Flying 11s are Buzzing in The Sound this weekend

by David Price on 25 Nov 2010 What’s all that buzzzzzzzz out on the waters of Sydney Harbour this coming weekend?

It’s got a lot to do with the Flying 11s swarming from the Spit with a massive 90 boat fleet competing in the Flying 11 NSW State Championship (round 1) emanating from the Middle Harbour 16ft Skiff Sailing Club.

Middle Harbour on water action will be bursting at the seams with the Middle Harbour Yacht Clubs (SSORC) 7 Islands Race is also running on Saturday - making for a spectacular display of sail with the young and old in all shapes and sizes playing on water.

Since last season’s abundance of 100 boats at the 2009-2010 NSW F11 States, the class has experienced a massive graduation of their talented young sailors upward to the next generational classes where they continue to enjoy sailing as a life sport! Backing up this season with another serve of the same is just an outstanding success.

Notably this season’s NSW F11 State Championship has 40% of its fleet registered in the under 15 years of age junior divisions for this first round of the NSW titles which is a phenomenal indication that the Flying 11 are looking a very healthy successful sailing community for years to come.

In association with Yachting NSW and their tenacious youth sailing stalwart Development Manager Andrew Cribb, coupled with 2010-2011 F11 NSW President Phil West and Vice President Peter Tinworth (better known as Westy & Tinny), the Flying 11s have once again sustained the vital enthusiasm required to exemplify sailing to our youth as sport for life. The passion for the sport and the Flying 11s from these guys is quite remarkable considering all three do not have any children in the class! Nonetheless here they are this weekend running a regatta 'in their spare time' for one hundred and eighty happy and healthy children aged between 10 and 18 years of age.

The Flying 11 social scene is second to none and this regatta will be no different seeing many of the young F11 sailors and families merging on Saturday afternoon with the older yachties at up the beach at MHYC where the Wolverines will be playing to the crowd from the beach after racing.

The wonderful nor-easters of this week are expected to continue throughout the weekend and there will be plenty of spectator feed from around Middle harbour and the sound to satisfy anyone from the surrounding shores and headlands.

Sydney Harbour is guaranteed to provide a fantastic amphitheatre for catching all the action up-close this weekend and truly an opportunity not to be missed. You’ve just got to love it!