Sydney season kicks off

Peter Campbell reviews what lies ahead

The 2003-2004 Spring/Summer sailing season on Sydney Harbour starts this coming Saturday, 6 September, heralding an exciting eight months of keelboat racing competition.

Most clubs report increased fleets, particularly in the one design classes, although the Harbour clubs continue to attract keen competition in their handicap divisions.

Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron is conducting its 142nd sailing season and on Sunday, 21 September will celebrate the centenary of its location at Carabella, Kirribilli. A spectacular Sail Past and a colourful day ashore at Carabella are planned for this significant day in the history of Sydney’s oldest yacht club.

The Squadron is again sharing race management with the Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club on Saturdays and for the increasingly popular Wednesday afternoon racing, taking over from RANSA at the end of this month.

Among the major events the RSYS will conduct over the summer will be the 75th Prince Philip Cup, the Australian championship for the classic Dragon class.

Middle Harbour Yacht Club also opens its Harbour racing season this coming Saturday, but the Sydney Amateur Sailing Club will not start its pointscore racing until Saturday, 20 September. This Saturday, however, the Amateurs will conduct its one ocean race of the year, the Lion Island Race.

The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club will starts its program of racing on Pittwater, Broken Bay and offshore on Saturday, 13 September.

All clubs will be conducting Twilight Racing over the summer, with twilights from Monday through to Friday each week from the start of Daylight Saving.

Sydney Clubs combine for Port Jackson Championships

The Combined Clubs’ ocean racing season of races off Sydney Heads begins on Saturday, 27 September, with the first Short Ocean Pointscore race being the Gascoigne Cup on 18 October.

A new series, the Port Jackson Championship, has been incorporated into the 2003-2004 short ocean racing program for the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron and Middle Harbour Yacht Club.

The Port Jackson Championship will comprise the RSYS’ historic Gascoigne Cup on 18 October, MHYC’s Short Ocean Race on 1 November (the 36th running of the Rubber Kellaway Plate), two Short Ocean Races off Sydney Heads conducted by MHYC on 7 February, and further races on 28 February (RSYS) and 13 March 2004 (MHYC).
The new six race series replaces the Combined Club Pointscore, which previously included a weekend of races from the RPAYC at Pittwater.

The CYCA’s 2003-2004 Blue Water Pointscore and Long Ocean Pointscore season started with the Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race on 26 July 2003 and will end with the Sydney Mooloolaba Yacht Race on 31 March 2004. The eight race Blue Water Pointscore includes the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race starting on 26 December.

MAJOR EVENTS – October-December 2003

- Sydney Amateur Sailing Club’s Gaffers Day, Sunday 19 October.
- Gosford Sailing Club’s Gosford Lord Howe Island Race, starts from Broken Bay, Saturday, 25 October.
- Middle Harbour Yacht Club’s JPMorgan Regatta, on the Harbour and offshore over the weekend of 29-30 November.
- The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s the 10th Canon Big Boat Challenge, Sydney Harbour, Friday, 12 December.
- The CYCA’s British Trophy Regatta, through Saturday to Monday, 13-15 December.
- The Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race starts on Friday, 26 December.
- RPAYC’s Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Race starts on 2 January.
- The 75th Prince Philip Cup for the International Dragon Class, 10-18 January 2004, conducted by the RSYS on Sydney Harbour.
- The 168th Australia Day Regatta, the world’s oldest continuous sailing regatta, Australia Day, 26 January 2004.