Competitive fleet expected for RPAYC’s Pittwater to Newcastle race
by Damian Devine on 31 Mar 2012
The start of the 2011 Pittwater to Newcastle race - Pittwater to Newcastle Race Tom Spithill
With 20 boats entered to date, a respectable and competitive fleet is expected to line up for the start of the Category 3 Pittwater to Newcastle Race at 1000hrs on Saturday 14 April, hosted by The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club.
The race is part of the four race Blue Water Series conducted by the club with races to Bird Island, Botany Bay and the prestigious Pittwater to Coffs Harbour race. The race is also a stand alone feeder race for both the Newcastle to Port Stephens race and Sail Port Stephens regatta.
There will be IRC, ORCi and PHS divisions and many boats from the host club, other Pittwater and harbour clubs are also expected to enter as most of the starting fleet make their way north to the week long Sail Port Stephens starting in mid April.
Two boats are in a tie at the top of the leader board of the IRC point score going into the final leg of the series. Last year’s IRC Pittwater to Newcastle race winner and 2012 Pittwater & Coffs Harbour Regatta winner, Mark Griffiths Sydney 38 ‘Old School’ sits on six points alongside the Hudson/Murphy/Lockley Farr 45 ‘Pretty Woman’. 2011 Blue Water series winner, Bruce Staples Farr 40 ‘Witchcraft’ is two points behind in third, making for a bunched leader board and still very much wide open.
In the ORCi point score, RPAYC Commodore Rob Curtis and his Murray 42 syndicate aboard ‘Secret Men’s Business’ with three bullets to date in the series, has a comfortable lead over the Alder/Bailey Cookson 12 ‘OCL One’ with Garry Holder’s ID35 ‘The Real Thing’ in third.
In PHS, it is ‘Pretty Woman’ leading by two points from ‘Witchcraft’ and ‘Old School’, who are both tied on 12 points with ‘Secret Men’s Business’ just off the podium in fourth.
Commodore Rob Curtis said, 'On behalf of the RPAYC, I welcome all competitors to enter the Pittwater to Newcastle race and look forward to a good couple of weeks racing both to, and in, Port Stephens.'
Entries for the Cat 3 Pittwater to Newcastle Race close at 1200hrs on Wednesday 11 April and is open to everyone complying with the Notice of Race.
The NoR, entry form and list of entries is available from the RPAYC website
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