Classic season ahead for PDYC

by David Allan on 26 Sep 2012 Port Dalrymple Yacht Club, celebrating 60 years on the Tamar, kicks off a classic season of yachting events on Sunday the October 7th, with the season officially opened by Club Patron Mac Kidd.

The PDYC program for season 2012-13 is again sporting some of Tasmania’s premier sailing events. Highlights include the 'Classic', the Doyle - Sams Sails Inshore Championships, the 44th Australian NS14 Nationals, Tamar Marine Blockbuster Weekend, the Project and Maintenance and Engineering Offshore series and the 25th running of H&R Block Australian Three Peaks Race.

'We are looking forward to a big season' explains vice commodore Sam Edmunds. 'Crews are well into preparations, and competition is likely to be even tougher than last season, with several new boats on the water.'

Piers Findlay and fiancée Sarah Gibson will unveil the product of more than two and a half years self design and construction work, in the form of a state of the art 8.5m racing catamaran.

'Piers and Sarah perfected ultra light weight Carbon fibre diffusion technology in the building of this boat and may well have created the fasted boat of its type ever sailed on the Tamar' says Edmunds, himself racing a new boat. 'There is going to be some very interesting racing as crews get to know the limits of their new craft.

The organisation for this year’s 'Classic' is well underway. Saturday October 27 will see this unique Tamar valley running, cycling and yachting race, sailing from Rosevears to Beauty Point with stopovers at Gravelly Beach and Sidmouth for a 13km run and a 50km ride.

'This is a fun event' says Sam, 'many teams have been taking up the challenge early, with intense cycle and running training going on throughout the winter.'

The Doyle - Sams Sails Inshore Championships promises to be a close battle. This season more so than last, there are potentially a large number of very closely matched boats. 'It will come down to consistent crew work' says the vice commodore, 'with a full weekends up close and personal sailing that includes the Sportsboat and Trailerable State Circuit Cup, we are bound to see top class racing.'

Peak summer sees Port Dalrymple Yacht Club host the 44th Australian NS14 Nationals. PDYC has had this popular dingy class at its roots for some time, and has recently seen growth in NS14s at the club and statewide ahead of the Nationals.

'This will be huge' says PDYC champion NS14 sailor Greg Rowsell, 'The cream of Australian NS14 sailing will be concentrated in our part of the Tamar for a week of exceptionally competitive one class racing.'

The Tamar Marine Blockbuster weekend held in February 2013 will highlight dingy classes on the Tamar and will include the Sabot State titles. Exciting racing has been a hallmark of this event in past years and 2013 promises not to disappoint. A field of super fast B14s, NS14s, Sabot and other dingy classes will take part in absolutely frenetic racing and legendary sailing social gatherings.

PDYC’s offshore program 2012-13 features the Project and Maintenance and Engineering Offshore series which includes a number of demanding out and return races to Port Sorell, 20 day Island and Barrenjoey. 'There are a lot of good crews capable of winning these events' says lasts year winner Andrew Jones, 'The off shore experience pool has been building and this year there are sure to be a number of new challengers.'

Easter 2013 brings for the 25th year the H&R Block Australian Three Peaks Race. A large field is expected for the Silver anniversary event, with organizers capping the fleet at 32. Already entries are coming in for both mono hull and multi hull divisions from Tasmanian and interstate crews. 'There is no other race like it' says Jones, 'it’s got to be one of the toughest events in the world.'

Port Dalrymple Yacht Club has a comprehensive program of club sailing events, including a Sunday point series, Club Regatta, NS14 Max series, Mid Week Series, Single handed Series and Winter Series. PDYC offers sail training with accredited instructors on most Sunday mornings.