Sydney Harbour will be jam-packed today, with Middle Harbour Yacht Club’s annual Sydney Harbour Regatta, to be sailed on Sydney Harbour this weekend, reaping 174 entries representing NSW, Queensland, Victoria and the ACT – and the weather – well it’s looking nothing short of spectacular.
The temperature is set to soar to 29 degrees and the forecast is for a northerly and nor’ easterly winds of 10-15 knots – every sailor’s dream come true. And the promise of a 15-20 north-easterly tomorrow could not be better.
“I think we’ll have perfect sailing. It’s projected to be a typical summer north-easterly, so we should get pretty good racing in today. It will be fast and furious,” promised Principal Race Officer, Denis Thompson, who plans for three races in most classes, with PHS spinnaker and non-spinnaker divisions racing two, while the Historical 18 footers have one race.
“We want to see how the Super 11‘s go, especially with the MC38’s joining them for the first time. It will be the first time Super 11’s have raced as a group in Sydney, so that’s a pretty good development here,” said Thompson, who has organised courses from Kirribilli to the Manly Circle, where the IRC yachts will race.
Names from the grand prix winner’s circle due to take part in the 11th running of the annual regatta include two TP52’s: Paul Clitheroe’s Rolex Sydney Hobart winner Balance and Yachting Australia’s Matt Allen with his Airlie Beach Race Week winner.
Local boats up for the challenge include two DK46’s. Khaleesi (Andrew and Pauline Dally) has held the upper hand in recent times, but Neil Rechlin, navigator on Bob Cox’s Nine Dragons, reckons they are on the comeback trail having taken the triple of line, PHS and IRC honours in last Saturday’s Grant Thornton short ocean race.
Amongst the other classes, watch out for John Winning at the helm of the Historical 18 Aberdare, Adrian Walters and his quick 11 metre Little Nico, triple Olympian Karen Gojnich helming her Yngling Evie, Scott Lawson with his Melges 20, Numero Uno, Andrew Parkes at the helm of the new MC31 Saudade, Ian Box with his XP44 Toy Box and defending NSW VX-One champion Andrew York skippering Speedwagon.
Peter Hemery, Sydney Harbour Regatta director, commented. “We are absolutely happy with the number of boats participating. Support for the regatta continues to grow, which is great. All the participating clubs ae supportive and helpful and the weather outlook couldn’t look better for participants.”
For all information on the Sydney Harbour Regatta go to: www.shr.mhyc.com.au/
By Di Pearson, MHYC media
