Close of entries just over a month away for 30th Pittwater Coffs Race

by Damian Devine on 26 Oct 2010 With just over a month to close, entries are rolling in for the 30th Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Race hosted by the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, in association with Coffs Harbour Yacht Club.

Organisers are expecting a large fleet to assemble at the start line for the start on 2nd January 2011 for the race dubbed 'the warm water classic'.

Plenty of regulars will be amongst the competition including the Hudson/Murphy/Lockley IC Farr 45 ‘Pretty Woman’, current IRC race handicap winner Bruce Staples who will be back for the 30th race in his new Farr 40 ‘Witchcraft’ after winning the 2010 race in ‘Dark & Stormy Witch’, a Murray 37 custom & 2010 PHS series winner Robert Alder’s J35 ‘Jayhawk’ also entered.

Alder’s J35, the smallest in the fleet, is excited about the 30th Anniversary race given it will be his 10th race to Coffs and has a PHS series title to defend. 'Wouldn’t miss it for the world,' offered Alder. 'This race is ideal for the J35, the distance of this race provides the crew with two days of sailing with one and a half to two nights at sea, which is just right for us. The race itself is an extremely tactical race bringing you right in close to the coast, land and sea breezes to pick and currents to contend with so there are many decisions to be made along the way. We’re racing from the back of the fleet invariably, which has its advantages and disadvantages.'

Alder enjoys the Coffs race and commented, 'well, as they say, it’s the warm water alternative going to a great destination where you can enjoy with family and friends and a couple of days of excellent racing off Coffs Harbour. You also get to enjoy New Years Eve in Sydney with family to watch the fireworks on Pittwater or the Harbour and follow that up with the race. It’s just a great way to start the New Year.'

Some of the others who have entered include the CYCA’s trio of Bob Steel’s TP52 ‘Quest’, Matthew Short’s Judel Vrolik 52 ‘Short Wave’ and Julian Farren-Price’s Cookson 12 and 2009 series winner ‘About Time’, along with Bruce Absolon’s Volvo 60, ‘Spirit of the Maid’ who will make the trek down from Hamilton Island, the MHYC Bob Cox skippered Northshore 369 ‘Nine Dragons’ who finished fourth IRC overall in the 2010 race and five time Coffs entrant, the custom built ‘King Billy’ skippered by the RSYS’s Philip Bennett.

Already the Beneteau 40’s are framing their own race within a race with David Boekemann RPAYC ‘Bombolo’, Lake Macquarie Yacht Club entrant Graham Hall’s ‘Closely Halled’ and another RPAYC competitor John Turnbull’s ‘Reverie’ all submitting their online entry and will be handicap contenders.

And of course with the shorthanded Division announced recently there has been quite a bit of interest along with a few entries in record holding solo circumnavigator of Australia Ian Thompson and his Wellbourne 12m, ‘SOS Racing’ alongside Jennifer Fitzgibbon and her Sayer 10.6m ‘Soothsayer’. Both will make the trip down from Queensland for the race.

It’s also expected that Bob Oatley’s 100ft ‘Wild Oats XI’ skippered by Mark Richards will make the return trip from Hobart, as they did last year, provided no damage is done. She took line honours in the race last year and at the time, Richards vowed he would be back to celebrate the 30th Anniversary. In fact, the Wild Oats franchise collectively have taken out five of the past eight Coffs races line honours in three different boats and also hold the current race record of 18 hours 29 minutes 14seconds set in the 2003 race with ‘Wild Oats IX’.

The Coffs race and series, due to its location, is promoted as a family friendly event and in 2011 in addition to the busy on water racing activity there is plenty planned off water for partners and children including day coach trips to Dorrigo National Park, the Northern hinterland and to Bellingen to see the sights visiting art, craft and historic landmarks along the way.

The Category Two event, the 226nm Coffs Harbour race is part of a five race series with four races being contested in Coffs Harbour on fifth and 6th January. The race attracts racing enthusiasts from a broad base of yacht clubs across Australia and a mix of experienced offshore sailors, youth and newcomers to the sport of ocean racing due to its desirable distance, destination and spirit of the race. A flurry of entries is expected in the coming weeks.

The Coffs Series will be followed by the Coffs to Paradise race and Sail Paradise being hosted by Southport Yacht Club.

Close of Entries for the 2011 Pittwater to Coffs Race is Friday 3 December.

The 30th Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Notice of Race and online entry is available from the event website at www.pittwatertocoffs.com.au