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The 2023 Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship (SSORC) was decided over two offshore windward/leeward courses today and Bob Cox’s Nine Dragons along with Jack Stening and Colin Gunn’s Stormaway, came away the victors, Stening commenting, “The final race was the most exciting I think I’ve ever done.”  

Competitors put yesterday’s Passage Race and awful weather behind them to concentrate on a completely different style of racing in the Middle Harbour Yacht Club’s (MHYC) hosted event today. The first race was a two-lap course in very light air, the second a three-lapper to finish the event, but the sun was out in full force. 

Nine Dragons, a DK46 with a sting in her tail, came into the day third overall in Division 1, but won both of the day’s races to win Division 1 of the Championship. Cox was nothing short of elated.

Cox beat yesterday’s leader, Gordon Ketelbey’s TP52,  Zen and Ian Box’s Toybox 2, in the first race. He followed up by beating MHYC Commodore, Rob Aldis’ DK46, Khaleesi and Zen in the second. 

So Zen claimed second place overall, Khaleesi third. Toybox 2 just missed out on countback in such a close series.

A stunned Cox was almost wordless this afternoon, discovering he had won across the board: IRC, ORC and PHS.

“The boat is running a set of offcut sails and yet the old girl is going better than ever. We are completely amazed that we won. We’re even more amazed that we actually managed to beat the TP52 (Zen) twice today. That’s our biggest achievement of the weekend,” he said.

Cox was full of praise for his fellow competitors. In part, he said, “In the last race Khaleesi had a good run and beat us for the first time ever across the finish line. They sailed well. We were absolutely on their tail though, so beat them on handicap.

“Julian Plante did our tactics and the whole crew sailed really well over the weekend,” Cox said, to cheers from his crew.

Stormaway, owned by Jack Stening and Colin Gunn, was sitting pretty in second place heading into today’s races and ended up winning Division 2. Stening said the pair’s thrill of the day came from the final race and it certainly made up for the day’s opening race.

“The first race was AP’d then we started in Watsons Bay. We had to get out the Heads in light air. We were last out! Then we worked our way up a bit,” he said of their fourth place finish. Sebastian Hultin’s Georgia Express won that race from Peter Farrugia’s Bullwinkle and Matt Wilkinson’s Foreign Affair.

A north-easterly breeze built to around 10 knots. Stening related: “In the second race, it was as close racing as it gets. We had a big fleet on a short start line  - both divisions - and it was an offshore start. We chose to go in the second line near the start boat. From there, we fought to cross the boats as our division approached the top mark.

“We were first at the top mark the first time. We were crossing two and three boats at a time and they were doing the same, all going flat out, leaving just a coat of paint between us all in a 12 knot breeze! It was wonderful.

“As we were coming into the Heads, we were getting 15-20 knot gusts, surfing with Bullwinkle and Foreign Affair. The two finished the Championship second and third overall respectively.

“We were surging and it was so exciting. The whole race was so exciting. You don’t often get that,” he said before adding, “Colin steered and called tactics; he did his usual good job,” Stening said.

“We were third over the finish line, but finished with Jupiter right on our stern (Ian Smith’s Jupiter won that race from Stormaway and Bullwinkle). “We could hear Billy Sykes (North Sails sailmaker) giving advice to the crew on Jupiter and I called out to him ‘What should we do’? He is a lovely man and a great friend,” Stening said, laughing.

For full results and all information, please visit: www.ssorc.mhyc.com.au   

Di Pearson/MHYC media

Gordon Ketelbey’s Zen and Mistral, sailed two-handed by Rupert Henry and Greg O’Shea, were the beneficiaries of wins on Day 1 of Middle Harbour Yacht Club’s (MHYC) 2023 Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship (SSORC), sailed offshore today.

Ketelbey’s TP52 won Division 1 from classmate, First Light (Peter White) and Bob Cox’s DK46, Nine Dragons. Cox always manages to find his way to the podium, come rain, hail or shine.

“Racing was pretty close,” Ketelbey admitted, but he was pleased with the crew’s handywork in a breeze that averaged around 15 knots. “It wasn’t too windy, a bit lumpy, but pleasant sailing,” the MHYC yachtsman said.

It was not all straightforward, however: “We parked up at the Heads, Virago (Robert Kelly’s RP52 one-off) got ahead of us and First Light caught up with us. We caught them well before Lion Island though. Coming home was a straight downhill run and we kept them behind us,” Ketelbey said of the race to Lion Island and return.

Zen has recently profited from a makeover, although not all has gone according to plan: “We’ve got a new keel configuration and we thought we had a new rig, but there was a problem. We expect the new one from Spain after Christmas now,” he said. 

Sailing Mistral two-handed in Division 2, Rupert Henry and Greg O’Shea won overall. Jack Stening and Colin Gunn’s Sydney 36, Stormaway claimed second place and Neil Padden’s Beneteau 40.7, Wailea, was third. The latter two were sailed fully crewed and there were other two-handers in the division, making the race more interesting.

“It was a good warm up for the Cabbage Tree Island Race next Friday night,” said Henry, who with O’Shea won that race overall in 2022, ahead of winning the Two-Handed division in the Rolex Sydney Hobart, a title they will also defend come Boxing Day.

“It was wet but not as windy as the forecast. There was quite an eastern swell running, which was fine on starboard, but on port tack it was quite awful. The further north we got, the lighter it got. We hugged the shore a bit, then went offshore, which was a loss,” Henry conceded.

“We did a couple of short tacks to the laid mark, which was exactly where it was supposed to be, so that was good. Then we had a nice run back. We did a couple of gybes and it was a nice 16 knots coming through the Heads to the finish.”  

Racing concludes tomorrow, when MHYC plans to run two short offshore windward/leeward races, each one starting and finishing on Sydney Harbour. 

The Seven Islands Race, Division 1, was won by the MC38 InfoTrack. She was last to start, but first to finish, in the pursuit-style race.

“We got the chocolates,” a pleased Mitch White said from the yacht. Second was David Ross’ Cape 31, Kukukerchu, followed by Michael Ritchie’s Ritchie 38, Revolver.

White described conditions on the Harbour course thus: “It was grey, slightly wet, but a pleasurable sail. When you’re racing, you don’t notice the rain.

“It’s an active race though, because you’ve got plenty of obstacles to get around,” he said, referring to the various islands and narrow waterway on the other side of the Harbour Bridge. “And the wind was up and down like a yoyo.”

On their win, White commented: “We were actually lucky. We do a bit of racing up past the bridge with corporate sailing, so we know what to expect. We got past second place at Middle Head, thanks to Indy Beck’s great trimming.”  

When they started, InfoTrack’s crew could not see any of their divisional compadres in front of them, “but all the hard work was done in the river,” said White, of the area north-west of the Harbour Bridge, which is tricky to sail in at the best of times.  

Division 2 went to John Crawford’s always well-sailed J24, Innamincka. Second was Bryan Moore’s Shibumi, with Jeremy Clarke’s Kai Rani in third.  The race is held alongside the SSORC and attracts a wide variety of boats. It starts and finishes at MHYC and its name suggests, is on a course around famous Sydney Harbour islands.

For full results and all information, please visit: www.ssorc.mhyc.com.au   

Di Pearson / MHYC media

SSORC and Seven Islands Race photos by Andrea Francolini

Photo Courtesy Andrea Francolini

Newcomers in for Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship 

Middle Harbour Yacht Club’s (MHYC) 2023 Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship (SSORC) is less than two weeks away and among the emerging entries are two newcomers; Robert Kelly’s Virago and Andy Offord’s Borderline.

A Reichel/Pugh 52 one-off, Kelly took Virago to third overall in IRC Division 2 at Hamilton Island Race Week in August. However, Virago is likely to have competition from Gordon Ketelbey’s TP52, Zen from MHYC, which has just undergone a major refit, including a new rig, so is predicted to be more competitive than ever. The two will fight it out in the Super 50 group, a new addition to the event.

Borderline is a Jeanneau Sun Fast 3300 that is entered in Division 2 of the Premier class, where she will be the new kid on the block. Her Division 2 contemporaries, including Peter Farrugia’s Bullwinkle, Jack Stening and Colin Gunn’s Stormaway and Matt Wilkinson’s Foreign Affair, will be monitoring their rival.   

Andy Offord, says, “We’ve only had this boat since Christmas 2021. It’s a two-handed boat that we sail with five people. We’re currently doing the Ocean Pointscore at CYCA. This year we’re staying on to race both days at the SSORC and see if we can get a podium place in division!

Offord added with a laugh, “I’m mainly doing it to race against Matt (Foreign Affair), we like beating each other! We’re not the best on the windward/leeward courses, the boat isn’t built for that, but we hope to beat him in the passage race. We’re mates who like to beat each other.”

As Offord said, Saturday’s race will be held in conjunction with the CYCA Ocean Pointscore race to Lion Island and return, or to Cape Baily in a southerly. 

The Sunday program comprises two short offshore windward/leeward races, each one starting and finishing on Sydney Harbour. The Super 50 Division has been added to provide close competition for TP52s and similar yachts.

CYCA Ocean Pointscore entrants can join in the SSORC free of charge, enjoy two days of close racing and be in the running to win this prestigious Championship.  To enter, visit www.ssorc.mhyc.com.au and select Division B – Fee Exempt Premier Class

CEO of Nautilus Marine Insurance, Lyndon Turner, is enthusiastic about the company’s ongoing support of the Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship and its partnership with MHYC: "We are a proud partner of Middle Harbour Yacht Club and its two major yachting events.,” he said of the SSORC and Sydney Harbour Regatta.

“This regatta is a perfect opportunity for our team to share our expertise and reinforce our commitment to supporting the sailing community. We look forward to seeing you all at the regatta," Turner ended.

The Seven Islands Race will again be held alongside the SSORC and attracts a wide variety of designs whose crews prefer the cut and thrust of inshore round the buoys racing. This event starts and finishes at MHYC and rounds some of the most famous islands on Sydney Harbour.

Standard entries for the SSORC close on Wednesday 22 November at 2359 hrs. Please note that NOR 5.3 Late Entries shall not apply.  

To enter the 46^th running of the SSORC, to take place on 25 and 26 November and to download Sailing Instructions for both events, please go to: www.ssorc.mhyc.com.au   

Di Pearson/MHYC media

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Entries in Middle Harbour Yacht Club’s (MHYC) 2023 Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship (SSORC), are taking shape, so far attracting past winners, regulars and new contenders.

Taking place from 25-26 November, the SSORC, now in its 46^th year, is a lead-in to other major offshore events each year.

Reigning champion in Premier Class Division 1, Bob Cox returns with his DK46, Nine Dragons. He says, “We’re looking forward to defending our title, but there are no guarantees, as we know we’ll face strong competition.”

Cox is again enthusiastically looking forward to challenging fellow MHYC member, Ian Box and his XP44, Toybox 2, along with Gerry Hatton’s latest Bushranger, a Mat 1245 from RPAYC.

“Toybox has markedly improved its performance since Ian gave the boat a significant upgrade. Gerry had teething problems with the new Bushranger, but they have it sorted and will be a real force at this event. We envisage great racing with her and don’t expect to pace them downwind. Our sistership, Khaleesi (owned by MHYC commodore, Rob Aldis), will be another contender.”

Cox concedes there are others in the division that will give him a run for his money. Among them are Michael Smith’s Tempo and Jambo, a newcomer owned by Rob Carr.

Tempo, a Kernan 44, finished third overall to win Division 1 in July’s Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race, so is set to give Division 1 a red-hot crack.

Carr is a keen supporter of MHYC events and is best known as the previous co-owner of Mortgage Choice Rumba. This time, he and wife Stephanie Cook bring the former CheckMate, a Summit King 40, to the start line.

“We purchased the boat out of Fremantle where she had performed successfully in offshore races in the past four or so years,” Carr said.

On renaming the boat Jambo, he explained, “It means ‘hello’ in Swahili. Stephanie and I upgraded to this 40 foot yacht. We’ve had four spinnaker races with it so far. We’ve had it for four months, but we spent time putting the boat together before racing it.

“We’re absolutely enjoying the boat. It’s a steep learning curve because it’s more of a racing boat than the other one. There’s much to learn, but we’re moving up pretty quickly,” Carr said.

“Jambo is a sistership to Soozal. It would be fun if Soozal entered. We could have great competition between us,” he said, adding, “This is my 22^nd year racing with Middle Harbour Yacht Club. I’ve done all the Sydney Harbour Regattas and a heap of SSORCs and Seven Islands Races and will continue to do so with the new boat.”

Division 2 entries to-date include locals in Sebastian Hultin’s Farr 36, Georgia Express and Neil Padden’s Beneteau First 40.7, Wailea. Joining them is Matt Wilkinson’s Foreign Affair from the CYCA. Wilkinson and his Farr 30 took out the division in 2021 and has finished runner-up in the past. Also expected is Peter Farrugia’s Bull 9000, Bullwinkle, from RPAYC, which placed third in the division last year.

Featuring a combination of a passage race to Lion Island (in a northerly) or Cape Baily (in a southerly), the opening SSORC race is also an inclusion in the CYCA Ocean Pointscore (OPS). On Sunday, there will be  two short offshore windward/leeward races with Sydney Harbour starts and finishes to complete the Championship.

Standard entries close on Friday 17 November at 2359 hrs with late entries accepted up till 2359 hours on Wednesday 22 November and are subject to a Late Entry Fee.

The Seven Islands Race will again be held alongside the SSORC and attracts a wide variety of designs whose crews prefer the cut and thrust of inshore round the buoys racing. This event starts and finishes at MHYC and rounds some of the most famous islands on Sydney Harbour.

For entry and Notice of Race, please go to: www.ssorc.mhyc.com.au 

Di Pearson/MHYC media

Entries are now being accepted for the 2023 Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship (SSORC), with the entry form online at the official website where the Notice of Race can also be found. 

To be held on 25 and 26 November, Middle Harbour Yacht Club’s (MHYC) SSORC is in its 46th year. It is held alongside the Seven Islands Race which attracts an eclectic fleet of those who prefer inshore round the buoys racing, or in this case, round some of Sydney’s most famous islands on Sydney Harbour. The start is pursuit style from MHYC and first back home at the Club is crowned the winner.

Commodore of MHYC, Rob Aldis, commented: “First of all, we’d like to thank Nautilus Marine Insurance which is in its second year as main event partner for our SSORC and Sydney Harbour Regatta in March. The company adds prestige to our two major events through its support of the sailing community.”

The SSORC is a first chance this summer season for an offshore hit-out ahead of other major offshore events, in particular the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. 

Commodore Aldis continued, “We expect to see some new players this season and to also see old rivalries re-emerge.”

He was referring to entrants from MHYC and Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club in particular, who regularly challenge each other for the top three places at major events hosted by the two clubs.

It is likely the top three from Division 1 last year will be back. Winner was MHYC regular, Bob Cox and his DK46, Nine Dragons. RPAYC yachts filled out second and third overall respectively: the Mark Griffith skippered LCE Old School Racing (also a DK46) and Keiran Mulcahy’s King 40, Soozal, which upset a trio of DK46s taking the trophies. 

Division 2 went to podium limelight stealers in Jack Stening and Colin Gunn with their Sydney 36 Stormaway. Just one point separated them from another podium regular in Peter Sorensen’s Sydney 38, Advanced Philosophy. Bullwinkle, Peter Farrugia’s Bull 9000 from RPAYC, filled out the top three. The trio will be eager to return for another go. 

So will it be the locals versus RPAYC for the top spots again, or will those from other clubs, inclusive of those that just missed out last year, muscle their way in?

Opportunists will face a mix of racing from a passage race to Lion Island (in a northerly) or Cape Baily (in a southerly) on the Saturday. The race is also an inclusion in the CYCA Ocean Pointscore (OPS). On Sunday, two short offshore windward/leeward races are in the pipeline. The best boats tested across the different styles of races, usually held in varying conditions, will be the victors.

For entry and Notice of Race, please visit: www.ssorc.mhyc.com.au  

Di Pearson/MHYC media

All Photos by Andrea Francolini

The 2022 Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship (SSORC) concluded late this afternoon with two out of the three windward/leeward races completed; the final Race 4 abandoned as the light breeze fell away to nothing before a thunderstorm arrived.

Although he didn’t win a race, local sailor Bob Cox was the most consistent performer in Division 1 of Middle Harbour Yacht Club’s (MHYC) annual event. Cox and his DK46, Nine Dragons, scored a third yesterday. Today’s second and third places helped him to the top of the podium following the abandonment of Race 4. 

Two Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (RPAYC) yachts filled the other podium places. LCE Old School Racing, one of three DK46’s in Division 1 and skippered by Mark Griffith, won Race 2. The victory handed him second place overall on countback to clubmate, Keiran Mulcahy’s King 40, Soozal.

MHYC Commodore, Rob Aldis, won the second race of the day with his DK46, Khaleesi, to finish fourth overall. Soozal stopped the top three results from being an all-DK46 party.

Cox could not wipe the smile off his face: “We were trying to win a race but we also wanted to minimise risk to pull out the best result we could. It was very fluky today,” he said.

Marvelling at being able to race against two sisterships in LCE Old School and Khaleesi, Cox recounted, “Yesterday the three DKs were side by side and pretty much stayed like that all the way to Lion Island. We had to cross the other two to get closer to shore. That was good racing.

When we got around, we were obviously aware of the other two.

“Getting into the Harbour was difficult though. We put the Code Zero up, then tried the running kite and ended up putting the Code Zero up again. We got second to Victoire. She was very quick.”

Cox said he was appreciative of the good contingent of boats from the RPAYC. “We’ll return the favour by going to their Pittwater Regatta early next year. Khaleesi came to the fore later in the regatta and it was good to see Ian Box’s new set up on Toy Box has worked – the boat is faster. Overall, it was a very good fleet.

“The DKs are aging and so am I – I’ll be 78 in March. I’ve had a bad leg, so the crew had to help me get from side to side this weekend. Full congratulations and thanks to the crew – they were very focussed,” Cox finished.  

Second placed Mark Griffith said today was light and hard work with a bit of chop. “It made it difficult to keep the boat moving and that was the key to winning. Three DK46s. It was very close, but Nine Dragons was more polished. We look forward to racing against them all again at our Pittwater Regatta in February.” 

Griffith continued, “Middle Harbour Yacht Club put on a great regatta. The best is the fantastic camaraderie between the DK46 crews and the rest. We’ve loved every minute of it.”

Division 2 went to the always well-sailed Stormaway, a Sydney 36 owned by Jack Stening and Colin Gunn. The pair’s 2-3-2 results gave them a one-point final advantage over Peter Sorensen’s Advanced Philosophy after the latter won Race 1 yesterday and Race 2 today. Peter Farrugia’s Bull 9000, Bullwinkle (RPAYC) placed third overall after victory in Race 3.

Gunn commented, “Sorro and Conspiracy (which sailed in ORC) sailed fantastically well this weekend. We feel so sorry for Sorro – there was some confusion and I’m sure he would have won had he not retired from the second race today. We were working so hard to stay anyway near them.”

Gunn said he and Stening were surprised and happy to pull the win out of the hat: “Just shows that sometimes sailing is a bit of a lottery. You can’t stop until the race is over,” he said. “We had a wonderful weekend. Yesterday was just glorious.

“We express our gratitude to all the boats that came down from the Alfreds, making it a good competition. And we have great appreciation for the organisers at Middle Harbour Yacht Club,” he ended.

Division 2 looked likely to go to Sorensen’s Sydney 38, Advanced Philosophy, however, he retired from the shortened race amid some confusion.

Racing was away from 11am on the Manly Circle with three windward/leeward races planned. The day looked like it was going to be a good one breeze-wise, but as the first race progressed, the breeze lightened. 

The second race was shortened for Division 1 and then Division 2 and race officials were given no alternative but to abandon their efforts to hold the third race.

Middle Harbour Yacht Club is next looking forward to the Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta to be held on the first weekend in March. The Notice of Race has been published and online entry will open in early December at: https://www.shr.mhyc.com.au/ 

All information on SSORC, including full results at: www.ssorc.mhyc.com.au 

Di Pearson/MHYC media

Victoire and Advanced Philosophy were the outstanding recipients of wins in summer like offshore conditions on the opening day of the 2022 Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship (SSORC) today. 

Division 1 of Middle Harbour Yacht Club’s (MHYC) 45th running of the event went to Victoire, Darryl Hodgkinson’s Carkeek 40. Victoire took a little over a minute out of Keiran Mulcahy’s King 40, Soozal and Bob Cox’s DK46, Nine Dragons in the race to Lion Island on Pittwater.

Hodgkinson explained, “I just got back from New Zealand last night and arrived at the boat today. We have a new Code Zero which we used and what a weapon! The wind hiked up to 15-16 knots and the sail was perfect. Holy moly, we flew. We were first out of the Heads and kept up with the TP52s all the way to the Island. Of course they got away from us upwind.” 

Commenting on conditions, the Sydney yachtsman, a past winner of the Rolex Sydney Hobart said, “It was a lovely day out. Sunny, breeze kicking in from 10-17 knots. The sea was a little lumpy, but nothing worth getting upset about.” 

Over the moon with their win and his new sail, ‘Doctor Darryl’ continued, “They can go home tonight and worry about us, but I don’t think we’ll do as well on the windward/leewards tomorrow as we did offshore today.”

Division 2 went to MHYC stalwart, Peter Sorensen’s Advanced Philosophy, which in his words, “Cleaned up,” on his rivals. The Sydney 38 scored a five minute victory over Jack Stening and Colin Gunn’s Sydney 36, Stormaway and over 10 minutes to third placed Foreign Affair, the Farr 30 owned by Matt Wilkinson.

“We even beat Division 1 boats,” a chuffed ‘Sorro’ said. “I’m very pleased with myself and the crew. It’s good to know I’ve still got it at 80 years of age! “

The race started in a 12 -13 knot sou-sou-easterly. As day wore on it went from 145 degrees to 100 degrees on the offshore course, equating to a spinnaker run to Lion Island and a tight reach coming home. 

“On the spinnaker run up, we stayed close inshore - that’s the golden rule – stay out of the southerly current.  It paid off to go inshore and we went in dead square. Khaleesi and all those big boats (Division 1) went out to sea and when they came back in, they were with us. 

“It was one of those lovely days on the water and all worked well today. I’ve got some pretty good guys on the boat and we sailed the boat well. We got there today because we went the right way and did the right things. Tomorrow is another day and a different race format…” 

MHYC plans to run three windward/leeward races offshore tomorrow, which may mix the results up.

All information, including full results at: www.ssorc.mhyc.com.au  

Seven Islands Race on Sydney Harbour – 21st birthday gift on Renaissance

Andy Forbes Georgia Express got the gun in Division 1 of the fun Seven Islands Race. “We won,” said a pleased Forbes.

The Farr Mumm 36 successfully took on serial winner, Brian Lees and his Adams 10 Contentious and Charles Caskey’s Sydney 36 Cruiser/Racer, Onya to win the race.

“I had crew missing, so we raced with reduced numbers. We decided to go out and have fun, but the conditions were so good, we thought we’d go out and pass everyone we could! 

Forbes said they enjoyed a fantastic run down the Harbour under spinnaker. “Once we got around Birkenhead, it was about ticking the boats off and keeping on going. We caught the last ones in the last 500 metres of the race.”

The fleet enjoyed a breeze of 17 knots that dropped down to 9 knots during the race. 

“I was about using the right sails at the right time. We pretty much used the full inventory,” Forbes said, laughing. 

“Everyone knows the boat well now, so sail it well together. We sail the boat with a 50/50 male female split and have debrief before and after each race. It was a golden day out and such fun,” Forbes ended.

A family outing on Gary Carless’ Renaissance, turned into a special 21st birthday celebration for his grandson Shannon. The Northshore 369 beat Simon Dunlop’s Ellipse and Chris Skinner’s Martela to claim the Division 2 bounty.

“We had three generations of Carless’ on the boat, the youngest, Shannon, turned 21 today,” said a thrilled Gary Carless. “There was myself, two of my sons, two grandsons and my wife Janice on board. We all enjoyed the day and it was a pretty nice way for Shannon to spend his 21st. 

“It was a beautiful breeze,” Carless expounded. “We worked out of  Middle Harbour, then cracked a spinnaker to Cockatoo and Spectacle Islands and worked back in a lovely 10-15 knot easterly.  My family lined up for this race and the Sydney Harbour Regatta each year.

Held on the Harbour each year, the Seven Islands Race attracts a mixed keelboat fleet. It starts off MHYC pursuit style and the first to the finish post back at the Club claims the trophies in each division. 

Full results: click here

Di Pearson/MHYC media
 

Billed as the ‘must’ do’ regatta to boost sailing skillsets ahead of the summer season of major yachting events, the 2022 Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship (SSORC) is gathering momentum following the opening of entries in late September.

Among the names added to the start list for Middle Harbour Yacht Club’s (MHYC) 45^th running of the annual event to be held from 26-27 November, are Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club yachts: Gerry Hatton’s Bushranger, Ray Hudson’s XS Moment and Mark Tinworth and Mark Waterhouse’s Mercury.

Hatton’s M.A.T. 1245, Bushranger, finished third overall in Division 2 at the Australian Yachting Championships (AYC) in August. He attributes much of his success to “sailing with family. My son-in-law Michael (Fountain) skippers Bushranger and my son Andrew does the main,” he said. “We all work well together.” 

The elder statesman remains ever competitive and derives much pleasure from sailing against and beating his MHYC rivals, who like to return the favour when they sail at home and at RPAYC events.

“Yes, we are competitive, but we’re friends ashore. Bob (Cox with Nine Dragons) just beat us last year, but we got him back at the Pittwater Regatta (in February). We know there are a lot of others who can win, but we are coming to the regatta to win too,” he said laughing.

Andrew Forbes’ has also entered Georgia Express and will no doubt provide Foreign Affair with especially good competition. The former is a Farr 36, the latter a Farr 30 and both are extremely competitive yachts from the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA).

Matt Wilkinson’s Foreign Affair returns as the defending champion of Division 2 from last year’s SSORC, however, there are a number of others prepared to take the pair on, so it is by no means a lay down misère.

To be held over the weekend of 26 and 27 November, Saturday’s passage race will be held in conjunction with the CYCA Ocean Pointscore (OPS). Three offshore windward/leeward races will round out the weekend on Sunday.

For those yet to enter, the good news is the Close of Standard Entries deadline has been extended to midnight on 23 November. And further good news is that  existing entrants in either the MHYC or CYCA Ocean Pointscore Series are exempt from paying a fee but must still go online and enter.

Seven Islands Race on Sydney Harbour

In addition to the SSORC,  the Club will again host the Seven Islands Race for the mixed keelboat fleet on the Saturday of the SSORC. Starting off MHYC, pursuit style, first to the finish post back at the Club claims the trophy. Attracting an eclectic mix of yachts, it’s anyone’s to win.

All information on the SSORC, including Notice of Race and entry: www.ssorc.mhyc.com.au 

Di Pearson / MHYC media

Entry for the Nautilus Marine Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship (SSORC) is open and along with the Notice of Race, can be found online at the official site, with some competitors already preparing to rekindle old rivalries when Middle Harbour Yacht Club’s (MHYC) 45^th running of the annual event is held on 26 and 27 November.

Bob Cox from the host club brought home the bacon in Division 1 last year with his DK46, Nine Dragons. However, Gerry Hatton’s Bushranger, which took second place on countback from the Mark Griffith skippered DK46, LCE Old School Racing, finished just one point in arears.

This year, Cox will be working on the backfoot. “I have some new people on board, so we’re pretty much rebuilding the crew. We’re doing some fun Wednesday racing to train them up and we’ll do some offshore races. We are preparing though,” he states.

“We’re looking forward to racing against the two other DK46’s, Khaleesi and LCE Old School Racing. Also Bushranger and the dark horse Mercury; it’s a quick Farr 40. And we always expect good racing from Toy Box 2,” Cox ended.

Nine Dragons will be up against it. Khaleesi has performed well since being acquired by Sandy Farquharson and MHYC Commodore, Rob Aldis. They won Division 1 of MHYC’s 2021 Sydney Harbour Regatta and the CYCA’s SOPS. Aldis also headed north with Kayimai in August, so will come to the event in decent shape.

LCE Old School is no slouch. In 2021, she placed third on countback in the 2021 SSORC, finished 15^th overall in the Rolex Sydney Hobart and third overall in April’s Club Marine Pittwater to Coffs Harbour race to win Division 2.

A big danger is Bushranger, Hatton, from Pittwater, honed his skills at the Australian Yachting Championships in August. His Mat 1245 came away third against a classy field that included Olympic gold medallist Malcolm Page and America’s Cup winner, Joey Newton.

Mercury, owned by Mark Tinworth and Mark Waterhouse is the former Estate Master, which was adapted for IRC racing in 2018. She won the IRC National Championship in 2020 and placed third in the RPAYC’s Pittwater Regatta in February.

Owned by a past MHYC Commodore, Ian Box, Toy Box 2 scored a top three race finish at the Australian Yachting Championships, racing alongside Bushranger. Box and his playfully named boat are regulars on the inshore and offshore scene.

Jack Stening and Colin Gunn’s Sydney 36, Stormaway from the host club, does a lot of racing in Sydney. “It’s a tough division,” admits Stenning, whose boat has ended up second in Division 2 since 2016. “We’re always the bridesmaid – our goal is to win it this time,” he says emphatically.

“We always have serious competition from Foreign Affair in different events. Last year they won the SSORC - we were second - again. Sometimes they beat us, sometimes we beat them. We like the SSORC because you get a mix of offshore and sprints. Offshore starts add to the challenge and we love how fair and how close the racing is.

“We’re looking forward to it because we have a good crew and that makes a huge difference.

The races are run well too. We get clear and concise instructions. Denis Thompson (the PRO) is very good.

Stormaway’s crew will need to be at their best, with Matt Wilkinson confirming he and wife Lisa will be on the start line with Foreign Affair, their Farr 30.

“We’re intending to race. I’ve being doing the SSORC for many years on different boats. It’s a good event and we all come out of hibernation for the first big regatta for summer,” he declared.

“All the crew love it and we hope to do well. It’s always really well organised – David (Staley, MHYC Sailing Manager) does a great job. And the courses are always well run.”

As to competition, Wilkinson says, “We love racing against Stormaway. Jack and Colin are good sailors and mates. We assume Wailea and Philosopher to compete too. They are always good.”

Wailea is Neil Padden’s Beneteau 40.7 which finished fourth last year, while Philosopher is Peter Sorensen’s Sydney 38. ‘Sorro’ is rarely off the podium in the variety of events he does.

Organisers plan a passage race to Lion Island (in a northerly) or Cape Baily (in a southerly) starting from 9.55 hours on the Saturday. The race will be included in the CYCA Ocean Pointscore (OPS). Three windward/leeward races will round out the weekend on Sunday.

There is also an option to run another passage race for the TP52s or move the whole course inshore should the weather dictate. Denis Thompson has again been appointed PRO, with the  CYCA providing race management.

Middle Harbour Yacht Club is pleased to announce that from September 2022, Nautilus Marine Insurance is a major sponsor of the Club, its main event partner for the Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship and for the Sydney Harbour Regatta in March 2023. Nautilus Marine Insurance continues direct support of the sailing community with the announcement of this sponsorship.

For those whose preference is inshore racing, the Seven Islands Race takes the fleet on a Sydney Harbour course and is run in tandem with the SSORC. It stretches competitors, but also offers a scenic route. With a pursuit-style start from the Club, the race sends competitors around famous Sydney Harbour islands. First home to the MHYC finish line wins the race.

All information, including Notice of Race and entry: www.ssorc.mhyc.com.au 

Di Pearson/MHYC media

Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MiddleHarbourYachtClub

Paul Jenkins and his Sydney 38 crew onboard Mille Sabords won their first ever regatta on a wild and wet Sydney weekend racing for the host club in the annual Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship that drew 55 mixed keelboats boats from various New South Wales clubs.

“Persistence in Saturday’s offshore race and a reasonable Sunday gave us our first regatta win after buying the boat in January,” a delighted Jenkins said. “The youngest in the crew is 50 – we keep saying where are the 25-year-olds who used to be us? – and everyone had three jobs today with only a broken winch handle to replace. We’ve been together as a team for a long time and did the 2019 Hobart race together – they are a great group of guys.”

After a punishing coastal passage race on Saturday in strong southerlies, the Middle Harbour Yacht Club crew of Mille Sabords fronted six-up for Premier Division 2’s three windward/leeward races on Sydney Harbour, the race management team adjusting the program prior to day two racing and electing to keep all fleets inshore, out of the nasty swell.

Bob Cox’s DK46 Nine Dragons saved the best for last, sneaking through the two RPAYC boats in Premier Division 1, Gerry Hatton’s Bushranger and Mark Griffith’s Old School Racing, on handicap in the final short course race of three to add another SSORC trophy to the Dragon’s impressive collection.

Amazingly, it was the first time the boat had lined up after more than a year out undergoing extensive repairs from hitting South reef during a Short Ocean Pointscore race. “It’s pretty amazing we were able to come back so strong to take it by one point,” said the surprised skipper. “Special thanks to the crew who never gave up, in particular Billy Sykes and Will MacKenzie.”

Second in Premier Division 1 was Bushranger, the Mat 1245 from the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club and third on a countback to second was clubmate Mark Griffith’s DK46. “I’d say those two RPAYC boats are the best in the country on IRC; for the old girl [his boat] to comeback like this is incredible,” Cox added as the beer flowed down at The Spit where MHYC hosted the trophy presentation after racing.

Full SSORC results.

Darryl Hodgkinson’s Carkeek 40 Victoire (CYCA) narrowly wrapped up top honours in the Super 40 Spring Regatta series of four races that constituted one of the Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship pointscores – a countback with Indy Beck’s MC38 InfoTrack separating the top two teams. Full Super 40 results.

“It was an exciting weekend and it’s always great to race against the MC38 teams,” Hodgkinson said. “We love doing Middle Harbour regattas and we really enjoyed the racing. Earlier I thanked my wife, who loves gold things, for the new yellow A4 kite which made it very easy to spot us on the harbour on a dull and rainy weekend.”

Though there were some nervous moments, Hodgkinson managed to keep Victoire on its feet for Saturday’s Seven Islands Race and Sunday’s two inshore passage races.

Conditions moderated on Sunday November 28, 15-25 knots out of the S-SE compared to Saturday’s rolling rain squalls, step seas and blasts of southerly wind which peaked around 35 knots offshore.

MHYC is grateful for the support of CYCA race management and thanks key SSORC sponsors Club Marine, Sail Racing, Robert Oatley Wines and Short Marine for their generosity.

How to follow the SSORC:

Website www.ssorc.mhyc.com.au

Facebook: @MiddleHarbourYachtClub

Instagram: @middleharbouryachtclub

Photos by Andrea Francolini

Big seas and strong winds offshore for the Premier Divisions contesting Middle Harbour Yacht Club’s annual Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship put the stress test on crews over the 24 nautical mile course, described as “brutal” by the division 1 winning tactician.

Michael Fountain from Gerry Hatton’s Mat 1245 Division 1 IRC, ORC and PHS corrected time winner, Bushranger, said: “brutal is the only way to describe it….very tough conditions with constant 27 knot southerlies gusting to 33 and seas 4 metres.”

Video highlights thanks to @Tillymcknightmedia

John McConaghy and Steve Coates helmed the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club boat, Coates hitting a record downwind boat speed of 20.2 knots with a poled-out number 4 headsail. Fountain added: “We got a good start at the right end of the line, and we were up there getting out of the harbour into clear air and weather the boat likes. It’s handy going into day two on top and in fact, we are better suited to windward/leewards.”

Second on IRC was Bob Cox’s DK46 Nine Dragons (MHYC) and third and the line honours victor, Seb Bohm’s JV TP52 Smuggler (Cruising Yacht Club of Australia) made the most of the heavy weather outing a month out from the Rolex Sydney Hobart start.

In Division 2, Paul Jenkins MHYC-based Sydney 38 Mille Sabords captured the treble of top boat under the three handicap systems and Neil Padden’s Beneteau 40.7 Wailea had to be satisfied with second.

Conditions heading south to the waverider buoy off Kurnell proved too much for some – six withdrawals were recorded from a starting SSORC fleet of 16, due to low-level gear and sail damage.

Super 40 Spring Regatta entrants completed the Seven Islands Race, Indy Beck’s MC38 InfoTrack gaining a 32 second edge over Darryl Hodgkinson’s Victoire on corrected time as those crews enjoyed calm waters laced with rolling showers and wildly shifting cool breeze west of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Super 40 results.

The fleet in the annual Seven Islands Trophy Race also headed up the Parramatta River to try their luck, pursuit handicap wins going to Rob Reynolds’ Exile, Tracey Richardson’s and Brendan Smid’s Artemis and Frank Milner’s Pinta Bay in the Jeanneau Cup division. Seven Islands Race results.

SSORC Principal Race Officer Denis Thompson said there was some rejigging of the weekend series program, given the strong wind warning issued by the Bureau of Meteorology, however all fleets completed their full course on Saturday. The tough conditions are associated with a high south of the continent pushing a southerly flow up the New South Wales coast.

Winds are expected to moderate on Sunday November 28, 15-20 knots for the second and final day of the 44^th edition of SSORC when the Super 40s take on two short passage races and the Premier fleet switches to short course racing either on the Manly or Macquarie Circles outside Sydney Heads.

The SSORC is held in conjunction with a Cruising Yacht Club of Australia Ocean Pointscore race.  MHYC is grateful for the support of CYCA race management and thanks key SSORC sponsors Club Marine, Sail Racing, Robert Oatley Wines and Short Marine for their generosity.

How to follow the SSORC:

Website www.ssorc.mhyc.com.au

Facebook: @MiddleHarbourYachtClub

Instagram: @middleharbouryachtclub

Tilly McKnight Photos

Tilly McKnight was on the water today capturing the action in the SSORC Ocean Passage, the Super 40s and the Seven Islands Race.  Click on the image or here.

Middle Harbour Yacht Club’s annual Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship reignites the good-natured rivalry between Sydney and Pittwater sailing crews – each believing they have the better pedigree, particularly within the Premier Divisions.

These turf battles play out a few times each year and will heat up for the 44^th edition of SSORC to be conducted by the Middle Harbour club over the weekend of November 27-28 on Sydney Harbour and offshore.

The entry list features a stellar IRC line-up, where most of the harbour versus Pittwater bloodline battles play out. Multiple division 2 winner, Jack Stening and Colin Gunn’s Sydney 36 Stormaway, will be up against it with Peter Farrugia’s Bull 9000 Bullwinkle and Mark Hellyer’s Italia 11.98 Cicero bringing sail bags full of local talent down from the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club.

In division one, the competition between MHYC’s Bob Cox’s DK46 Nine Dragons and Gerry Hatton’s RPAYC Mat 1245 Bushranger, bearing plenty of northern beaches pride, lives on. SSORC will be the regatta debut for Phil Dash’s new Grand Soleil Gs44 Justadash which looks fast although boat and crew are untested.           

Premier Divisions 1 and 2 and Sydney 38s will sail an offshore race on Saturday November 27 and windward/leewards on the Sunday. Division 1 features three DK46s, Khaleesi (Rob Aldis and Sandy Farquharson) and Nine Dragons from the harbour and Pittwater-based Old School Racing owned by Mark Griffith.

Old School Racing’s RPAYC crew is keen to benchmark against two ‘like’ boats in the closing weeks before the Southern Hemisphere’s pinnacle bluewater event, the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. “We want to develop into a regatta-winning team and SSORC is a good start,” said Griffith. “Lining up against the other DKs will identify the areas we need to work on.”

Griffith opted for the Mark Mills design, originally Dekadence, given its reputation as a great dual-purpose cruiser-racer with a handy rating that suits the windward/leeward format.

Khaleesi is also on the Rolex Sydney Hobart start list.

The Farr 40s and Super 40s, including the MC38s and Adrian Walters’ Shaw 11 Little Nico, will have a fleet start in Hunters Bay on the Saturday for the Seven Islands Race. On Sunday, the Farr 40s will join the offshore course for three windward/leewards while the Super 40s will remain inshore for their three short course races. Between 30-40 boats are expected for the mixed keelboat divisions of the Seven Islands Race which is part of the Jeanneau Cup Series.

A separate TP52 division is on the cards and Principal Race Officer Denis Thompson and MHYC Sailing Manager David Staley are looking at the options for a mix of windward/leeward and a coastal sprint on the Sunday.

MHYC Special Events Chairman and owner of the Xp 44 Toy Box 2, Ian Box, says “SSORC has a fabulous history that we work hard to preserve, while staying innovative. This year we have developed a wider weekend offering to cater for the diversity of racing preferences and at the same time we are focused on nurturing the heart of SSORC, the very competitive Premier and One-Design boats. I encourage everyone to get an entry in and participate in some of the best racing on offer.”

Enter SSORC and take advantage of the club announcing an extension of the early entry fee, up until 1700hrs on Wednesday 24 December, which is when final paperwork is also due.

Video from SSORC 2021 thanks to Tilly McKnight Media.

MHYC is grateful for the support of CYCA race management and thanks key SSORC sponsors Club Marine, Sail Racing, Robert Oatley Wines and Short Marine for their generosity.

The Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions are available at www.ssorc.mhyc.com.au.

How to follow the SSORC:

Website www.ssorc.mhyc.com.au

Facebook: @MiddleHarbourYachtClub

Instagram: @middleharbouryachtclub

Sydney sailors are anxiously awaiting news of Sydney’s lockdown coming to an end.  After an enforced four-month hiatus from yacht racing, there is now a light on the horizon.

Middle Harbour Yacht Club has announced the first major keelboat regatta for the season - the Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship (SSORC) on 27 and 28 November.

This will be the 44^th running of the event which each year attracts Sydney’s best IRC racing yachts.  Results are calculated on IRC, ORC and PHS handicaps, with the addition of TPR for the TP52 fleet.

In 2021, the Sydney 38 Class are looking to kick their season off with a strong fleet at SSORC.

David Hudson and Peter Byford’s Conspiracy from RPAYC is the 2020 Australian Champion and won the Sydney 38 division of Sydney Harbour Regatta last year.  Chris Heraghty’s Risk, Lisa Callaghan’s Mondo, Mike Logan’s Thirlmere, Phil Herscovics’ Shine On and Peter Sorensen’s Advanced Philosophy are among the crews that would like to end Conspiracy’s dominance.

Unable to compete last year, MHYC’s Bob Cox is looking forward to the Division 1 IRC racing with his DK46 Nine Dragons.

“We have a tremendous group of people that contest the SSORC and Sydney Harbour Regatta each year,” said Cox.

“Soozal and Bushranger from Pittwater are quick and really challenge the Harbour boats like Nine Dragons, Khaleesi and Victoire.  Great racing offshore and getting together back at the club makes for very enjoyable regatta,” he said.

In 2020, Kieran Mulcahy’s Soozal took the regatta win from Bushranger (Gerry Hatton), with the other MHYC DK46 Khaleesi (Rob Aldis & Sandy Farquharson) finishing third.  In 2019, Darryl Hodgkinson’s Carkeek 40 Victoire was fighting it out with Bushranger and Nine Dragons, with Bushranger coming out on top.

IRC Division 2 also provides some keen competition, with Jack Stening and Colin Gunn’s Sydney 36 Stormaway always on the podium.  In 2020, Stormaway won the division ahead of Mark Hellyer’s Italia 11.98 Cicero from RPAYC and Michael Rowe’s Corum, the Mumm 36 from Manly.

The TP52s are also looking to get their crews back into competitive form after an inactive winter and spring.  Gordon Ketelbey’s Zen took the win at last year’s SSORC from Andy Kearnan’s Koa and Sebastian Bohm’s Smuggler.  For these crews in particular, it is a perfect start to preparations for the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

The SSORC is held in conjunction with a Cruising Yacht Club of Australia Ocean Pointscore race on the Saturday – either to Lion Island or Cape Baily.  CYCA support race management for the event with the coastal passage race followed by three windward-leeward races offshore on the Sunday.  Principal Race Officer for the event is Denis Thompson.

On the Saturday of the SSORC, the popular Seven Islands Race is also held for mixed keelboats with a novel course around the harbour islands east and west of the Harbour Bridge.

The Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship Notice of Race is now published and online entry will soon open.

Middle Harbour Yacht Club’s Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship (SSORC) coincided with Sydney’s record-breaking hot weather weekend, 28 crews enduring 40 knot gusts for race two and brutal temperatures in the low 40s both days of the longstanding annual series.

A gale warning moved racing inshore on the Sunday, Principal Race Officer Denis Thompson designing special courses to suit a second day of fresh north-westerlies. Hot winds really kicked up in the closing stages of the Sydney Harbour passage race, testing reaction times and causing sail damage and a few knockdowns.

The icing on top of Keiran Mulcahy’s resounding IRC, ORCi and PHS division 1 victories with his King 40 called Soozal was beating nemesis and Royal Prince Alfred clubmate Bushranger, Gerry Hatton’s Mat 1245 also from Pittwater.

“We come to SSORC to beat Bushranger an– this result has been two years in the making. I’m walking around at Middle Harbour Yacht Club now with a bucket for their tears and handing out tissues. I’ve been through three boxes already,” Mulcahy joked before heading to the podium to collect the team’s six trophy haul.

“Though we would have liked windward/leewards on the Sunday, Soozal is an all-rounder and a monster when it gets going so we were equally happy doing another passage race. We saw 41 knots coming up to Manly and tore one jib. We had a good time on the water,” the winning skipper added.

Pointscore results for 2020

Day One video by Tilly Lock Media

SSORC Photo Gallery

IRC division 2 went to Jack Stening and Colin Gunn’s Stormaway, a Sydney 36 sailing for

the host club. Tactician and trimmer Nicky Bethwaite said they were relieved to finish Sunday’s passage race with no damage or injury. “I don’t think I’ve raced on the harbour in 30-40 knots before, watching the spray lift off the white caps up the track knowing that was a 40 knot gust was pretty challenging.”

ORCi and PHS division 2 top honours went to another Pittwater boat, Mark Hellyer’s Italia 11.98 Cicero.

The winning Sydney 38 was David Hudson’s Conspiracy (RPAYC). The TP52s only managed one race on the Saturday, Andy Kearnan’s Koa from the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia the top-scoring boat on TPR. Gordon Ketelbey’s Zen (MHYC) claimed the Gunboat Trophy for the fastest elapsed time.

Saturday was equally challenging to Sunday with 41.9 degrees recorded at Sydney Airport. All SSORC divisions and the CYCA Ocean Pointscore fleet started together on a long line at Steele Point, the outgoing tide causing OCS headaches which prompted a general recall from Race Officer Steve Kidson. 

On the way to Lion Island, at the mouth of the Hawkesbury River, the boats that went offshore found lighter NE winds whereas those that stayed closer to the coastline enjoyed the fresher north-westerly. It was a long day in the heat with the last of the 37 finishers reaching the Watsons Bay finish line after 5pm. 

Inshore for Saturday’s 22 nautical mile Seven Islands pursuit race, a fleet of 37 boats had some great racing in the puffy north-westerly wind. It was an upwind work from Shark Island to Spectacle Island followed by a nice run under spinnaker or poled out headsail back from Cockatoo Island to Clarke Island. Teams finished the big day spent and very thirsty.

Many thanks to Cruising Yacht Club of Australia for their race management support and to SSORC sponsors Helly Hansen, Club Marine, Robert Oatley Wines and Short Marine. 

By Lisa Ratcliff 

All photos by Marg Fraser-Martin

Tilly Lock Media was on the water for Day One of the Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship

To view the video - click here

To view the photo galleries - click here

Middle Harbour Yacht Club is looking forward to hosting the 43rd edition of the Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship next weekend.

Strong competition is expected in the Premier Divisions 1 and 2 with additional divisions for TP52 and Sydney 38 classes.  As encouragement to further boats, the late entry fee has now been waived.  Entries close at midnight next Wednesday (25^th November).

Enter now at www.ssorc.mhyc.com.au

Middle Harbour Yacht Club’s longstanding Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship (SSORC) will go ahead over the weekend of November 28-29, another positive bounce back from the New South Wales major sailing event doldrums.

Last week the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia announced its intention to keep working towards staging the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race in December. The Saturday SSORC ocean race, part of the CYCA’s Ocean Pointscore Series, is a chance for Hobart race crews to meet some of their opposition on a start line for a valuable hit-out, particularly given the reduced schedule of lead-up races.

Enter SSORC.

Following their Sydney Harbour start on Saturday, the Premier and Performance class and One-Design divisions, including the Sydney 38s and TP52s, will head offshore for a passage race. On Sunday November 29 the competition will switch gear to short course windward/leewards off Sydney Heads, ideally in sparkling summer sunshine and a classic afternoon nor’easter Sydney is renowned for.

Premier division 1 skipper Bob Cox (Nine Dragons) says: “Keiran and Elizabeth Mulcahy’s Soozal and Gerry Hatton’s Bushranger are among the best IRC racers on the east coast, and both have indicated that next month’s SSORC will bring them to the harbour from the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club.”

Bushranger beat Nine Dragons into second at last year’s SSORC, then the tables turned in March 2020 at the club’s annual Sydney Harbour Regatta, the state’s last key sailing event before the coronavirus pandemic dramatically curtailed the sport.

“Nine Dragons is also looking forward to lining up against our old adversary and sistership, Khaleesi, under new owners Rob Aldis and Sandy Farquharson. Once again Khaleesi is showing great speed and will be more than a challenge for us,” Cox added.

Coinciding with SSORC is a new Super Group Spring Regatta, six windward/leeward or short passage races for the Super 20 and Super 30 divisions over the two days. The traditional Seven Islands Race on the Saturday accommodates mixed keelboats with a really interesting course that takes the fleet into confined waterways and fickle winds west of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

A call for interest and entry has gone out to the TP52 class while Sydney 38 spokesperson Mike Logan is talking up his class’ patronage of this year’s SSORC. “There are twenty Sydney 38s between Lake Macquarie, Pittwater and Sydney; if we can get half of them that would be great.”

The Sydney advantage will well and truly be exploited by “the burglar” adds Logan, referring to Peter Sorensen, owner/skipper of Advanced Philosophy and winner of the most recent CYCA Winter Series Sydney 38 division, just one of countless victories from decades of campaigning. “Sorro knows the harbour upside down. He’s sailed on it so many times his results are no longer due to luck.

“For SSORC we will most likely run the Sydney 38 division like the state champs in that we’ll follow class rules in terms of sails but not the crew weight maximum,” advised Logan, the owner of Sydney 38 Thirlmere. “I’m expecting a couple of Pittwater boats, hopefully Risk and Conspiracy. Add in CYCA, MHYC and the Balmain boats and there should be 10-12 Corinthian teams, which are the cornerstone of the class.”

MHYC Special Events Chairman and owner of Toy Box 2, Ian Box says, “SSORC has a fabulous history that we work hard to preserve, while staying innovative. This year we have developed a wider weekend offering to cater for the diversity of racing preferences, and we continue to nurture the heart of SSORC, the Premier and One-Design boats. I encourage everyone to get an entry in and participate.”

Standard entry for the 43rd edition of SSORC applies until 2359hrs on Friday November 20 and thereafter a late entry fee will apply, up until Wednesday November 25 at 2359hrs.

The Notice of Race is now available at https://www.ssorc.mhyc.com.au/ and sailing instructions will be posted to the same website by November 27. SSORC is conducted by MHYC at The Spit with the assistance and support of the CYCA.

Key SSORC sponsors include Helly Hansen, Club Marine, Robert Oatley Wines and Short Marine. 

How to follow the SSORC:

Website https://www.ssorc.mhyc.com.au/

Facebook: @MiddleHarbourYachtClub

Instagram: @middleharbouryachtclub

November 28 & 29 have been confirmed as the dates for the next Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship.  The Seven Islands Race will be sailed on the Saturday for the Inshore fleet and the Super 12 Spring Regatta will be held on the Saturday and Sunday.  Get the dates in your diary now and keep an eye on the website for more details as the event approaches.

Despite the rather melancholy weather, the competition was as stiff as ever in the 42nd running of the Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship (SSORC), hosted by Middle Harbour Yacht Club (MHYC) over the weekend.

Gerry Hatton’s Bushranger crew came down from ‘The Alfreds’ on Pittwater and conquered in IRC Division 1. Hatton is away, so Michael Fountain was left in charge of the Mat 1245, and after finishing third in the passage race yesterday, pulled out all stops with 1-2-1 results to beat nearest rival, Bob Cox’s DK46, Nine Dragons by three points. Darryl Hodgkinson’s Carkeek 40, Victoire, was third on countback after winning the passage race.

“Bushranger has had a fantastic relationship with Nine Dragons. Bob Cox was pretty persistent that we should come and compete at the SSORC,” he said of the Middle Harbour Yacht Club yachtsman who won Division 1 of the regatta last year and is a regular on the podium.  

“Bob loves the fact that there is hardly ever 30 seconds between us on the race track; you make one mistake and you’re gone,” he continued. “We enjoy racing against each other and enjoy each other’s company. There is good spirit between the two of us.”

Competitors at the SSORC were put through their paces in a very shifty and light 6 to 10 knots of breeze for yesterday’s passage race, followed by a soft 10-knot south-easterly on bumpy seas for the three windward/leeward races, Fountain admitting, “Bushranger loves the bump.”

Division 2 went to newcomer, Soozal, the King 40 skippered by Keiran Mulcahy who with his wife, recently imported the boat from California. He could not have been more pleased with the outcome of Soozal’s Australian offshore debut.

“We’re all a bit stunned,” Mulcahy confessed. “We went out there a little apprehensive, it being our first regatta. We’re thrilled. We didn’t know what to expect, or what was going to happen. It turned out to be a good exercise.”

Mulcahy, who next month takes on the 628 nautical mile 75^th Sydney Hobart, said: “It turned out to be the right decision to bring the boat from California.  Twelve years old and it races like a rabbit. It’s proved itself over the last weekend.”

In her first outing, Soozal cleaned up, scoring three wins from four races to defeat nearest competitor and local, Jack Stening and Colin Gunn’s Sydney 36, Stormaway, which also finished bridesmaid last year. Stormaway won Race 2, to finish three points in arrears, while Chris Heraghty’s Sydney 38, Risk, was third, a further two points behind.

Speaking on Day 1’s soft breeze, Mulcahy said, “The boat was designed for 15-20 knot winds, so it was a surprise to win the opening passage race. Today was more designed for us weatherwise. Soozal is a quirky boat and a sistership to the Mat 1245. They share the same designer, Mark Mills, but the designs are slightly different.”

In the TP52 series, defending champion, Marcus Blackmore’s Hooligan, came good again to claim the trophy. A big supporter of sailing, Blackmore won all three races in a depleted fleet. David Pescud’s SWD Wot Eva took second place, her crew putting in the hard yards ahead of the Sydney Hobart.  

The next major offshore event for MHYC is the Sydney Harbour Regatta to be held on the weekend of March 7 and 8 in 2020.  The 2020 SSORC will be held from 7-8 November, three weeks earlier than usual, as a lead-up to the Farr 40 World Championship being hosted in Sydney.

MHYC organisers thank the Race Committee: Principal Race Officer, Denis Thompson, Saturday Race Officer Steve Tucker, and their race teams. Thanks also to the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia for making its course boats available and Bob Cox for all his efforts to promote this event.

“We also thank all competitors and especially those making the effort to come down from Pittwater for the regatta,” MHYC Special Events Chairman, Ian Box said.

MHYC, which is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, expresses its thanks to sponsors: Helly Hansen, Club Marine, Oatley Wines, Short Marine, Vittoria Coffee and Key Sun Zinke for their support.

All information, including full results: www.ssorc.mhyc.com.au   

Di Pearson/MHYC media

More images by Andrea Francolini

Presentation images by MHYC