The prizegiving ceremony for the 2023 Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta attracted 150 guests to Middle Harbour Yacht Club on a very warm evening tonight with a great atmosphere. 

MHYC Special Events Chairman, Ian Box, was MC and congratulated all 156 entrants in this year’s regatta, especially those who contested Australian or State Championships as part of the event.  There were almost one thousand competitors this year.  To be able to deliver 89 races for 17 divisions across 7 course areas takes an enormous effort and the event ran smoothly with a full program of races for all classes and 5 protests resolved by the Jury. 

 Along with prize presentations to the placegetters in all divisions, a number of special awards were made.  Best performance by a female skipper and a Chandon pack was awarded to Tracy Richardson who sailed her Adams 10 Artemis to three straight wins on the final day to win the regatta.  The crew prizes, $500 Ross & Whitcroft clothing vouchers and pairs of Maui Jim sunglasses, were drawn and awarded to Pam Fagence from Never A Dull Moment (Performance Non-Spinnaker) and Duncan Stenger from Siena (J/99 Australian Championships). 

The Grand Prizes were also drawn with the third place prize, a $1000 Nautilus Marine Insurance voucher and a Young Henry's Brewery Tour and Tastings for 10 crew, going to Graeme Dunlop and Ellipse from CYCA (Performance Spinnaker Division 2).  The second place prize, three night's accommodation at Hamilton Island and a reef tour along with a Manly Spirits "Distillery Experience" for a crew of 10, went to Ian Quarrie and Ascalon from RPAYC (Performance Spinnaker Division 1).  The Grand First Prize, A V8 Supercar Track Day courtesy of Steadfast and a $1500 Ross & Whitcroft clothing voucher, was presented to Jules Hall and Disko Trooper from CYCA (J/99 Australian Championships).

The regatta would not be possible without the support of CYCA, Manly YC, RANSA, RPAYC, RPEYC, RSYS, SASC, Sydney Flying Squadron and a collective team of 85 race management volunteers.  We are fortunate to also have the support of Nautilus Marine Insurance as principal sponsor along with supporting sponsors Quality Marine Clothing, Flagstaff Marine, Pacific Rigging, Maui Jim and Manly Spirits.

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

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

A light and shifty nor’ easter kept competitors on their toes at the 2023 Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta today, favouring the lighter boats and those who were able to pick the crafty shifts and remain patient.

These qualities were especially important for those contesting the Sydney 38 OD NSW Championship, the inaugural J/99 Australian Championship and the Farr 40 NSW Championship at the Middle Harbour Yacht Club (MHYC) organised event.

Sydney 38

A mixed day among the Sydney 38 fleet means the Championship is wide open. The class did three windward/leewards offshore, with Advanced Philosophy (Peter Sorensen), Challenge (Greg Croak) and the defending champions on Conspiracy (Peter Byford/David Hudson) all recipients of wins. 

Advanced Philosophy leads after scoring 1-2-3 results, while Conspiracy finished with 2-4-1 and Challenge with 4-1-2. There exists just one point between the three. Conspiracy’s rivals will need to stay on their toes tomorrow, as Byford and Hudson have developed the bad habit of having their own way on final day of events and even final races.

“Three of us shared the wins and it could go any way,” Croak said of the Championship. “it was a very difficult day, but it didn’t turn out too bad for us, except we lost our electrics, so had no wind instruments for two races. Actually, we won one after we lost them, so maybe we’re better off without the instruments,” he mused.

J/99

Jules Hall’s Disko Trooper (CYCA), winner of the Two-Handed division in the 2021 Rolex Sydney Hobart, leads the inaugural J/99 Championship on countback to Ian Smith’s Jupiter (MYC) after scoring two bullets and a fourth place.

“It was jolly tricky in the Sound. There were plenty of holes which we did an excellent job of finding,” Hall said laughing. ”But when we got in phase it was excellent racing and super close. It was a fantastic first day of racing. The goal is to finish cream of the crop, but you have to work hard,” he said after the three windward/leeward races.

Farr 40

Brendan McAssey is the target in the Farr 40 NSW Championship after victory in all three races today. McAssey’s S1 defeated Blue Tack (Brent Lawson) for the win in Races 1 and 2 and Gordon Ketelbey’s Zen in the third race to lead. All three are representing MHYC.

J/70

Sam Haynes, the 2022 Sydney Hobart winner, won all three races in the J70 class with Celestial. Maybe-J (Michael Nash) is second and Jabberwocky (Andrew Tompson) has claimed third overall.

“Quite a light nor’ easterly, variable,” said Haynes, Vice Commodore of the CYCA. In the area of the Harbour that we sailed, there was quite a bit of traffic, including ferries. The starts were close, but we managed to just get in front and stay in front, working the shifts.

“It was pretty close racing with the guys behind us , like Maybe-J, Yknot and Jabberwocky. Everyone had their moments. You could easily be in a good position and then get out of phase or get caught in the traffic.

“It was quite hot out there, but the race officials were good. The courses were good - not too long – and they got us away quickly too,” Haynes ended.

The Historical 18 foot skiffs contested just one race this afternoon, racing in the area around Manly. Podium regular, Yendys, skippered by Grant Wakefield, made the most of the light breeze to defeat Alruth (Alan Robertson) and Australia IV (Terry Stewart) for the spoils.

In other results, Bruce Tavener (DSC) leads the Super 30 class with his Flying Tiger, Ophir, by one point to Very Tasty (Tasty syndicate), following three windward/leeward races.

Marcus Blackmore’s MC38, Hooligan, has gone to the top of the class in the Super 40s, just a point in front of Michael Ritchie’s self-designed Ritche 38, Revolver. Both are from RPAYC. Darryl Hodgkinson’s Carkeek 40, Victoire (CYCA), won Race 2 and is third overall.  

Racing continues from 11am tomorrow and will decide the winners of each Championship and the remaining 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

Numbers are building for the 2023 Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta and the good news is that organiser, Middle Harbour Yacht Club (MHYC), has extended the early entry fee to 28 February 2023.

To take place on the weekend of 4-5 March, the headline acts will be the 2023 Sydney 38 NSW Championship, the inaugural J/99 Australian Championships, and the Farr 40 NSW Championship.

The J/99 title is to be decided by six windward-leeward races, in the same race area as the Super 30 and Super 40 groups. A new kid on the block is the J/99, Chris O’Neill’s Blue Planet. She only made the 2022 Rolex Sydney Hobart start line by a whisker due to a late launch, so is yet to reveal her true potential.

Another new boat that bears watching is David Ross’ Super 30 entry, Kukukerchu, a Cape 31. If his previous Cape 31 of the same name is anything to go by, look out!

The Farr 40s will race on the same course area as the Adams 10 and J/24 fleets. First to enter was Brendan McAssey with S1. McAssey almost tasted success at the 2022 Australian Yachting Championships, but just missed the podium, placing fourth overall.

Rob Reynolds Exile is also entered and Jeff Carter has thrown his hat in the ring with Edake. Holder of three NSW Championships, the 2022 National title and a reigning two-time Corinthian World Champion, Edake should be the one to beat.

“Nuh Uh,” says Carter. I’m giving everyone a good chance to beat me. I’ve got all my old crew. We haven’t sailed together for around 12 years. We’ll be sailing off with Exile for the ‘Dad’s Army’ award,” Carter said laughing. “Come and get us - but be a bit gentle.”       

The Super 40s are shaping up nicely with the likes of Michael Ritchie’s Revolver. The self-designed Ritchie 38 will arrive from Pittwater having placed third overall in Division 2 at the NSW ORC Championships. Ross Hennessy has entered Condor and the ultra-competitive ‘Dr Darryl’ Hodgkinson has signed up with Victoire.

And speaking of ultra-competitive, rumour has it that Marcus Blackmore will be competing in this division with his MC38, Hooligan.

Some other classes will have their own division, such as the Fareast 28R, which will share a course area with the J/70s.

“It will be an action-packed weekend of racing across many different classes and divisions and we’re excited to be hosting Championship events at the Sydney Harbour Regatta this year,” said MHYC Commodore, Rob Aldis, who will race Kayimai in Spinnaker Division 1, while Sandy Farquharson, his partner in the DK46, Khaleesi, will race in the Open IRC class.

Khaleesi will face all those she competed against at the NSW ORC Championship at Pittwater a couple of weeks ago. Most formidable is Gerry Hatton’s Bushranger, which won five of six races to successfully defend the title. Then there are the rest… 

Division 2 is as strong. Peter Farrugia’s Bullwinkle and Martin Cross’s Transcendence Crento finished second and third in that division at the NSW ORC Championships and are coming from Pittwater to have another go.

Despite Sydney boats competing at the Australian Yachting Championships at Port Lincoln, a small fleet of TP52s is on the cards. Gordon Ketelbey is trucking his globe-trotting Zen back from South Australia specially to take part. 

Craig Neil, owner of Quest and President of the TP52 class association commented, “We expect the TP52s to be at the Sydney Harbour Regatta in force next year. A couple are having repairs after the Hobart, others, like us, are at Port Lincoln and one is in the build stage.”  

For the first time, the primary scoring system to be used for the for Performance Spinnaker divisions is ORC Club, with PHS the secondary scoring system. ORC is becoming increasingly popular among the masses. Who will win? Only time will tell.

Everyone is expected to be at their best to make it into the Grand Prize Draw to be conducted at the Official Presentation on Monday 6 March. Each boat placing first, second and third in any Class/Division where six or more entries have been received, are eligible.

First Place Draw is for a – A V8 Supercar Track Day at Sydney Motor Sport Park and a Ross & Whitcroft Quality Marine Clothing Merchandise voucher valued at $1,500.

Second Place Draw – Three nights’ Hamilton Island accommodation for two persons, including a Reef Tour and a Gin Company ‘Distillery Experience.’

Third Place Draw – A Nautilus Marine Insurance voucher for $1,000 and a ‘Brewery Experience’.

Crews don’t miss out. A Crew Prizes Draw for two Ross & Whitcroft Quality Marine Clothing merchandise vouchers to the value of $500 and pairs of Maui Jim sunglasses – one for male crew members and one for female crew members, will also be presented at the Official Presentation.

Don’t miss out, enter the Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta now at:  www.shr.mhyc.com.au 

Di Pearson/MHYC media

The Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta will take place on the weekend of 4-5 March, with online entry now open and the Notice of Race published for the largest annual keelboat regatta in NSW, organised by Middle Harbour Yacht Club (MHYC) since 2006.

Traditionally held on the first weekend of March annually, the regatta attracts up to 200 boats across 19 divisions racing over seven course areas. Competitors from Olympians to world champions, America’s Cup stars to ocean racing’s finest and club racers all enjoy this autumn regatta.

“We expect another robust showing in 2023 with strong competition for the J/99 and Sydney 38 Championships, the other one design divisions and remaining classes. With entries from all over NSW and some from interstate, we expect no less,” MHYC Commodore, Rob Aldis said. 

Aldis and Sandy Farquharson recently returned from skippering Khaleesi, their DK46, to Rolex Sydney Hobart fourth in IRC Division 2 and third in ORCi Division 2. A Past Commodore, Ian Box, was in the same division with Toybox 2. Both are regulars in the Open class for IRC and ORCi entrants. 

The Open divisions sail on offshore courses. The remainder cover Sydney Harbour in a blaze of colour from the Opera House down to the Sound between North and South Heads.

In 2023, the Sydney Harbour Regatta will host the Sydney 38 NSW Championship, to be defended by Peter Byford and David Hudson’s Conspiracy. It will also host the J/99 Australian and NSW Championships.

A fairly new breed in Australia, Jules Hall’s J/99 Disko Trooper, the 2021 Sydney Hobart Two-Handed division winner, is the benchmark. Ray Entwistle’s Jedi, Shane Connelly’s Rum Rebellion and Chris O’Neill’s Blue Planet, launched late last year, are expected to start.  

Other classes include Performance Spinnaker and Non-Spinnaker divisions which typically deliver the most entries and the most colour. In Division 1, Peter Sorenson’s Advanced Philosophy won by two points from Brendan McAssey’s S1 in 2022. They will likely return. 

The same came be said for Division 2’s top two: Jack Stening and Colin Gunn’s Stormaway, and second placed Graeme Neuhaus’ Crowded Haus. Just two points rested between them.

Other divisions include the former Olympic class Yngling and the exciting speed machine Super 30 and 40 classes. 

In the Super 30’s, expect the return of 2022 winner, Peter Woodhead’s XC3SS and runner-up, Brian Tavener’s Ophir. In the ‘40’s’, you will find the likes of reigning champion Revolver (Michael Ritchie), second placed Victoire owned by 2013 Sydney Hobart winner, Darryl Hodgkinson and Little Nico (Adrian Walters).

The Super 50s, namely the grand prix TP52 class, is expected to be hotly contested with a few more joining the ranks in the last year.

David Doherty’s Matador won the class at the SHR last year and placed second at the Australian Yachting Championships in August. She was only beaten by the newest in the bunch, the 2021 launched international Caro, representing New Zealand.

One design boats include: J70s, the class gaining momentum since making their presence felt in numbers in 2017, along with the evergreen J24’s and Adams 10‘s, one of the most fiercely contested classes.   

Telling its own story, the Adams 10 was led  by Tracy Richardson’s Artemis on countback to Brian Lees’ Contentious on the final day last year, but Lees won by three points in the end. 

Historical 18 foot skiffs, bringing back memories of yesteryear, are the most recognisable class, with their wooden hulls and gaff rigs, their crews resplendent in their team footy jumpers. The Jerry Tickner skippered Aberdare is defending champion.

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, for their valuable support. 

Come and join in the 18th running of this major event. For the Notice of Race, to enter and all information on the Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta, please visit: https://www.shr.mhyc.com.au/ 

Di Pearson/MHYC media

Middle Harbour Yacht Club’s (MHYC) Sydney Harbour Regatta (SHR) concluded this afternoon with winners decided after competitors dealt with big gusty winds, heavy downpours interspersed with a teasing watery sun for a short spell, before the clouds closed over and visibility became limited. 

All courses were sailed on Sydney Harbour today, including the Open IRC and Super 50 fleets. The two divisions started and finished their three races at Watsons Bay. All bar the Super 40s were away on time in a 15-knot breeze, gusting to 18 knots, substantially more than the forecast 10 knots.

The Super 40 start was delayed when Adrian Walters’ Little Nico broached and lost two crew members overboard. This is an experienced owner and crew, so both were crew retrieved quickly and are fine. From there, Walters decided to abandon racing for the day. 

IRC Open

Nine Dragons (Bob Cox) led Keiran Mulcahy’s Soozal by one point, with Mark Hellyer’s Cicero is a further four points behind in third place when they headed to the race course today for two more races. Cox’s win and a second means he is the clear winner by seven points from Cicero. Soozal placed third, a further point behind. It was a delayed gift, as Cox had a birthday on 3 March.

“I’m very happy with our result,” Cox said. “It was a shame a couple of boats from RPAYC couldn’t make it, especially Bushranger, it’s so competitive. It was still very close competition, especially with us and Khaleesi at the bigger end and Soozal at the smaller end. Soozal never gives up.

“It was very shifty today. The windward/leeward races were good to get our crew work sorted out. It’s been good practice for Sail Port Stephens. We’ve had five wins there in the past, and we’re going back to try again,” Cox ended.

Super 50

The new kid on the block, David Doherty (Matador) has carted off first place in the Super 50 division, which also doubles as the first event of the inaugural TP52 Series. Matador beat local boat, Zen (Gordon Ketelbey) to the punch by four points. Matt Donald/Chris Townsend’s Gweilo carried over their third place from yesterday, a further four points in arears.  

Super 40

Revolver’s (Michael Ritchie) fourth place today was enough to give her the series win after she led into the day with two wins. With Little Nico (Adrian Walters) out of the picture, Darryl Hodgkinson moved up to second overall with his Carkeek 40, Victoire, his Race 3 win lifting him up. 

Super 30

Peter Woodhead’s XC3SS trailed BruceTavener’s Ophir coming into the day and Woodhead followed through. Seventh and fourth places gave the local sailor a three-point buffer over Ophir. 

J/70

New NSW J/70 champion, Reg Lord (Juno) has made two on the trot, winning the class at this Sydney Harbour Regatta. Runner up at the Championship, Tim Ryan and his Vamos, made a comeback to finish runner-up here as well. It shows how consistently well these two boats sail.

Adams 10

Tracy Richardson’s Artemis led Brian Lees’ Contentious on countback coming into the day, but Lees bounced back to claim the overall win from Richardson by three points. The competition between the two was thrilling.

“Last time I won, I won an Audi. We’ve won here a couple of times. Looks like we’ve come good again – older and smarter,” Lees said laughing.

“I was pleased to see Tracey do well – she hasn’t been sailing very long. We didn’t find the conditions too hard to handle. On our course the breeze was pretty consistent. It was very tight racing and we had a few close calls. The boats were doing 10 and 11 knots quite a lot of the time.”

Black Adder new Yngling NSW champion

Gary Pearce (Black Adder) had the bit between the teeth, unwilling to relinquish the 2-point lead he carried into the day from Gary Wogas (Karma) in the Yngling NSW Championship. Pearce and crew fired off three more bullets from three races. He claimed the title from Wogas, who scored a trio of second places. Jan Newland’s Yertl held onto third overall, scoring a trio of third places.

Performance Spinnaker Divisions 1 and 2

Peter Sorenson (Advanced Philosophy) kept the pressure on Brendan McAssey’s S1 to win overall by two points, the same margin he led by yesterday. It seemed likely the win would be between the pair – and so it was. Sorro was always going to be the benchmark, but he is still tinkering with his Sydney 38 and changing crew around.

“Rain, wind, it was very unpleasant,” Sorensen commented. “In the second race we got pushed over the line early, had to come back, then broached gybing the spinnaker in 20 knots - and nearly ran into a start boat – not the one for our course though.

“It was a terrific race otherwise,” he said without a hint of sarcasm. “It was very fast. We saw 32 knots, but generally it was under 25, it was coming and going.”

Sorensen owed his success, he said, “To changing the crew around a bit and it worked pretty well,” he said. “I’m pretty pleased with how we went, especially after finishing second to Conspiracy at the Sydney 38 NSW Championship a couple of weeks ago.”

In Division 2, it was unusual to see the Jack Stening/Colin Gunn sailed Stormaway out of the top placings at the end of yesterday, but the pair ‘stormed’ home with third and fourth places to steal the series from under the noses of the rest. Graeme Neuhaus, who sat in second place coming into the day with Crowded Haus, finished the regatta the same way, two points adrift of the victors.

However, neither of the top two won a race today. Simon Oliver’s Odyssey claimed Race 3 and Rumba (Rob Carr/Steph Cook/Kerry Burke) won Race 4.

Performance Spinnaker Division 3 and Non-Spinnaker Division

John Crawford finished the way he started. Innamincka led the Beth Abbott skippered Rapid Transit in Performance Spinnaker Division 3 coming into the day and has won the series from Abbott cleanly, six points separating the pair after a further two races were sailed.

Neither won a race today, those honours went to Dean Dransfield’s Escape (Race 3) and Michael Bleakley’s Scaramouch (Race 4), lifting the two up to third and fourth places overall respectively.

John Crawford came ashore unaware Innamincka had won. “Are you sure? I didn’t think we had that good a day. The weather suited the bigger heavier boats. We’re very happy to win. The forecast was miserable, we got a bit of rain, but nothing horrendous,” he said.

MHYC did a good job with this regatta. Sydney Amateur Sailing Club and RANSA ran our courses and did a good job too.” 

In the Non-Spinnaker division, yesterday’s leader, Sea Change, skippered by charterer, Angus Ekberg, held on to win overall – just. Sixth and third places meant he won on countback from Nathan Lockhart’s Scarborough, which scored fourth and second places today. John De Meur’s Elysium won Race 3 to finish third overall, while the Race 4 win went to Martin Blake/Mark Bothwell’s Sol.

Post-race festivities included a DJ on the beach in front of the Club as crews made the most of a sausage sizzle and drinks, including at the Fever Tree Gin Bar.

The official presentation and prize giving will be held tomorrow (Monday) evening at 1900 hours at Middle Harbour Yacht Club. The Grand Prizes will also be drawn at this time.

Middle Harbour Yacht Club acknowledges the support of Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Sydney Amateur Sailing Club, Royal Australian Navy Sailing Association, Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club, Manly Yacht Club, Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club and the Sydney Flying Squadron. 

MHYC wishes to thank key sponsors: Club Marine, Robert Oatley Wines, Short Marine, Quality Marine Clothing and Telstra Business Technology Centre.

All information on the Sydney Harbour Regatta, including results at: www.shr.mhyc.com.au  

By Di Pearson, MHYC media

Tuesday 8 March marks International Women’s Day 2022 and here at Middle Harbour Yacht Club (MHYC) this weekend, we salute all females taking part in the Sydney Harbour Regatta (SHR), NSW’s largest keelboat regatta.

Women are involved at all levels in this event, from sailing to race management on and off the water to media boat drivers and protest committee members.

Encouraged by the national authority, Australian Sailing, and clubs around Australia, women’s participation in sailing is growing substantially via specialised programs, learn to sail classes and Women’s regattas.

This weekend there are women spread throughout the classes and divisions. Owner/skippers include Tracy Richardson, owner of the Adams 10 Artemis.  Richardson, the new president of the Adams 10 Association, started sailing only seven years ago. “I turned up to Middle Harbour Yacht Club to try twilight racing on a Thursday night. I loved it – I couldn’t get enough,” she said. “Then my brother-in-law and I bought Artemis in February last year.”

Going into today’s final races, Richardson leads the pointscore, unusual for a relative newcomer racing against those who have been around for years. And the class is super competitive.

In the Yngling keelboat, once an Olympic class, you will find Jan Newland. She is contesting the Yngling NSW Championship and is in a good third place overall coming into the final day.

In Performance Spinnaker racing, one of the largest fleets sailing at the regatta on Sydney Harbour is Lisa Callaghan with her Sydney 38, Mondo. Callaghan is also the President of Manly Sailing Club. Stephanie Cook is the enduring co-owner of Rumba, a Northshore 370. In the same division is Julie Clark, who has entered Senta, a Beneteau First 35.

Cook’s advice for newcomers: “Try twilight sailing at your local yacht club. Most have a list you can put your name on. It’s a great way to see if you like the sport . It’s very friendly, social. You don’t usually need experience to do the twilights and it fits in with most people’s work hours.

“You could also do a competent crew course through your local club’s sailing school. They normally introduce you to boats to race on as part of the deal. “They’re not cheap to buy and run, so you want to know you’re in for the long-term, not just a season.”

Racing aboard Keiran Mulcahy’s Soozal in the IRC Open Class offshore, and currently placed second, is Stacey Jackson. A veteran of 14 Sydney Hobarts, Jackson skippered an all-female crew on Wild Oats X to second overall in the 2018 Hobart. She used that campaign to highlight the high calibre of women sailors. She also has a Volvo Ocean Race behind her.  

An internationally respected yachtswoman, Jackson is a huge advocate of women in sailing and a mentor through the international women’s Magenta Project. She has a vision – and that is to see the day when there is parity in numbers between male and female sailors.

Lisa Wilkinson does mainsheet on husband, Matt’s competitive Farr 30, Foreign Affair. “She’s very good at it – she does a very good job,” says Matt, “She races with us in all inshore events.”

Annie Taylor from the Northern Beaches is a long-time inshore and offshore racer. Taylor sails anything from one-design to small and larger yachts. At the Sydney Harbour Regatta she is in the IRC Racing division aboard Pete Farrugia’s Bullwinkle.

On the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club start crew is another Northern Beaches resident, Rosemary Merrington. She and husband Steve are integral to on-water race management teams at regattas and events Australia wide.

“It’s been at least 15 years and I still enjoy it,” says Merrington, whose interest is highlighted by the Merrington sons, Peter ‘Billy’ and Anthony, who sail at the grand prix level.

Sailing Administrator at MHYC is Catherine Rofe, who is also on the race committee at Manly Yacht Club. Rofe raced aboard the all-female crew aboard Calibre in the Sydney 38 One Design NSW Championship last month. Skippered by Liz Charles, the boat was chartered for them by the Sydney 38 Association which was keen to have more women sailing in the class and perhaps buying into it.

Although the crew had not sailed together on the one-design Sydney 38 before, they finished third on countback in a quality field, indicative of female talent in Australia these days.

“She is all over sailing,” MHYC’s Sailing Manager, David Staley says. “If there’s a race on, J24s, Sydney 38s, whatever, she’ll be there. She’s passionate about sailing and does a great job with us.”

Driving a media boat this weekend is MHYC youth sailing instructor, Jess Longstaff. She coaches the Optimist class and has a background sailing Lasers, Pacers and 420s.

“I started sailing at six or seven through my dad,” Longstaff comments. “I love the different people of all ages I meet, sailing a lot of different boats. I just love being on the water,” says the 18-year-old, who was Sailing Captain at Wenona School.

On the protest committee, the Chairperson is Erica Kirby. She has been involved in umpiring, judging and sits on protest committees for the last 12 years. She is a rarity and says, “I’d love to have more women involved, especially in NSW. I’d advise interested women to get involved in the jury at your local club and see if it appeals. It’s very rewarding - I love travelling to different events.”

MHYC is a champion of women involved in all aspects of sailing. Julie Hodder is a past commodore and remains a respected navigator in offshore racing with 13 Sydney Hobarts on her resume. She has also co-owned grand prix racing yachts. Hodder would usually be sailing at this event but was tied up with a niece’s wedding this weekend.

For all information on the Sydney Harbour Regatta, including results: www.shr.mhyc.com.au   

By Di Pearson, MHYC media

The veil of fog lifted just in time for the start of the Sydney Harbour Regatta (SHR) this morning, with racing due to start from 11am on the eight course areas from the Harbour Bridge to Manly on Sydney Harbour. 

A 3-knot breeze meant racing on the IRC Open and Super 50 offshore course was delayed. The AP came down and the Warning Signal replaced it at 11.40am in the Middle Harbour Yacht Club (MHYC) hosted event, now in its 17^th year.

IRC Open

Three windward/leeward races sorted out who was best in light airs offshore. Nine Dragons, with MHYC’s Bob Cox at the helm, came out fighting and ended the day with a pair of second places and a win to be one point ahead of Keiran Mulcahy’s Soozal, which scored 1-3-2 results. Mark Hellyer’s Cicero is a further four points adrift in third place.

Super 50

The Super 50 class, comprised solely of TP52s, using the SHR for the opener of a brand-new TP52 series. They sailed on the same offshore windward/leeward course area as the IRC Open fleet with longer beat. Just who will win this inaugural series remains to be seen, but today, the relatively unknown Matador (David Doherty) was teaching the masters a lesson.

Doherty tipped the scales in his favour with a third and a pair of wins to lead Gordon Ketelbey’s Zen by two points. Matt Donald/Chris Townsend’s Gweilo is a further point away in third. 

James Corrie, mainsail trimmer on Matador, explained this afternoon: “We’ve been working on things for a little while now and a couple of combinations are coming together and working out well for us. Everything is starting to gel.

“The racing was close between all of us. The new TP52 series is our focus. David bought the boat from Geoff Boettcher (former Secret Mens Business) 12 months ago. This is his second season in the boat,” he said of Doherty who is new to the grand prix racing scene.

Super 40

Revolver (Michael Ritchie), arriving here on the back of second place at the Pittwater Regatta, won both races from Little Nico (Adrian Walters). “We had a pretty good day. We’re really happy with that. The boat was launched five years ago and it’s taken us that long to get it working the way we want it.

“I think the light conditions suited us. We put ourselves in the right place on the course and our downwind speed helped us, we were able to sail deeper downwind. We were able to hang on upwind, which surprised me, as all the others have square top mains, we have the conventional rig.”

Super 30

The Super 30 class boasts a large and fast fleet of 20 ‘all-sorts’ and shared a race area on the northern section of the Harbour with the Super 40s. Super 30s contested two windward-leeward races followed by a short passage race. Brian Tavener’s Ophir came off best in Race 1, with Guy Irwin’s Clewless? charging home for second, just 21 seconds separating the pair. Tavener reversed the results in Race 2, just 17 seconds between them when the handicaps were applied

It came down to the passage race, which not unexpectedly, changed the shape of the results. The race was won by Peter Woodhead’s XC3SS, which has taken the series lead from Ophir. Clewless? has dropped out of the picture for now after finishing 18^th in Race 3.

J/70

New NSW J/70 champion, Reg Lord (Juno), came out firing in the light airs on Sydney Harbour, with a trio of wins, proving he is the one to beat. Andrew Tompson’s Jabberwocky scored 3-2-2 results to claim second place, with three races remaining. Tim Ryan and his Vamos finished second at the NSW Championship, but could not get up enough steam today and is sitting in fourth place.

Adams 10

The Adams 10s raced on the same windward/leeward courses as the J/70s in North Harbour. This class is always a battle to the last. Tracy Richardson’s Artemis finished at the top of the pile after three races. She leads Brian Lees (Contentious), but the two are on equal points.

The lone female in the class here, Richardson only took up sailing seven years ago: “We are excited and pleasantly surprised to be where we are. It’s very close racing, very competitive, but we’ve trained hard and worked to get the boat up to scratch,” she said.

Yngling NSW Championship

Gary Pearce and his Black Adder crew put the rest on notice on the first day of the Yngling NSW Championship. They ended the day with 1-2-1 results. Gary Wogas is in second place with Karma, after scoring 3-1-2 results. Jan Newland’s Yertl is in third place after finishing 2-3-3. This Championship is likely to come down to the wire.

“I’ve been sailing Black Adder for about 10 years,” Pearce said. “The last couple of seasons we’ve been working towards this. Unfortunately, Hamish Jarrett (Miss Pibb, the gun boat of the fleet) couldn’t make it this weekend, so we can’t prove how our performance has improved. We were very pleased with the day though.

“The first race started out around 7 knots and by Race 2, we were getting gusts to 12 knots. It was really nice sailing conditions. Tomorrow we’ll have to sail smart: Get a good start, start on the right side of the course, get the angles right and stay in the breeze downwind,” he said.

Performance Spinnaker Divisions 1 and 2

These two divisions contested two races from start area D. Brendan McAssey’s S1 made the best start to the day, claiming Race 1 in Division 1 from Peter Sorenson’s Advanced Philosophy. It’s no easy feat beating Sorro, the master of many classes. And that being said, it was the return of Sorro when his pair of second places trumped S1’s win and fifth place. Sorro leads.

Twelve seconds decided Division 2s first race and Steve Nash/Paul Stubbs’ Irukandji was the victor from Graeme Neuhaus’ Crowded Haus.Race 2 and Irukandji kept her series lead from Crowded Haus when the two scored second and fourth places respectively.

“A bit unexpected to do so well, but your always hope for the best and give it your best shot. We’ve got a good regular crew and it was very much a team effort. It’s working out well for us,” Nash commented.

“It was light on for breeze in Race 1, so it was a bit easier to sail the second race. It was a short race though, so you had to get a good start, which we did. There was a bit of congestion on the line, with 32 boats, but we all got through it.” 

Performance Spinnaker Division 3 and Non-Spinnaker Division

The two divisions raced on course area C, in the vicinity of Taronga Zoo where the giraffes would have been able to enjoy the view.

John Crawford’s Innaminicka leads the Beth Abbott skippered Rapid Transit in Performance Spinnaker Division 3 by six points, following Crawford’s two wins. John Vickery’s Windsong is in third place going into tomorrow’s final races.

Meanwhile, in Non-Spinnaker, Angus Ekberg’s Sea Change has the upper hand over Larki Missiris’ Molon Labe -  meaning ‘come and take them’, which is what Missiris usually does on the race course. Sea Change is just three points ahead, so who knows what the final outcome will be tomorrow.

This afternoon and into the evening, crews were kicking back on the beach in front of the Club for a sausage sizzle and drinks and relaxing post-race music, not to mention the Fever Tree Gin Bar. 

Middle Harbour Yacht Club acknowledges the support of Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Sydney Amateur Sailing Club, Royal Australian Navy Sailing Association, Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club, Manly Yacht Club, Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club and the Sydney Flying Squadron.   Our thanks go to key sponsors: Club Marine, Robert Oatley Wines, Short Marine, Quality Marine Clothing and Telstra Business Technology Centre.

All information on the Sydney Harbour Regatta, including results at: www.shr.mhyc.com.au  

By Di Pearson, MHYC media

Here are some important updates for this weekend's Sydney Harbour Regatta:

• The Sailing Instructions are now published and available for download from the regatta website - click here
• Crew registration is now open for Saturday 5 March.  Crew registration for Day Two will open at 6am on Sunday - click here
• Competitor packs can be collected from 9am tomorrow.  Packs are available from MHYC but competitors from CYCA and RSYS can collect their packs from their own clubs’ Sailing Office.  Packs include backstay flags which must be displayed.
• Grand Prizes – Some great Grand Prizes have been announced.  Download the Notice to Competitors - click here
• Crew prize – Each crew member with a valid Australian Sailing number who is registered for racing in the Sydney Harbour Regatta will be eligible for a great crew prize.  Download the Notice to Competitors – click here

We look forward to seeing you on the water this weekend.

Sydney Harbour Regatta Team

Over two days  next weekend, a mass of boats of varying designs and size will provide a blaze of colour on the race courses from the Opera House to Manly on Sydney Harbour and on offshore courses, for NSW’s largest keelboat event, the Sydney Harbour Regatta (SHR).

Middle Harbour Yacht Club (MHYC) organisers are ready. They are looking forward to welcoming competitors to the 17^th edition of their regatta, which marks the start of autumn racing in NSW.

The Super 50 class includes notable TP52s. Two-time Sydney Hobart winner, Quest (Craig Neil) is joined by 2019 second placegetter, Gweilo (Matt Donald/Chris Townsend), along with Matador (David Doherty), Koa (Andy Kearnan/Peter Wrigley) and local chance Zen, owned by Gordon Ketelbey, an ardent one-design sailor with runs on the board across various classes.

Neil has used the SHR to announce: “We are in the process of forming a TP52 Association. The plan is to run five regattas per year and the Sydney Harbour Regatta is the first. It’ll be good to kick off the series at Middle Harbour. TP owners are looking forward to it. Some will be missing this time for  a variety of reasons, but we expect 10 or so in the future.”

Quest’s owner says the Corinthian rule has been altered. “Before, each boat was allowed one professional sailor, then a point taken away for each subsequent pro. Now, a point will be returned for those boats that include youth sailors in their crew. We want to encourage the class to invest time in young sailors. Zen already does that,” he said. “We’ll have Will Sargent and Jake Meddell aboard Quest.”

An eclectic mix of go-fast boats in the Super 40s includes Adrian Walters’ Shaw 11, Little Nico and  Michael Ritchie’s 38ft lightweight daysailer, Revolver. Designed by his father, Bruce Ritchie, Revolver recently placed second at the Pittwater Regatta. At the SHR it will face a trio of MC38s; InfoTrack (Christian Beck), InfoTrack Go (John Ahern) and LawConnect (Rachel Williams) among others.

Beck is best known for his super maxi, LawConnect; second over the line in the 2021 Sydney Hobart. The other two other MC38s are to be skippered by two executives from Beck’s companies and will be crewed by recognizable sailing names.

Triple Olympian Karyn Gojnich is well-known to the regatta, usually competing in the Yngling, the class she represented Australia in at the 2008 Beijing Games. She switched to the J/70, which is a blossoming class boasting quality sailors in an extremely competitive fleet these days.

“Unfortunately, I can’t be there this time, but The Jackal is entered and Sara Ladd will be skipper. Most of the Sydney boats have committed to the regatta, including the top two from our NSW Championship in January,” Gojnich said of Juno (Reg Lord) and Vamos (Tim Ryan).

“The regatta will be a good warm-up for the Victorian Championship the following weekend and the Nationals being held in Sydney over Easter,” she ended.

A host of other boats across multiple classes and divisions are also taking part.

Grand prizes on offer:

The winners and placegetters in each eligible class or division, upon attendance and check in at the regatta prizegiving ceremony, go in the draw for some major prizes. 

First placed boats have a chance of winning a Mercedes weekend drive experience and two nights’ accommodation at the Mercure Resort Hunter Valley Gardens for two along with a Ross & Whitcroft Quality Marine Clothing Merchandise voucher valued at $1,500. Second and third placed boats are in the running for distillery experiences and Ross & Whitcroft Quality Marine Clothing Merchandise vouchers. 

Individual crew members are also eligible for a Ross & Whitcroft Quality Marine Clothing prize.

Middle Harbour Yacht Club acknowledges the support of Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Sydney Amateur Sailing Club, Royal Australian Navy Sailing Association, Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club, Manly Yacht Club, Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club and the Sydney Flying Squadron, without we could not run this regatta. 

Our thanks go to key sponsors: Club Marine, Robert Oatley Wines, Short Marine, Quality Marine Clothing and Telstra Business Technology Centre.

The early entry fee has been extended and entries close on 3 March, so be quick and enter now at: www.shr.mhyc.com.au  

By Di Pearson, MHYC media - 26 Feb 2022

The Early Entry deadline of 23 February has now been extended to Thursday 3 March.  Join the growing fleets for this year's regatta via the online entry portal - click here  

Past champions and budding challengers for 17^th Sydney Harbour Regatta  

Early indications are that Middle Harbour Yacht Club’s (MHYC) 17th Sydney Harbour Regatta (SHR), to be held over the first weekend of March, will be hotly contested with the return of past champions and up-and-coming challengers.  

Bob Cox’s DK46, Nine Dragons, is a strong contender for the Open Class (IRC/ORC) Division being sailed on offshore courses. The MHYC boat won its division last year. She also won the Club’s challenging Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship in November after a close battle with Gerry Hatton’s M.A.T. 1245, Bushranger, which came off second best by a mere point.

Bushranger returned the favour, winning  the inaugural NSW ORC Championship on the weekend, beating Nine Dragons which did not make the top three.

Cox says, “I’m looking forward to doing battle with a strong contingent of IRC boats from our club, and Bushranger and Soozal (Keiran Mulchay’s King 40) in particular from Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club.”

Another DK46, LCE Old School Racing (David Elliott/Mark Griffith) from RPAYC, is expected to be challenging all comers following her third on countback at the SSORC (equal points with Bushranger) and a strong Rolex Sydney Hobart performance.

A third DK46, Khaleesi, is currently having work done, but Rob Aldis, is working quickly to have her ready in time. Cox hopes his clubmate’s boat is ready too, as their results normally come down to the wire. 

Jan Newland presented with the first Yngling NSW Championship entry. Newland, who just missed the podium with Yertl in 2021, is as competitive as her famous late father, Graham, who won two Sydney Hobarts representing MHYC.

Racing in the Super 30 division, consisting of Melges 32, Farr 30s and others of a similar ilk, will be outstanding judging by the 15 already listed to start. Andrew York and REO Speedwagon have topped a few podiums, as has last year’s SHR winner, Bruce Tavener’s Ophir and Peter Woodhead’s XC3SS.  

A renaissance in the Sydney 38s, with 19 racing throughout NSW, has translated to hotter competition. Reigning champ, Conspiracy, remains the one to beat, but local favourite, Advanced Philosophy (Peter Sorensen), could upset that party. Lisa Callaghan, co-owner of Mondo, was first to sign on. The Manly Yacht Club president is a regular racer on an upward trajectory.

Performance Spinnaker Divisions 1, 2 and 3 are expected to yield the largest numbers and normally provide the most colour on their Sydney Harbour course. The primary handicapping system for these divisions will be ORC (incorporating ORCi and ORC Club) and they will also be scored under PHS.

“We are looking forward to welcoming around 1400 sailors and a diversity of boats from all over the east coast of Australia,” MHYC Commodore, Peter Lewis, said of the regatta to be held on the weekend of 5-6 March.

“We continue to enjoy success as NSW’s largest keelboat regatta and are looking forward to hosting multiple classes and divisions on the water and ashore for our 17^th Sydney Harbour Regatta.” 

In addition to those classes and divisions mentioned above are: Super 50, Adams 10, Farr 40, J24, J70, Cavalier 28, Sydney 36, Super 20 and 40, MC38 and Performance Non-Spinnaker classes and the Historical 18 foot skiffs.   

Principal Race Officer Denis Thompson and Regatta Director Peter Hemery will again have a large job on their hands. Their combined efforts, with help from their teams of volunteers, will ensure a smooth event for all.

Following racing each day, all are welcome back to the Club’s unique after-racing festivities on the private beach for a sausage sizzle and drinks. Post racing on Saturday, competitors and friends can enjoy live entertainment and the Fever Tree Gin Bar, while a DJ will get the crowd rocking on Sunday. 

Middle Harbour Yacht Club acknowledges the support of Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Sydney Amateur Sailing Club, Royal Australian Navy Sailing Association, Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club, Manly Yacht Club, Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club and the Sydney Flying Squadron, without we could not run this regatta. 

Our thanks go to key sponsors: Club Marine, Robert Oatley Wines, Short Marine, Quality Marine Clothing and Telstra Business Technology Centre.

Enter on line now at: www.shr.mhyc.com.au  

By Di Pearson, MHYC media

The 2022 Sydney Harbour Regatta Notice of Race is now published and Online Entry is open. See the Race Documents page.

The races have been run and the prizes awarded. 

To look back on a great Sydney Harbour Regatta 2021, view all the photo galleries with images from Andrea Francolini and Marg Fraser-Martin and the video by Tilly Lock Media.

Adrian Walters’ nippy Shaw 11 Little Nico, sailing for the Sydney Harbour Regatta host club, added another victory to their impressive regatta tally on day two of the weekend regatta. Divisional winners in 2016 and second in 2019 and 2017, Little Nico’s domination of the short-course format is well and truly etched in the flagship series annals.

“Most of us have sailed together for a few years,” Walters said after racing. “This year we tried out some new sails and overall we are very happy with the result. Every year we seem to get better and better. The MC38s make us work hard though.” Walters has a busy program planned for Little Nico, including Sail Port Stephens in April and the northern regattas in the Queensland Whitsundays later in the year.

On the huge reunion that the 16^th annual Sydney Harbour Regatta afforded sailors from around the state, Walters adds, “It’s nice to see real people again after Covid. All the regattas going forward are going to have good participation; everyone’s keen to get out after a long break.”

Sydney Harbour Regatta is the state’s first major multi-club and multi-class regatta post-Covid restrictions, drawing 187 entries and 1,293 crew who completed 84 races across seven course areas thanks to MHYC and the eight supporting clubs and 87 wonderful volunteers. Amazingly, there were only two protests.

Day two video highlights thanks to Tilly Lock Media.

Results for all divisions are available here.

Open IRC division winner Khaleesi (MHYC) quashed the two Pittwater crews who usually duel for the top spot. Rob Aldis’ DK46 managed four corrected time firsts from six starts, out-sailing Gerry Hatton’s Mat 1245 Bushranger and Keiran Mulcahy’s King 40 Soozal, both from the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club. On ORC results, Bushranger beat Khaleesi by half a point.

“I’ve been associated with Middle Harbour Yacht Club for a long time, and I’m so pleased for the club to see all this camaraderie and confidence. This regatta has a sense of normalcy about it,” said Aldis dockside. “Owning the DK is a good learning experience for me, I came to the sport fairly late,” he added.

The Sydney 38 state trophy went to David Hudson and Peter Byford’s Pittwater-based Conspiracy from a hot fleet. Points from six windward/leeward races offshore, the first three in cool south-easterlies then warm north-easterlies off Manly beach to close out the pointscore, saw Conspiracy relegate the local favourite, Peter Sorensen’s Advanced Philosophy, to second overall.

International J/70 NSW championship winner Reg Lord and his Juno crew kept their challengers at bay with five wins from six starts. International Yngling NSW champion Hamish Jarrett went one better, achieving the picket fence of six bullets.

Performance spinnaker and non-spinnaker fleets wrapped up their four-race series with two passage races around harbour islands and other marks. A third for Russell Waddy’s Sydney 38 cruiser Allsail Another Challenge in the final division 1 race was enough to leapfrog Steve Hatch’s M, a Sydney 36 cruiser/racer out of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.

Ray Parrott and his Drummoyne Sailing Club (DSC) X332 X-Ray successfully defended their 2020 Performance Spinnaker division 2 win while in Performance Non-Spinnaker, MHYC boat Pearl 2, owned by Michael Twomey, added another host club division victory.

DSC based Flying Tiger Ophir, skippered by Bruce Taverner, won the Super 30 division from Foreign Affair.

Waddy, Parrott and all the other divisional placegetters are invited to gather at MHYC on Monday evening, March 8, to be recognised at the official trophy presentation and go in the running for the Grand Prize Draw of:

•          First place draw - Sail Racing merchandise voucher (value $2,000)
•          Second place draw - Manly Spirits Co. Distillery experience for yacht crew (up to 12 persons)
•          Third place draw – Mercedes-Benz North Shore and Mercure Resort Hunter Valley Gardens have made available a Mercedes weekend drive experience plus two nights’ accommodation at the Mercure Resort Hunter Valley Gardens for two people.

MHYC acknowledges the support of key Sydney Harbour Regatta sponsors Club Marine, Sail Racing, Robert Oatley Wines, Short Marine, Mercedes-Benz North Shore and Mercure Resort Hunter Valley Gardens and supporting sponsors Ensign Yachts, Fever-Tree, Manly Spirits Co. Distillery and DeckHardware.

MHYC also thanks all race management volunteers plus partner clubs Manly Yacht Club, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club, Royal Australian Navy Sailing Association, Sydney Flying Squadron, Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron and Sydney Amateur Sailing Club.

By Lisa Ratcliff

Photos by Andrea Francolini......

How to follow the Sydney Harbour Regatta:

Website: https://shr.mhyc.com.au/

Facebook: @SydneyHarbourRegatta

Instagram: sydneyharbourregatta

Conditions offshore on day one of Middle Harbour Yacht Club’s annual Sydney Harbour Regatta had tummies churning and skittled one Sydney 38 bowman who was saved from a Man Overboard incident by the lifelines, which was ideal for both he and his crew given they were the lead boat at the time.

As Peter Byford and David Hudson’s Sydney 38 Conspiracy approached the first top mark rounding of the class’ NSW Championship series in heavy seas, bowman Antony Hawke suddenly hit the deck during the kite hoist. The slightly embarrassed crewman said after racing that he definitely thought he was going for a swim and was happy to shift the blame to the people pulling the ropes at the back.

Conspiracy went on to win that opening race and finished second in the next two windward/leewards, giving them the boat of the day title. Byford steers their Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club Sydney 38 for the starts and upwind and Hudson takes the helm downwind. “It was challenging to steer and too choppy to get a roll on, in order to surf the waves,” Byford said. “The crew is consistent for these big regattas, and two of them are my sons Tim and Ben.”

Results for all divisions are available here.

Hazardous surf and swell along the New South Wales coast made the sea state uncomfortably lumpy for the offshore divisions – TP52/Super 50, Open Class and Sydney 38s – but also provided opportunities for the planing hulls, particularly when the sou’east breeze gusted to 19 knots. Leading the Open division after two races is Keiran Mulcahy’s consistent King 40 Soozal out of Pittwater.

Inside North Head, the Super 20s, 30s and 40s enjoyed wave action at the heads with less swell. Top of the Super 40s on IRC handicap is Darryl Hodgkinson’s Carkeek 40 Victoire and on EHC handicap they are second to Adrian Walters’ Little Nico, sailing for the host club. Steven Proud’s Swish is the first MC38 as that class uses the series to prepare for their upcoming national title, March 19-21.

The inshore courses stretched from Manly almost to the Sydney Harbour Bridge and those divisions had a much easier time in 12-14 knots and flat water. The largest Performance Spinnaker and Non-Spinnaker divisions completed two passage races.

Four state titles fall under this year’s Sydney Harbour Regatta umbrella. As predicted, Reg Lord’s Juno is at the head of the J/70 pointscore thanks to three bullets and matching Juno’s unbeaten run in the Yngling state title is Hamish Jarrett’s Miss Pibb. Craig Mitchell’s Centaurus claimed the Cavalier 28 NSW Championship based on today’s one design results.

The two-day series, hosted by Middle Harbour Yacht Club and made possible thanks to on-water support from eight other Sydney clubs, has drawn 187 entries for the 16^th edition. Principal Race Officer Denis Thompson was delighted the sun came out and winds moderated from the forecast fresh southerlies. “It was great sailing; everyone had a lot of fun. There wasn’t as much congestion in the harbour this time; we had fleets going to different marks and we made sure they didn’t overlap too much.”

This evening is a chance for crews to unwind and swap tall tales at the MHYC beach party. Racing resumes on Sunday March 7 with decent autumn breeze expected from lunchtime onwards.

MHYC acknowledges the support of key Sydney Harbour Regatta sponsors Club Marine, Sail Racing, Robert Oatley Wines, Short Marine, Mercedes-Benz North Shore and Mercure Resort Hunter Valley Gardens and supporting sponsors Ensign Yachts, Fever-Tree, Manly Spirits, DeckHardware.

Day One Photos by Andrea Francolini

How to follow the Sydney Harbour Regatta:

Website: https://shr.mhyc.com.au/

Facebook: @SydneyHarbourRegatta

Instagram: sydneyharbourregatta

The 2021 Sydney Harbour Regatta Sailing Instructions have now been published and can be downloaded from the event website - click here 

A limited number of printed copies will be available from CYCA, RSYS, SASC and RPAYC by Friday 5 March.

Competitors should be aware of a number of changes for the 2021 Sydney Harbour Regatta:

• Performance Spinnaker and Performance Non-Spinnaker Divisions will race in the main harbour, south of the Sow & Pigs Reef, and will have separate start and finish boats.  Please check the Sailing Instructions for the location of start and finish areas and the description of the start and finish vessels .
• Performance Spinnaker Divisions 1 & 2 will sail on the Delta Course Area.  Performance Spinnaker Division 3 & Performance Non-Spinnaker Division 1  will sail on the Charlie Course Area.  All boats entered in Performance Non-Spinnaker will compete in Division 1.  There will not be a separate Jeanneau Production Class Division.  
• Super 20, Super 30 and Super 40 Classes will sail in the vicinity of The Sound and may sail either windward-leeward or short passage courses.  Up to four races can be sailed each day, however it is anticipated that two windward-leeward races will be followed by one passage race on day one.

The Grand Prizes have also now been announced.  Please see NTC link for details.  https://www.shr.mhyc.com.au/racing/notices-to-competitors.html

There will be live music after racing on Saturday at MHYC with food stalls on the deck both days and full bar open in the Sandbar Café.

Crew declarations are required both days. To complete your crew declaration - click here  

Please note there will be no skippers packs provided this year.

Entries for Middle Harbour Yacht Club’s flagship Sydney Harbour Regatta on this weekend, March 6-7, have climbed past the 180 mark, among them a local yacht jointly owned for close to 20 years that has competed in every Sydney Harbour Regatta since the inaugural series in 2006.

For owners Rob Carr, Stephanie Cook and Kerry Burke and their Northshore 370 Rumba that sails from the host club, netting a few trophies is only one reason to front up year after year. “In our Performance Spinnaker division we sail against a whole heap of 28 to 34 footers of similar speed; that’s the fun bit. The party on the MHYC beach on the Saturday night is fun too, though we’ve been known to give away our day one advantage by partying too late.”

Rumba has recorded mixed results over 15 years. “As a general rule we’ve been in the top three in the last five to six years. Before that we were a bit ad-hoc,” Carr laughs. He’s hoping for 12-15 knots of wind and flat water on Sydney Harbour.

Sydney’s long-range forecast points towards steady 15 knot southerlies on Saturday and a fickle Sunday morning before a single-digit east nor’easter develops across the afternoon.

Standard entries have closed though MHYC may accept late entries up until midnight on Thursday March 4. View the starting list and enter here.

The sailing instructions will be published today here.

Performance Spinnaker is the most popular entry category and for the first time these divisions will also be scored on ORC, including both ORCi and ORC Club ratings. ORC Club is growing rapidly around the world and several Sydney clubs (MHYC, RSYS and RPAYC at this stage) have adopted this as a low cost, simple rating system to run alongside the usual Performance Handicapping System. 

The International J/70 state title plus the Super 20, 30 and 40 divisions promise hot competition at The Sound, the area of deep water inside North and South Heads, just one of seven course areas that will operate across the harbour and offshore thanks to race officials, volunteers and support vessels from multiple partner clubs.

MHYC thanks Manly Yacht Club, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club, Royal Australian Navy Sailing Association, Sydney Flying Squadron, Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron and Sydney Amateur Sailing Club.

Grand Prize Draw

In addition to regatta trophies and prizes, to be eligible for the Grand Prize draw the skipper or skipper’s representative from the top three placegetters in each division must register and be present at the official trophy presentation function at MHYC on Monday March 8.

•          First place draw – Sail Racing merchandise voucher (value $2,000)
•          Second place draw – Manly Spirits ‘Distillery Experience’ for yacht crew (up to 12 persons)
•          Third place draw – Mercedes-Benz North Shore and Mercure Resort Hunter Valley Gardens have made available a Mercedes weekend drive experience plus two nights’ accommodation at the Mercure Resort Hunter Valley Gardens for two people.

MHYC acknowledges the support of key Sydney Harbour Regatta sponsors Club Marine, Robert Oatley Wines, Short Marine, Sail Racing, Mercedes-Benz North Shore and Mercure Resort Hunter Valley Gardens and supporting sponsors Ensign Yachts, Fever-Tree, Manly Spirits, DeckHardware.

How to follow the Sydney Harbour Regatta:

Website: https://shr.mhyc.com.au/

Facebook: @SydneyHarbourRegatta

Instagram: sydneyharbourregatta

A Notice to Competitors has been posted extending the deadline for discounted Early Entries to midnight on Monday 1st March.  

Late fees will continue to apply from Tuesday 2 March 2021.

To view the Notice to Competitors - click here