Please select your home edition
Edition
Zhik 2024 December

Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship - Toybox among first entries

by Di Pearson on 31 Oct 2012
Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship (SSORC) run by Middle Harbour Yacht Club. Craig Greenhill / Saltwater Images http://www.saltwaterimages.com.au
The Notice of Race for the 35th Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship is now online and past Middle Harbour Yacht Club Commodore Ian Box is among the first entries received. The event is set to take place 24th-25th November 2012.

Along with other big names, Box will compete in the IRC series after upgrading from his previous X42, Toybox, to the new Toybox 2, an XP44 from the drawing board of Niels Jeppesen.

His new boat is the latest in X yachts from Denmark and features non-over lapping headsails and a lot of carbon fibre; just two major differences between the new boat and his 11 year old, which Box raced with success over the years.

'The new boat arrived in Sydney on September 4th, on my wife’s birthday,' Box confirmed. 'I wanted a step up in design, and this one is specifically designed for IRC racing. It has a different hull shape and a lot of carbon; it’s the next generation,' he said.

So far, Box and his crew of regulars from his previous yacht have done a couple of club races and this weekend will take part in their second Short Ocean Pointscore (SOPs) race.

'This boat is quite different and so we’re still learning it, but we’re getting up to pace. It’s nice not having overlapping headsails and we’re getting more drive out of the main,' Box explained. 'The early signs are promising and we’re looking forward to the Sydney Short Ocean Pointscore so we can see how we shape up against the others.'

Other entries received for the SSORC, one of the major lead-ins to the Rolex Sydney Hobart, include Jack Stening’s Sydney 36, Stormaway, Neil Padden’s Beneteau 40.7, Wailea and John Anet’s Archambault 31, Neat Eng Precision.

The IRC and PHS Series, along with the Beneteau First 40 Championship will all start with a passage race which will take yachts from Sydney Harbour to Lion Island and return and forms part of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s Ocean Pointscore Series, so is sure to provoke some serious competition.

Following on Sunday, the Series will continue with a short offshore race, to start in the Harbour and finish offshore, followed by a quick windward/leeward sprint. It means competitors will have a fair chance of success while enjoying a variety of races.

The Seven Islands Race will be held on Saturday November 24, and always presents a thrilling view for spectators as the yachts line up just of MHYC for the pursuit-style start, before heading to the major islands on either side of the Bridge before returning to the Club.

Middle Harbour Yacht Club Commodore, John McCuaig, said: 'The format of the SSORC has been updated and tweaked over the last few years in response to what yacht owners are seeking. SSORC 2012 has again had a revamp, to appeal to a wider audience, so that a quality line-up can thrash it out over the last weekend in November.'

MHYC members Peter Woodhead and Steve Plante were first entries in for the Seven Islands Race, with their respective boats, 2xcess, a Farr 30 and Twitcher, a Beneteau 35.5. The two will be hoping to set the pace on this fun and bendy course, with lots of sail changes as spinnakers are repeatedly hoisted and dropped.

MHYC invites all competitors to the Club after each days racing for the traditional and increasingly popular post-race beach party and live entertainment.

Entries close Friday 16th November, 2012 at 2400hrs.

To download the Notice of Race and to enter online, visit the Sydhey Short Ocean Racing Championship website.

Hyde Sails 2024 - One DesignSelden 2020 - FOOTERVetus-Maxwell 2021 v2 FOOTER

Related Articles

Gitana 18, a new off the wall work
A 32-metre long and 23-metre wide flying carbon giant is taking shape For the past eighteen months, a new Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, a 32-metre long and 23-metre wide flying carbon giant, has been taking shape hidden from view behind the doors of the CDK Keroman shed in Lorient.
Posted today at 6:01 am
One month till close of entries into Mackay ‘25
Entries close July 18! Today marks one month till close of entries into Mackay '25!
Posted on 18 Jun
Competitors readying for epic battle
Distance racing is inherently an uncomfortable sport Enjoying a spectacular evening cocktail reception overlooking Newport Harbor, one competitor in the upcoming Transatlantic Race 2025, which starts tomorrow off Castle Hill Lighthouse just after 1 pm.
Posted on 18 Jun
Finn World Masters in Medemblik day 3
Pieter-Jan Postma continues to lead after 5 races Pieter-Jan Postma, from The Netherlands, continues to dominate the Finn World Masters in Medemblik, The Netherlands, after a fifth race was sailed on Wednesday in a north-westerly breeze building from 8-12 knots during the afternoon.
Posted on 18 Jun
24th Argentario Sailing Week day 0
Historic boats from 9 nations have gathered in Porto Santo Stefano Historic boats have gathered in Porto Santo Stefano to take on the 24th edition of the prestigious Argentario Sailing Week, organised by the Yacht Club Santo Stefano with the tangible support of the Monte Argentario Municipal Council.
Posted on 18 Jun
29th Superyacht Cup Palma fleet is ready to go
Crews are now able to size-up the competition in their respective classes The owners, captains and crews of the spectacular array of yachts gathered for the 29th edition of the Superyacht Cup Palma are making their final preparations ahead of the start of racing next Thursday.
Posted on 18 Jun
Swan One Design Worlds kicks off
Practice race and opening ceremony in Costa Smeralda The crystal waters of the Costa Smeralda once again set the stage for one of the most anticipated events in the international racing calendar: the 2025 Swan One Design Worlds, hosted by Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in collaboration with ClubSwan Racing.
Posted on 18 Jun
Class40 top guns enter Rolex Fastnet Race
One of the most successful genre of offshore race boat ever Now 20+ years old, the Class40 has proved itself one of the most successful genre of offshore race boat ever.
Posted on 18 Jun
Finn World Masters in Medemblik Day 2
Pieter-Jan Postma leads after the second day of racing in The Netherlands Pieter-Jan Postma, from The Netherlands, is leading the fleet of 307 Finns from 27 countries after everyone sailed two more races at the 2025 Finn World Masters in Medemblik. France's Laurent Hay is second with Germany's Fabian Lemmel in third.
Posted on 17 Jun
World Sailing launches the World Sailing Academy
A new online learning platform for the global sailing community World Sailing officially launched the World Sailing Academy, an innovative new online learning platform designed to provide comprehensive educational resources and training to sailors, coaches, officials, administrators, and the global sailing community.
Posted on 17 Jun