This weekend Pittwater’s Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club will host the MC38 Winter Regatta, the third and final act of the one design class’ 2016 Australian Season Championship.
Early weather models show NSW could be in the path of another east coast low, predicted to bring severe winds and significant rainfall to Sydney late Sunday and into Monday. As always the RPAYC’s race committee will monitor the system and keep owners informed, plus be ready to adjust the on-water schedule should conditions wane.
Painfully light winter sou’easters and a high chance of showers are forecast for Saturday, turning to E-NE winds and increasing slowly on Sunday, June 19. This makes Sunday the better option for spectators to run along the race course perimeter, likely to be just north of Scotland Island, in their own boats and see and hear the hotted-up fleet at close quarters.
Sparring partners Dark Star, John Bacon’s RPAYC MC38, and Leslie Green’s three-time and current Australian champion, Ginger, sailing for the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, are in the running for the season crown. The pair are two points apart on the series scoresheet, Ginger on four points thanks to two seconds and Dark Star on six points after two third spots, at Sail Port Stephens in April and the MC38 Autumn Regatta run by Middle Harbour Yacht Club last month.
“We always go one-on-one with Ginger and we are looking forward to doing just that this weekend,” said Bacon. “We just need to beat them, and that’s never easy.”
Howard Spencer’s 2015 Australian Season Champion Menace, from Royal Akarana Yacht Club in New Zealand, is running second on the season pointscore however the Kiwis unfortunately can’t make this weekend so drop out of contention.
Neville Crichton and his Maserati team rejoined the fray at the Autumn Regatta and top scored, but having missed the opening round they are also out of contention for a decent seat at the championship table, given the no discard scoring system.
Robin and Clare Crawford’s Assassin (RPAYC) has attended all stages and earned a solid nine points towards their final championship tally.
The owner’s group welcomes back Ross Hennessy’s Ghost Rider for this weekend’s season finale, after the crew took a break following the national class title on Pittwater in February.
MC38 Winter Regatta schedule
Saturday June 18
0830 – 0900 Registration and crew weigh-in
0900 Race Committee briefing at Halyards Bar, RPAYC
1000 First scheduled warning signal of the day, up to 4 races
Daily Prize giving ASAP after dock-in
Sunday June 19
1000 First scheduled warning signal of the day, up to 3 races
Prize-giving ASAP after dock-in
