurance document shall be made available to the Auditor or the Equipment Compliance form cannot be completed.

Equipment Layout for Inspection

All items required for safety inspection should be laid out prior to the Auditor coming on board. Prior preparation will significantly reduce the time taken to complete the inspection.

• Storm boards ready to be put in place.
• Sea cocks and plugs exposed, not hidden by equipment.
• Know the water and fuel capacity of your tanks
• Fire extinguishers taken from brackets so date tags can be sighted.
• First Aid kits open and items with use by dates on the top so that expiry date can be checked.
• Publications and charts on chart table.
• Emergency navigation lights with batteries fitted.
• PFD's, harnesses, tethers and flares laid out.
• Radio installation inspection certificate.
• Life Raft Certificate
• Jackstays rigged.
• Lifelines tightened.

For appropriate forms and more information click here.

Read more: Free Get Checked Day - Sun 20th August 2023

Ideal autumn day decides Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta winners

An ideal autumn day on Sydney Harbour and offshore decided the winners and new Australian and NSW champions in three classes at Middle Harbour Yacht Club’s 2023 Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta today. 

Some of yesterday’s leaders extended today to claim their respective overall wins, while others came from behind, finding the lovely north- easterly wind more to their liking.

Open Classes

Mark Griffith did his best work yesterday in light airs, claiming all three windward/leeward races with the DK46, LCE Old School Racing. He did enough today, with 2-2-5 results to win Division 1 of the Open Class from another DK46, Nine Dragons, owned by Robert Cox. Keiran Mulcahy’s King 40, Soozal, placed third. The trio are regular top three players.

“Saturday we had a really good day and won by some fairly big margins. Macca (Steve McConaghy) did great job on tactics and we had good speed,” Griffith shared.

“Today we had a good ding-dong battle with Nine Dragons. It wasn’t so easy, but we are pretty happy to come away with two second places today. We lost our bowman over the side in third race, but the crew did an excellent job of retrieval, had him back on board very quickly. We stayed consistent and were able to just hang in there,” Griffith ended.  

Division 2

Serial winner, Stormaway (Colin Gunn and Jack Stening), won Division 2. The Sydney 36 scored four wins and a pair of second places, outsailing Peter Farrugia’s Bullwinkle and Neil Padden’s Wailea. The latter two finished on equal points.

Adams 10 win goes to Artemis

With MHYC celebrating International Women’s day at the regatta today, it seemed appropriate that club member, Tracy Richardson, came from behind to win the division with Artemis. She did so by scoring three straight wins on the windward/leeward courses.

“Best day ever,” a thrilled Richardson said. “Our manoeuvres and crew work were incredible and the conditions suited us,” she said of the building nor’ easter on a perfect sunny day, when a 12 knot breeze worked its way up to 18 knots on the Sydney Harbour course. 

“We got the boat going today. We had great tactics downwind and great competition with Another Dilemma especially. It’s been such close racing. We couldn’t even tell if we’d won the final race it was that close. Good one design racing.”

No Friends (Geoffrey Charters) and Another Dilemma (Jim Vaughan) placed second and third overall respectively and finished on equal points., four behind Artemis.  

Performance Class Spinnaker

Craig Douglas’ Beneteau First 47.7, Popeye, revelled in today’s conditions and took out Division 1 from Eric Frank’s Bliss and Mark Gorbatov’s Blink.

“We did everything right,” Douglas asserted. “We had a strong team on board, the hardcore Popeye sailing team. That’s the reason for our success.

“On Saturday, moving a 13 ton boat in 5 knots was not easy, but the crew work in that light air was exceptional. Today was our sort of wind.”

Division 2

Graeme Dunlop’s Ellipse finished at the top of Division 2, his Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 409 outdid Robert Carr’s regular, Rumba, which couldn’t quite dance into the top spot. Stella Polaris took third.

Division 3

Michael Doherty’s Sequel claimed the Division 3 spoils from Dean Dransfield’s Escape.

The Performance Spinnaker classes were scored under ORC and PHS. Strong fleet numbers provided the most entries and colour at the regatta.

Farr 40 – S1 new NSW champion

Brendan McAssey and crew sailed an exemplary series on SI to be named the Farr 40 NSW champions. S1 won five of the six windward/leeward races and placed second in the other. Gordon Ketelbey’s 1-2-2 lifted Zen up to second overall, Brent Lawson’s Blue Tack settling for third. All are from the host club.

“Our crew work was the difference. We’ve been sailing with the same guys for a while and everyone was on their game this weekend,” McAssey said of the crew who were with him at the 2022 Australian Yachting Championships.

“Ian McKillop, our tactician, was amazing. He made all the right calls. We’re excited to be back sailing again on a fantastic Sydney weekend and at a great regatta.“

Sydney 38 – Conspiracy defends her title successfully

They did not lead coming into the day, but that is fairly typical of Peter Byford and David Hudson, who have retained their Sydney 38 One-Design NSW Championship. The scores were exceptionally close yesterday, with Peter Sorensen’s Advanced Philosophy leading the charge. But as the Conspiracy crew regularly does, they saved the best for last, three straight wins today trumping the rest.

Sorro, after swearing blind yesterday that he would take the title from them this time, finished second overall, three points behind. Greg Croak, who brings Challenge down from Toronto for major events, took third place.

J/99 Inaugural Championship

Jules Hall’s Disko Trooper (CYCA) was too good for the rest. Hall won five of the six windward/leeward races to claim the inaugural J/99 crown. Ian Smith’s Jupiter and Shane Connolly’s Rum Rebellion maintained their respective second and third places of yesterday.

In other results, Sam Haynes was too classy for the rest, winning all six races in the J/70 division. The Sydney vet is on a winning streak on the Harbour and offshore (he won the 2022 Rolex Sydney Hobart). 

In the Fareast 28R division, Ming the Merciless was just that. Her syndicate of five owners, Jono, Neil, Chris, John and Jack, won five of six races for victory over Scott Lawson’s Firecracker and Wildling 3, sailed by the Wildling syndicate.

MHYC thanks naming rights sponsor Nautilus Marine Insurance and supporting sponsor Quality Marine Clothing.

The Club also thanks Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Sydney Amateur Sailing Club, Manly Yacht Club, Royal Australian Navy Sailing Association, Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club, Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club and the Sydney Flying Squadron and their volunteer force, for their valuable support at the 18^th running of the Sydney Harbour Regatta. 

For all divisions’ full results in all divisions, photos and more from the Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta, please visit: https://www.shr.mhyc.com.au/

Di Pearson/MHYC media

Read more: Ideal autumn day decides Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta winners

Thankyou to our Volunteers!

It’s National Volunteer Week and we would like to take this opportunity to say thankyou to all the wonderful volunteers who support our club and enable so many to enjoy their sailing and socialising at MHYC.

Our Race Management Team volunteers are on the water most weekends during the year running club races and regattas.  This is a large and highly skilled team including many who have volunteered regularly over many years.  But an oft-forgotten group are those who give their time on the club’s many committees, supporting a wide range of club activities from sailing to social activities to fundraising.  The MHYC Flag Officers and Board especially make a significant commitment of their time and energy for our club.

As recognition of outstanding voluntary service at MHYC, Phil Darling was presented the 2023 R.B. Cooper Perpetual Award at the Annual Prizegiving last week.  Phil has been an active member on the MHYC Sailing Committee for many years.  He has been Chief Special Regulations Auditor since 2017 and is a member of the Australian Sailing NSW Safety Committee.  Phil presents at MHYC Keelboat Safety Forums and for many years Phil has been coordinating the Free Get Checked Safety Audit days.  He is an excellent auditor and mentor, always willing to help boat owners, and is a great supporter of novice and female crew members improving their skills.

To Phil and all the MHYC volunteers – Thankyou!

Read more: Thankyou to our Volunteers!

Marking International Women’s Day  

On Wednesday 8 March, the world will celebrate International Women’s Day and Middle Harbour Yacht Club (MHYC), through its Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta this weekend, celebrates all those women contesting the regatta, taking part in the on-water race management roles and those ashore who have administration roles.

Women’s participation in the sport of sailing continues to increase in Australia. Through clubs around the country and all the way up to the national and world authorities, specialised programs, learn to sail classes and Women’s regattas are de rigueur these days.

This weekend there are women spread throughout the large fleet of 170 boats participating in Championships and the various divisions in NSW’s largest keelboat event.  

MHYC Sailing Manager, David Staley says, “Middle Harbour Yacht Club has been actively encouraging women to participate over the past few years. The Club’s first Women’s Regatta was held in May 2018 and a Women’s Twilight Series commenced the same year. 

“Since 2021, the Club has arranged activities in conjunction with World Sailing’s Steer the Course program and was one of the foundation clubs contributing to running the Sydney Harbour Women’s Keelboat Series.  

“Club member, Tracy Richardson and crew, sailed a loaned Adams 10 to win the 2022 Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta,” Staley said.

Richardson owns the Adams 10, Artemis. She became interested in sailing eight years ago and has not looked back. Leading into the final day of the Sydney Harbour Regatta last year, she ultimately placed second overall. An extremely competitive sailor, Richardson is also president of the Adams 10 Association.

Janette Syme is skipper of Kaotic in the J/24 division. She won the opening race and placed third in the other two to be placed third overall leading into the final day, today.

“Very tricky weather. We had a very good Race 1 yesterday,” Syme said. The top three boats were very close. We were all in front at some point. We took the lead at the last mark and just won, as the others were coming down to us with breeze.

As to sailing, Syme has loved it since taking up the sport at seven. “I started helming a Flying 11 at 11 and never looked back,” said the grandmother of two. “I haven’t given up on life yet,” she said laughing.

“The reason we’re doing this regatta is to practice for the Lady Liberty Women‘s Regatta in New York in September. It’s in J/24s and there will be crews from 10 nations competing. Catherine Rofe (MHYC Sailing Administrator) is one of the women on our crew.”

Karyn Gojnich is another prime example. She has represented Australia at three Olympic Games, is Rear Commodore of Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron and is a big supporter of growing women’s participation in sailing. For this event, Gojnich is at the helm of the one-design J/70, Jabiru.

Annie Taylor is a long-time inshore and offshore racer. She hops from inshore regattas to one-design sailing and offshore yachting. Here at the Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta, she is racing offshore in IRC Division 2 on Bullwinkle, owned by Peter Farrugia.

Rosemary Merrington returns to fulfill her role on the start crew on E course. Robyn Tames is the Course Race Officer on D course and Alice Murphy, the Sydney Amateur Sailing Club’s Club Captain, is also on D course. Shue Zhang and Renee Spinks are on F course, Sylvia Liang is on the offshore mark boat team on course G and Ali Braden is driving one of the media boats.

Braden is a Laser Radial sailor and Olympic aspirant. She had sailed a Laser 4.7 until switching to the Radial mid-January.

“The Club asked if I would drive the media boat and I was keen to see some cool boats and the good variety of people in the classes, so I said ‘yes’. It’s my first time and it was fun,” the 15 year old said. “I would definitely do it again, I really enjoyed it.”

For all information on the 2023 Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta, including results, please visit: www.shr.mhyc.com.au   

By Di Pearson, MHYC media

Photos by Marg Fraser-Marting & Andrea Francolini

Read more: Marking International Women’s Day  

Sydney Harbour Combined Clubs Inshore & Womens Keelboat Series Prizegiving

MHYC hosted the joint prizegivings for the Sydney Harbour Women’s Keelboat Series and the Sydney Harbour Combined Clubs Inshore Series on Thursday 11 May with a great evening enjoyed by sailors from a variety of clubs.

MHYC’s Katie O’Mara skippered Georgia Express to win Overall along with 1^st Female Helm Spinnaker in Division 1 of the Sydney Harbour Women’s Keelboat Series.

In the Sydney Harbour Combined Clubs Inshore Series, six MHYC boats achieved podium places.  In Division 1, Advanced Philosophy (Peter Sorensen) finished 3^rd on IRC.  In Division 2, Stormaway took the trifecta with series wins on PHS, ORC and IRC.  Wailea (Neil Padden) was 2^nd on PHS.  In Division 3, Innamincka, Waterborne Again and Escape (Dean Dransfield) place 1-2-3 overall on ORC and Innamincka took 2^nd on PHS.

To view the Combined Clubs Inshore Series Results – click here

To view the Sydney Harbour Women’s Keelboat Series Results – click here

Thanks as always to Marg Fraser-Martin for the photos…

Read more: Sydney Harbour Combined Clubs Inshore & Womens Keelboat Series Prizegiving

MHYC Volunteer Race Team for Sydney to Hobart Race

Story by Steve Tucker

Happy volunteers waiting for customers to check-in – photo Renee Spinks       

Whilst the media focuses on the yachts competing in the Rolex Sydney to Hobart race, behind the scenes the MHYC Race Management team is beavering away assisting the CYCA to start the race. 

We first became involved in 2006 and as in previous years we were allocated Line 2.  For this year Line 2 comprised 36 entrants from the IRC 2 and IRC 3 divisions, as well as running the pre-race check-in for all 109 competitors.

The check-in requires all boats to report into the race committee with their storm sails hoisted and also advise the number of people on board.  In previous years these have been combined, however, this year the sailing instructions split them in two; the storm sail check (as normal) but with PoB reporting over the radio.

The day started at MHYC with a 10am briefing when we split the group of 7 into two; one team Sue Morris, Renee Spinks and Kathy Johnson, to run the storm sail checks with Toby Guransky, Phil Clinton and Andrew Ware, to manage the PoB reporting.

By 10:45 we were anchored on station at the pin end of Line 2 and shortly after we had a queue of boats for the storm sail check-in.  All up we checked in all 109 competitors in about 75 minutes.

Competitors with storm sails queuing to Check-in – photo Renee Spinks

With the paperwork completed we positioned ourselves for the start.  The RSHR uses a 10 minute countdown but with the added twist that if a boat is OCS at the start, although the race committee will display the X-flag and make a sound signal and will call OCS on the radio the OCS boat isn’t identified by its sail number until 5 minutes after the start.  Since the I-flag is displayed as the preparatory signal the OCS boat then has to return, round one end of the line and then restart. 

On Line 2 we’ve not had the excitement of an OCS on Line 2 for several years and they can be hard to identify but this year with some time to go B45 was well over and although they managed to get back below the line they were pushed over again by another competitor.

Line 2 with B45 getting uncomfortably close to being OCS – photo Andrew Ware

As an official vessel we operate inside the Exclusion Zone and, more specifically, we’re not allowed to leave it. So after the start with our duties completed we followed the fleet out through The Heads.

Post-Start looking back into the fleet with Toybox 2 in the foreground– photo Renee Spinks

All up a tough day in the office.  Thanks to Greg Young for the use of Leah Tash and to the race management volunteers who gave up their Boxing Day; Andrew Ware, Kathy Johnston, Phil Clinton, Renee Spinks, Steve Aldridge, Sue Morris and Toby Guranscky. 

Read more: MHYC Volunteer Race Team for Sydney to Hobart Race