Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta 2011 final day wrap

by Nicole Browne on 6 Mar 2011 Sydney turned on light, gusty conditions for the final day of the Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta today.

The harbour was transformed into a sea of sails as 321 boats across 23 divisions took to the water in light but gusty conditions. One of the biggest multi-class events to take place in Australian sailing, the Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta 2011 saw around 4000 sailors take to the water to battle it out for the ultimate prize in sailing, an Audi A1.

'We're very pleased with the regatta, it's been a big event and everyone's had a great weekend,' said Julie Hodder, Commodore of Middle Harbour Yacht Club, host for this event.

'I was looking towards the harbour from our race course offshore and saw a wall of spinnakers going across the heads which looked amazing.'

Winners from each of today’s 23 divisions will nominate two team members to compete in tomorrow’s race for the Audi A1. Sailors will take to the race track at Eastern Creek in an Audi RS 5, showcasing their tactics and skills at a different pace.

Ynglings
A protest overnight resulted in seven boats being disqualified from yesterday’s first race for not sailing the correct course, so the stakes were high as the Ynglings took to the water today. Olympian Karyn Gojnich and her team on Evie sailed consistently over the two days to take the title at this event, just ahead of Meridian, skippered by Jordan Reece.

Final provisional results:
Place Boat Name Skipper From Sers Score Race 6 Race 5 Race 4 Race 3 Race 2 Race 1
1 EVIE Karyn Gojnich RSYS 19.0 6.0 4.0 3.0 2.0 3.0 1.0
2 MERIDIAN Jordan Reece RSYS 21.0 3.0 7.0 1.0 5.0 2.0 3.0
3 AUS57 Michael Nash RSYS 26.0 1.0 2.0 4.0 3.0 4.0 12.0Q

Etchells
Racing in the Etchells was tight over the weekend, but Bushfire from the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron was the boat to beat throughout the regatta. Skippered by Jervs Tilly, their consistency put them ahead of Dot and the highly fancied North Sydney.

'Today was great, sunny but very shifty,' said Jervs Tilly.

'We had some really interesting and challenging racing against a strong fleet. We were lucky in the first race of the day, we chose the right hand side of the course and picked up a big band of pressure which carried and we ended up winning that race. In the final race we had a bad start but managed to claw our way back.'

Final provisional results:
Place Boat Name Skipper From Sers Score Race 6 Race 5 Race 4 Race 3 Race 2 Race 1
1 BUSHFIRE Jervs Tilly RSYS 12.0 3.0 4.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 2.0
2 DOT David Seaton RSYS 24.0 2.0 1.0 3.0 5.0 5.0 8.0
3 NORTH SYDNEY William McCarthy CYCA 29.0 5.0 3.0 7.0 11.0 2.0 1.0

J24
Sailing on course A, close to the Sydney Opera House in light, gusty conditions up to 10 knots, the J24 fleet of six boats saw some competitive racing over the two days.

Final provisional results:
Place Boat Name Skipper From Sers Score Race 6 Race 5 Race 4 Race 3 Race 2 Race 1
1 ACE David West MHYC 13.0 2.0 1.0 2.0 1.0 2.0 5.0
2 KAOTIC Janette Syme MYC 13.0 3.0 3.0 1.0 2.0 1.0 3.0
3 MADDER N BADDER Chris O'Neill GFS 17.0 1.0 2.0 5.0 3.0 4.0 2.0

SB3
With a strong fleet of 11 boats, the SB3s saw some close racing, but it was One Design Sailing skippered by current men’s 470 world champion, Mat Belcher, who were the boat to beat all weekend. A number of other boats were hot on their heels right from the beginning of racing today, with the early mark roundings closely contested. However, One Design Sailing came out in front consistently, winning every race of the series.

Final provisional results:
Place Boat Name Skipper From Sers Score Race 6 Race 5 Race 4 Race 3 Race 2 Race 1
1 ONE DESIGN SAILING Matt Belcher YACHTINGNSW 6.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0
2 CLUB MARINE BLUE Jono Shelley UYC 12.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0
3 WYSIWYG-V Stephen Fries SYC 24.0 7.0 3.0 4.0 3.0 4.0 3.0

ASBA Sport Boats
Sailing in between Sydney Heads, the Sports boats experienced slightly more consistent conditions than those inside the harbour. In 8-10 knots from the east, Go Majik dominated today, winning all three races to take the title at this regatta.

Final provisional results:
Place Boat Name Skipper From Design Sers Score Race 6 Race 5 Race 4 Race 3 Race 2 Race 1
1 GO MAJIK Richard Devries RMYC Magic 25 10.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 3.0 2.0 2.0
2 EVERGREEN Michael Green MHYC Elliott 7 16.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 2.0 1.0 4.0
3 FOAMFAST Paul Heyes MYC Thompson 7 20.0 5.0 4.0 2.0 4.0 4.0 1.0

International Melges 24
Also racing between Sydney Heads, the Melges 24 class was dominated by Roger That skippered by James Mayjor from Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club. While Roger That was the clear winner, the conditions made for some interesting sailing in this class, with big waves creating havoc at mark roundings and a near collision between Amigos and Matilda.

Final provisional results:
Place Boat Name Skipper From Sers Score Race 6 Race 5 Race 4 Race 3 Race 2 Race 1
1 ROGER THAT James Mayjor RPAYC 7.0 1.0 2.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0
2 BANDIT Warwick Rooklyn CYCA 14.0 2.0 3.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 3.0
3 KAITO Kym Nisbet GBYC 17.0 3.0 1.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 4.0

Flying Tigers
Also racing between Sydney Heads, the Flying Tigers continued to be a close competition between Ophir, Hello Tiger and Balmain Tiger. With two wins today, Ophir took the title just one point ahead of Hello Tiger.

Final provisional results:
Place Boat Name Skipper Sers Score Race 6 Race 5 Race 4 Race 3 Race 2 Race 1
1 OPHIR Bruce Tavener 11.0 1.0 1.0 2.0 2.0 4.0 1.0
2 HELLO TIGER Andrew Bristow 12.0 2.0 2.0 3.0 1.0 1.0 3.0
3 BALMAIN TIGER Neil Hamilton 14.0 3.0 3.0 1.0 3.0 2.0 2.0

Ocean Passage Series (IRC)
After yesterday’s drama with Ginger and Brindabella both withdrawing from racing, today’s racing in the short ocean race got underway in lighter, but gustier conditions. Starting in the harbour, the DK43 Minerva was first over the line, while Perpetual Mocean won the race on corrected time giving it the series.

Final provisional results:
Place Boat Name Skipper From Design Sers Score Race 2 Race 1
1 PERPETUAL MOCEAN Bruce Hogan RPAYC Marten49 3.0 1.0 2.0
2 STORMAWAY Jack Stening MHYC Sydney 36 8.0 4.0 4.0
3 ELENI Tony Levett MHYC Sydney 38 Od 10.0 3.0 7.0

Full results across all classes www.sydneyharbourregatta.com