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

Four state championships and the addition of Super Group racing to Middle Harbour Yacht Club’s Sydney Harbour Regatta will intensify the kaleidoscope of colour and course area changes will spread the action around the natural amphitheatre of Sydney Harbour over the two-day series, March 6-7, 2021.

The Notice of Race for the 16^th edition of the flagship regatta is available here and online entry here. With the usual planning cooperation and on-water support from multiple Sydney clubs, MHYC will deliver superb racing on seven course areas on the traditional first weekend of autumn.

2020 Sydney Harbour Regatta day 2 highlights by Tilly Lock.

State titles for the Sydney 38s, Ynglings, Cavalier 28s and J/70s add weight to those class pointscores. J/70 class president Andrew Tompson says, “I have eight confirmed starters, hopefully it will get to 10 including a bunch of group 3 sailors and ex-Olympians. The standard of racing is improving all the time and that’s exciting.

“The boat to beat will be Reg Lord’s Juno, the state and national J/70 champion for the past three years. He’s planning to sail Corinthian for this regatta – it will be interesting to see if he can hold his place. We see this as our warm-up for the J/70 nationals at Blairgowrie on Port Phillip at Easter where we expect 15-20 boats on the start line.”

Sydney Harbour Regatta Principal Race Officer Denis Thompson believes the ‘super’ concept has plenty of potential. “It has developed from the Super 30s and is designed for like boats, rather than one design. I think it’s a good idea – it will be interesting to see if the owners respond.”

To promote competition in Sydney for a range of sports yachts with asymmetric gennakers, MHYC is trialling a Super Group pointscore within the regular handicap categories for the Super 20s all the way up to Super 50s.

Super 20s, including J/70s, Melges 24s, SB20s, Shaw 650s and VX Ones, Super 30s such as Melges 32s, Farr 30s and Flying Tigers and Super 40s such as the MC38s and Little Nico will sail a mix of windward/leeward and northern harbour passage races. 

The Sydney 38 NSW Championship will be staged offshore as will Super 50 racing, incorporating the spectacular TP52s along with yachts of similar size and performance.

To reduce the likelihood of congestion and interference between fleets, Performance Spinnaker and Non-Spinnaker divisions will now race in the main harbour while most fleets sailing windward/leeward courses will compete at The Sound, the area of deep water between North, South and Middle Heads. The Premier IRC divisions will race offshore both days.

Given the scarcity of racing opportunities recently, Thompson anticipates a big turnout, potentially larger than last year’s fleet of 182 boats representing 19 different Australian sailing clubs plus Hong Kong.

The early entry fee is on offer until February 24.

MHYC acknowledges the event’s success is due to the continued assistance of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Manly Yacht Club, RANSA, Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club, Sydney Amateur Sailing Club and the Sydney Flying Squadron.

The club also acknowledges the support of key regatta sponsors Air New Zealand and Robert Oatley Wines and supporting sponsors Club Marine, Fever-Tree and Short Marine.

How to follow the Sydney Harbour Regatta:

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

Facebook: @SydneyHarbourRegatta

Instagram: sydneyharbourregatta

Sydney Harbour Regatta 2020 photos by Andrea Francolini

The Notice of Race is available and Online Entry is open for the 2021 Sydney Harbour Regatta being held over the weekend of Saturday & Sunday March 6 & 7. 

Visit the Race Documents menu on www.shr.mhyc.com.au

The Sydney Harbour Regatta Prize-giving Ceremony was held tonight at Middle Harbour Yacht Club with over 120 guests attending.

Prizes were awarded to winners and placegetters in all 19 divisions along with a number of sub-divisions. 

The skipper winning the lucky draw open to all entrants – a weekend away at the wheel of a luxurious Mercedes vehicle courtesy of Mercedes-Benz North Shore, heading for picturesque accommodation on the shores of Lake Macquarie - was Peter Franki (Saltshaker CYCA).

Celebrating International Women’s Day on Sunday, Helly Hansen provided a sensational W Salt Flag Jacket for the best performed female skipper.  The winner was Jian Lin (Min River DSC) for placing second in the largest division within the regatta – Performance Spinnaker Division 1.

Each placegetter, in each of the eligible classes or divisions, was in the draw with a chance to win one of the Grand Prizes provided they were present or represented at the prize-giving.

Winner of the Third Place Grand Prize - Two nights’ accommodation including breakfast at the Mercure Resort Hunter Valley Gardens for two (2) people and a Helly Hansen Gift Voucher – was Ian Smith (Brittania SFS) from the Historic 18 footers fleet.

Winner of the Second Place Grand Prize - Two weeks berthing and two nights’ accommodation at Coral Sea Marina Resort  and a Helly Hansen Gift Voucher – was Steve Hatch (“M” CYCA) who competed in the Sydney 36 division.

The First Place Grand Prize – Two return air fares Sydney-Auckland courtesy of Air New Zealand, two nights’ accommodation including breakfast at the Stamford Plaza Auckland and a Helly Hansen Gift Voucher – was won by Peter Charmer (Windcharmer GFS) who claimed the trophy for Performance Spinnaker division 3.

Commodore Peter Lewis closed the evening by highlighting the cooperation provided by the supporting clubs to make the Sydney Harbour Regatta such a success – providing the competitive fleets and also the race management support.  On behalf of MHYC as the regatta organiser, he thanked the 80 race management volunteers and officials from 11 Sydney clubs who enabled 81 races on 7 course areas to be conducted over 2 days for 1100 competitors sailing 182 yachts in 19 divisions.  

“It has been another great regatta that could not happen without your support”, said the Commodore.

For all the Sydney Harbour Regatta resulst - click here

Tilly Lock Media was again on the water and ashore for the second day of the Sydney Harbour Regatta on Sunday March 8.  

More than 20 clubs from two Australian states and Hong Kong made up 19 divisions for the 15^th Sydney Harbour Regatta conducted by Middle Harbour Yacht Club (MHYC) with the cooperation of key Sydney clubs and a host of volunteers.

Day 2 video by Tilly Lock.

Results are final and prize winners primed for Monday night’s trophy presentation at MHYC where all placegetters must be present, or their winnings default to the next in line. Results for all divisions available here.

All courses (other than offshore) were commentated live on Sunday via the event Facebook page.

Performance Class spinnaker divisions

Geoff and Pip Lavis’ Inglis/Dovel 50 UBS Wild Thing (Cruising Yacht Club of Australia) took it to the rest of division 1, completing four Sydney Harbour courses over the weekend of March 7-8 to edge out Jiang Lin’s Balmain Sailing Club based X43 Min River by a single point.

Ray Parrott’s X-Ray, an X332 from Drummoyne, took top honours in division 2 and in division 3, Peter Francis’ Wind Charmer (Greenwich Flying Squadron) proved the strongest in the autumn southerly flow.

Parrott said of his win: “We were previously sailing in the X Yacht division but this time we decided to enter PHS division 2 because the speed of the other boats is similar to ours. Conditions-wise we enjoyed Saturday; Sunday was very challenging very unstable and very difficult for all boats. I think the tacticians had a very tough day.”

The Interclub Teams Event for Performance Spinnaker divisions went to the host, MHYC, on 122 points followed by the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (RPAYC) on 137 points and the CYCA third on 145 points.

Super 30s and Super 12s

Adrian Walters’ Shaw 11 Little Nico prevailed by a point in the Super 12 division, leading clubmate Lazy Dog, Shaun Lane and Quentin Stewart’s MC38, in the final pointscore. “We are happy to win though we didn’t reach our best level today,” Walters said. Third was Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club MC38 Easy Tiger, skippered by well-known yachtsman and commentator Rob Brown.

Andy Wharton’s Melges 24 +GST (RPAYC) posted a very handy set of scores to nail the Super 30 division by 10.7 points. Second and third were two Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron entries – Adela and Very Tasty. The eclectic group of sports boats, Fareast 28s, Melges 24s and 32s and Farr 30s plus others, completed a five-race series.

One designs - Sydney 38s, Adams 10, Yngling

The top two results in the Sydney 38 division mirrored the recent class Australian Championship final scores, Peter Byford and David Hudson’s Conspiracy (RPAYC) beating Peter Sorensen’s Advanced Philosophy (MHYC), though this time the margin was much closer – one point compared to 11.

Mitchell Miller’s Adams 10 Rock Solid moved past Powderhulk on points thanks to a bullet in the deciding race. “We knew it all rested on the final race, then we had an OCS when Powderhulk pushed us over! We watched them sail into the distance thinking ‘that’s it’. There was no point following so we went the opposite way, in one-design tactically it’s the only way to get ahead, and it paid,” Miller said. Rock Solid has been a divisional winner at Sydney Harbour Regatta six or seven times prior.

In the Yngling division racing out of Taylors Bay, Hamish Jarrett’s Miss Pibb beat Karma and Black Adder.

Open Class

MHYC boat Nine Dragons, skippered by Bob Cox, out-sailed the rest of the Open class, the DK46 putting an eight point gap on IRC results between them and second place, Gerry Hatton’s Mat 1245 Bushranger (RPAYC).

Cox, who recently turned 75, has new vigour in his step following a heart operation, this afternoon announcing: “I’m a new man!”. His long-time campaign with Nine Dragons has yielded plenty of Sydney Harbour Regatta victories, and this year his crew put together an impressive scoresheet of five wins from six starts.

“On the first day with disturbed seas and good wind we were strong and that led us to three bullets in a row,” the skipper regaled. “We were surprisingly close to the TPs at the top mark, and Primitive Cool. Credit to Bushranger and Soozl who were hanging on to us this weekend. We encouraged these two RPAYC boats to come down for the weekend after we went to their Pittwater Regatta last month, where Bushranger beat us.”

Final word from the PRO

Sunday March 8 was a much better day, according to the Principal Race Officer Denis Thompson. “While the wind was shifty to start off, the race committee were proactive with changing and shortening courses to suit. It was a smoother day racing-wise with cloud cover that pulled the breeze around, down to five knots then around to the south-east and up to 12-14 knots for the final race of the day. It was good racing.”

Top performing female skipper

Helly Hansen’s sensational W Salt Flag jacket winner for the best performing female skipper will be announced at Monday evening’s trophy presentation.

Key sponsors for Sydney Harbour Regatta’s 15^th edition include Helly Hansen, Air New Zealand and Robert Oatley Wines.  Supporting sponsors are Club Marine, Coral Sea Marina Resort, Stamford Plaza Auckland, Mercure Resort Hunter Valley Gardens, Vittoria Coffee, Fisherman’s Friend, KeySun Zinke, ANTAL and the host club welcomes new supporter, Mercedes-Benz North Shore.

How to follow the Sydney Harbour Regatta:

Sydney Harbour Regatta website https://shr.mhyc.com.au/

Facebook: @SydneyHarbourRegatta

Instagram: sydneyharbourregatta

Tilly Lock Media was on the water and ashore for day One of the Sydney Harbour Regatta on Saturday March 7.  

Sydney Harbour Regatta’s opening day brought together a multi-club effort spanning the harbour and offshore for the 185-strong fleet from around the state of New South Wales and Victoria.

Conditions offshore and short runways for the bigger boats made it harder for the Open Class and Sydney 38 fleet to sail cleanly - the crew of John Newbold’s RP51 Primitive Cool caught out on a kite drop in gusty SSWers and swell off Sydney Heads. Video by Tilly Lock.

Boat manager David Sudarno said: “We had a puff at the wrong time and had to smoke the halyard. We weren’t the only ones with the odd issue. The big boats were doing 18-20 knots downwind on those short legs in a seaway that wasn’t helping. We have to work the angles under asymmetric, unlike the symmetric boats that can sail deep.”

Across the inshore courses, spread from Manly to Garden Island near the city, boats of all sizes, from Historic 18s to Sydney 36s to sports boats, weaved their way through the traffic on their own course and contended with other racing fleets, plus the usual weekend traffic in SSW 10 knots building to 20.

Middle Harbour Yacht Club members fared well across the divisions, Peter Sorensen’s Advanced Philosophy leading the Sydney 38 division three races into their series, and Bob Cox’s DK46 Nine Dragons leading the Open Class fleet on IRC handicap from Gerry Hatton’s Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club based Mat 1245 Bushranger.

The Adams 10 fleet is heavily weighted by MHYC boats and fronting the division by two points is Patrick Delaney’s Powerhulk.

RPAYC based Melges 24 +GST, skippered by Andy Wharton, had a couple of newcomers on the boat but this didn’t stop them posting a win, then a 2^nd and a 5^th to lead the Super 30 pointscore. “Conditions were great and we went the right way. It’s a borrowed boat – I haven’t sailed a Melges for a year – I put together a scratch crew and we had fun!” Wharton said.

Saturday’s player’s player award went to the hardy Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s race management team on start boat Offshore, which had some serious roll on out on the Macquarie course.

Results for all divisions available here.

Link to the daily highlights video by Tilly Lock Media.

Sunday March 8 is International Women’s Day and Middle Harbour Yacht Club will mark the occasion with a sensational W Salt Flag Helly Hansen jacket going to the top performing female skipper, and with a photo gallery tribute by photographer Andrea Francolini. Up to 10 female skippers are in the hunt for the jacket, which will be presented once the series results are complete.

The forecast for day two is southerly 15-20 knots of southerly breeze and racing is due to commence from midday.

Key sponsors for Sydney Harbour Regatta’s 15^th edition include Helly Hansen, Air New Zealand and Robert Oatley Wines.  Supporting sponsors are Club Marine, Coral Sea Marina Resort, Stamford Plaza Auckland, Mercure Resort Hunter Valley Gardens, Vittoria Coffee, Fisherman’s Friend, KeySun Zinke, ANTAL and the host club welcomes new supporter, Mercedes-Benz North Shore.

How to follow the Sydney Harbour Regatta:

Sydney Harbour Regatta website https://shr.mhyc.com.au/

Facebook: @SydneyHarbourRegatta

Instagram: sydneyharbourregatta

As overall numbers for the multi-club run Sydney Harbour Regatta pass the 150 mark, Middle Harbour Yacht Club’s sailing office is busy responding to requests from subgroups within the larger fleet, and tweaking the on-water program.

Amendments to the Notice of Race posted here enable the Sydney 36 and Super 12 divisions to enjoy one day of harbour passage races and one day of inshore windward-leeward racing over the weekend of March 7-8.

The Echo Course area, delivered by Manly Yacht Club with support from MHYC, is anticipating a big increase in numbers with the RSYS fleet joining yachts from the other clubs. MHYC sailing manager David Staley says, “We could potentially see 90 boats on this course across four divisions, and the RSYS entries could push our total fleet number close to the magic 200 – we will see.”

Host club MHYC and the eight leading Sydney yacht clubs that assist with the colossal race management operation welcome Sydney Harbour Regatta newcomers while recognising mainstays such as Russell Waddy and his Bavaria 40s Dancing Star. Waddy and his team have scored podium finishes in Performance Class Non-Spinnaker Division for the past five years, including three brilliant wins.

RANSA run the Non-Spinnaker Foxtrot course area of the inner harbour each year, an option popular with crews who enjoy the regatta experience without the stress of getting kites up and down.

The IRC optimised King 40, Soozl, enjoyed a very successful racing career on the American circuit. Now Australian based owners Kieran and Elizabeth Mulcahy are steadily building a team to impress at national regattas and races of note. Next stop for the campaign is Sydney Harbour Regatta Open Class division 1.

“I’ve done a Sydney Harbour Regatta before. I find it’s well run and gets me to the harbour and linked up with another group of racing boats,” Pittwater based owner/skipper Kieran said.

Soozl arrived in the country in November 2019, in time to take out division 2 of MHYC’s Sydney Short Ocean Championship then contest the 75th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and Australian Yachting Championship, collecting a fourth and third in division respectively.

Mulcahy’s early impression of his purchase, Mark Mills’ earlier generation design to Gerry Hatton’s Mat 1245 Bushranger, is, “The boat is a quiet beast. I think it’s got lots of potential; I need to complement that potential with the right crew, which we are working through. The boat’s ruffling some feathers.”

The grand prize draw is now online and includes an Air New Zealand/Stamford Plaza Auckland/Helly Hansen package that will go to one lucky divisional winner across the combined fleet. All second-placed owners will be in the draw for a Coral Sea Marina Resort/Helly Hansen prize pack and third placegetters will be in the running for a Mercure Resort Hunter Valley Gardens/Helly Hansen prize pack.

Eligible prize winners must attend the final trophy presentation at MHYC from 1800hrs on Monday March 9.

As an added entry inducement, the club and Mercedes-Benz North Shore will offer a luxury Mercedes-Benz vehicle for the weekend and accommodation on the shores of Lake Macquarie. All entrants in the Sydney Harbour Regatta are eligible for this prize, which will be drawn on Saturday March 7 and announced at the prizegiving on March 9.

Standard entry for the 15th edition of Sydney Harbour Regatta applies until 11.59hrs on March 2 and thereafter a late entry fee will apply. Online entry here.

Key sponsors for Sydney Harbour Regatta’s 15th edition include Helly Hansen, Air New Zealand and Robert Oatley Wines. Supporting sponsors are Club Marine, Coral Sea Marina Resort, Stamford Plaza Auckland, Mercure Resort Hunter Valley Gardens, Vittoria Coffee, Fisherman’s Friend, KeySun Zinke, ANTAL and the host club welcomes new supporter, Mercedes-Benz North Shore.

How to follow the Sydney Harbour Regatta:

Sydney Harbour Regatta website https://shr.mhyc.com.au/

Facebook: @SydneyHarbourRegatta

Instagram: sydneyharbourregatta

Further information:

MHYC Sailing Office (regatta enquiries) e. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. m. 0428 514 058

Scaled-up sports boats 25 to 30 feet are flooding the Super 30 division of this year’s Sydney Harbour Regatta, Middle Harbour Yacht Club’s flagship event of 15 years.

And great midweek news for all owners is the club’s generous early entry fee deadline has been extended until Wednesday February 26. The Notice of Race for the March 7-8 series is available here and online entry here.

Guy Irwin has been involved in the regatta since inception; in fact he remembers, as Captain of Racing at the Sydney Amateur Sailing Club, attending a meeting of all the clubs involved called by past Commodore and current club Special Events Chairman Ian Box, to discuss the logistics of the first-ever edition.

“Around 2012 we sold our first yacht called Clewless?, bought a Cape 31 also named Clewless? and started racing in the Super 30 fleet that was set up off the back of a successful Super 30 division at SASC, designed for light placement type boats around the same size and performance. Our latest Clewless? is a Farr 30 and this will be our second Sydney Harbour Regatta with the current boat,” Irwin said.

Andrew York’s Rio 7.7 design, Reo Speedwagon, will be aiming for a slice of the substantial prize pool among a diverse Super 30 starting fleet, including Melges 24s, Fareast 28s and Flying Tiger 10s.

Top three in all divisions (where six or more entries are received) are eligible for each of the three major prizes.  The fun caveat is a representative of each yacht must be in attendance at the official MHYC presentation on Monday evening, March 9, to receive the prize. Prize details will be announced shortly.

Open Class boats will race a windward/leeward format and be scored under IRC and ORCi. Larger contenders include John Newbold’s RP51 Primitive Cool sailing for Victoria, though the boat is berthed in Sydney for the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s Bluewater Pointscore Series.

“The main driver for leaving the boat in Sydney is the access to good local crew and the competitiveness of the Sydney fleet, plus we have no draft issues,” the owner said. In 2012 he bought the 2010 Rolex Sydney Hobart overall winner when it was Geoff Boettcher’s Secret Men’s Business 3.5. The upcoming Sydney Harbour Regatta will be the boat’s first, and Newbold says it’s a good time of year for a fly-in fly-out. “We always like our trips to Sydney, the weather’s pretty good no matter what time of year!”

Fleet numbers in the Performance Spinnaker Divisions, already the largest group of boats in the 2020 Sydney Harbour Regatta, will receive a significant boost this year with the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron fleet joining yachts from more than 15 other clubs. Saturday races will be included in the Squadron’s Summer Series pointscore.

Organisers anticipate another huge fleet of more than 180 boats from a broad range of one-design classes plus mixed keelboats, offering opportunities for serious campaigners and enthusiastic club racers alike.

After the early entry cut-off date the standard entry fee will apply until Monday March 2. 

Key sponsors for the Sydney Harbour Regatta’s 15^th edition include Helly Hansen, Air New Zealand and Robert Oatley Wines.  Supporting sponsors are Club Marine, Coral Sea Marina Resort, Vittoria Coffee, Fisherman’s Friend, KeySun Zinke and ANTAL.

How to follow the Sydney Harbour Regatta:

Sydney Harbour Regatta website https://shr.mhyc.com.au/

Facebook: @SydneyHarbourRegatta

Instagram: sydneyharbourregatta

In 2020, Middle Harbour Yacht Club’s longstanding Sydney Harbour Regatta celebrates 15 years as Sydney’s premier keelboat series across the weekend of March 7-8.

The Notice of Race is available here and online entry here. In all but one of the six racing categories on offer the starting list began to fill as soon as entries opened.

Organisers anticipate another huge fleet of more than 180 boats from a broad range of one-design classes plus mixed keelboats, offering opportunities for serious campaigners and enthusiastic club racers alike.

MHYC Special Events Chairman Ian Box says, “Sydney Harbour Regatta is in the sailing calendar of all the Sydney and surrounding clubs. It’s a collaborative effort and that is the hallmark of the event, and the reason for its continued success. Owners like it because it creates an opportunity for club racers to compete in a broader fleet, well beyond their usual club program.”

Sydney Harbour will be the venue for the majority of racing and the bigger boats in the TP52 and IRC divisions will head offshore for breathing space. Seven course areas provide room between the divisions and the regular harbour transport services and recreational boaters who enjoy the internationally recognised waterway on the weekend.

The J70 class will stage their NSW Championship under the regatta umbrella and a new addition to the program is an Interclub Teams Event in the Performance Spinnaker Divisions.

MHYC acknowledges the event’s success is due to the continued assistance of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Manly Yacht Club, RANSA, Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club, Sydney Amateur Sailing Club and the Sydney Flying Squadron. Denis Thompson is once again Principal Race Officer and a national jury will be appointed to officiate.

MHYC encourages competitors to be part of the great social atmosphere, including live entertainment, back at the club each day after racing. 

Key sponsors for the Sydney Harbour Regatta’s 15^th edition include Helly Hansen, Air New Zealand & Robert Oatley Wines.  Supporting sponsors are Club Marine, Coral Sea Marina Resort, Vittoria Coffee, Fisherman’s Friend and KeySun Zinke.

Dear Skippers,

On behalf of the Middle Harbour Yacht Club it is my great pleasure to invite you to the 2020 Sydney Harbour Regatta on the 15th Anniversary of this prestigious event.

Sydney Harbour plays host to some of the most competitive and high-profile sailing events in Australia and the Sydney Harbour Regatta attracts the largest fleet of keelboats.

This event has constantly attracted a diversity of participating boats and classes, setting it well on its way to a highly regarded international regatta. Originally established as the lead event for Sydney Harbour Week, which celebrates our harbour's diversity, the Sydney Harbour Regatta has rightly earned its reputation as Sydney Harbour's 'Sailing Spectacular', providing a perfect opportunity for us all to demonstrate the thrill and excitement that our sport offers.

Shore-side, this year’s event is guaranteed to be a wonderful festival of fun. With live entertainment and a beach party on Saturday evening, everyone will remain well entertained!. A must-do event to be noted in your social calendar.

I welcome and thank our major sponsors for 2020 - Helly Hansen, Robert Oatley Wines and Air New Zealand.  

I am confident you will enjoy this year’s event. I look forward to seeing you on the water and later on the Club's beach to share in the entertainment and fabulous sailing atmosphere.

The NOR has now been published and online entry is open - click here

To download the event flyer - click here

For more information, visit www.shr.mhyc.com.au

Yours in sailing

Peter Lewis

Commodore, MHYC

The Notice of Race is available and Online Entry is open for the 2020 Sydney Harbour Regatta being held over the weekend of Saturday & Sunday March 7 & 8. 

Visit the Race Documents menu on www.shr.mhyc.com.au