SSORC - Scenes reminiscent of Boxing Day tipped for event

by Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship on 27 Nov 2010 SSORC - Only a month before the Rolex Sydney Hobart start, Sydney Harbour will become the scene for an equally visually spectacular sailing race start on the same line, the Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship (SSORC).

Just before midday, a 53 - strong fleet comprised of Australia’s more prestigious yachts handled by some of Australia’s most experienced sailors, including Olympians Malcolm Page, Tom Slingsby and Colin Beashel, will cross the same start line before heading out to sea; and they will do so surrounded not only by spectator boats but also 90 racing skiffs sailed by juniors battling out the Flying Eleven’s State Championship inside the Harbour.

It’ll be a stunning sight and a precursor of things to come, as boats match themselves against close rivals in the lead-up to the Rolex Sydney Hobart race on Boxing Day and the Rolex Farr 40 World Championships not seen in Sydney since 2005.

The anticipated wind and wave conditions couldn’t make for a more challenging and exciting race said Middle Harbour Yacht Club’s (MHYC) former Commodore Martin Hill who will also be competing on his Farr 40 One Design yacht Estate Master.

In the highly competitive class, it’ll be all about crew work and boat handling and the crew lists of the top contenders looks like an all star cast. Tom Slingsby, the first Australian to become Rolex World Sailor of the Year and fellow Olympian and AIS Yachtsman of the Year will be competing in this tightly held division.

Last year’s SSORC winner and current Audi IRC Australian champion Stephen Ainsworth’s Loki, a 63-footer competing in the Passage Series, is tipped as a favourite to take out the Gunboat Trophy awarded to the fastest boat over the weekend... However all can be a lottery with strong seabreeze and three-metre waves forecast. MHYC Sailing Manager Brendan Rourke said he was expecting great conditions for most of the yachts in the Ocean Passage Series averaging between 40 to 60 foot: 'In terms of competition it should be pretty close.'

'In the IRC Grand Prix series - windward leeward -, you’ve got Philosopher’s Club. They’re a hot contender in the IRC Championship as well,' he said. The owner Peter Sorensen a former World 18 Foot Champion won the 2008 Audi Australian IRC with Philosopher’s Club and said: 'We confidently expect to win. The SSORC is a pretty good regatta. Our boat likes a bit of breeze and Saturday is looking exceptionally good for us with a strong Nor’easter.' It will be Philosopher’s Club first major regatta in the lead-up to Audi Victoria Race Week in Geelong after some recent modifications like a bigger mainsail. 'Kerisma is going to be the biggest threat,' he said. 'We’ve got the better crew though.'

But once the boats have returned to MHYC, the sailing gloves will come off to shake hands and have a yarn with competitors many of whom are close mates. And in keeping with MHYC’s standing as a friendly, relaxed club, there’ll be a party for competitors, members and their guests with live music from the Wolverines at the end of Saturday’s racing. In true sailor’s style, front man John Clinton will compete in the Seven Islands Race on Holy Cow before jumping off to perform on the club’s shoreside beach.

www.ssorc.mhyc.com.au