Strong IRC line up for SSORC

by Lisa Ratcliff on 24 Nov 2008 True to form the 31st edition of the Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship has again attracted an enviable IRC line up in both the windward/leeward and offshore fleets.

Entries closed on Monday for the SSORC and the organising club, Middle Harbour Yacht Club, is delighted to announce a fleet of some 85 yachts will participate in racing over the course of the weekend, with 65 entered in the two-day short ocean championship on November 29 and 30 and remaining yachts racing in the Saturday’s Seven Islands Race.

“In general the depth and quality of the fleet in the IRC racer and cruiser class is very high with similar numbers to what we have seen in IRC events in recent years,” said MHYC’s Principal Race Officer John Hurley today.

He went on to say “It is pleasing to see the support from both leading Rolex Sydney Hobart contenders on the windward/leeward course area to club-based entries on the IRC short ocean passage course area.

“Peter Harburg’s Queensland RP 66 Black Jack is getting ready for its debut SORC and will tackle windward/leeward racing as part of the groundwork for the Rolex Sydney Hobart at the end of next month.

“The crew of Bill Ebsary’s Le Billet, previous winner of the IRC division and perennial entrant of the SORC will have plenty of fire in the belly as they set out to defend their title,” Hurley added.

As well as vying for the overall IRC Racer division silverware, the sprinkling of Sydney 36 CR’s and three TP52s will no doubt be singling each other out for some class racing within the main IRC Racer fleet.

Octogenarian TP52 skipper Syd Fischer, a MHYC member of 47 years, will as usual show no leniency when it comes time to square off against Graeme Wood and Matthew Short’s 52 foot Judel Vrolijk designs. Come Boxing Day, Fischer will set sail to Hobart for the 40th time.

“The SORC is used by many to gear up crew before their race south and Fischer will race Ragamuffin on the windward/leeward course area to sharpen his crew’s performance in the countdown to Boxing Day,” said Hurley.

In the IRC short ocean passage division, former MHYC Commodore Ian Box will steer his X442 Toybox, winner of the club IRC pointscore series, and will take on the might of Andrew Short’s ASM Shockwave, a Rolex Sydney Hobart line honours hopeful, in the hunt for the coveted handicap trophy.

Leslie Green’s stately Swan 601 Ginger, with international yachtsman Gordon Maguire aboard, will bring plenty of elegance and talent to the start line of this division.

An all-NSW division will sail two short ocean passage courses under the PHS Racer Cruiser banner. This is the largest of the four divisions with 31 entries.

A number of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s Ocean Pointscore entrants will use the Saturday passage race of the SSORC as part of their pointscore series, a new initiative this year.

MHYC is still accepting late entries until Monday 24th November 2008.

Click here to view the list of entrants http://www.topyachtsoftware.com/db/aus/entrants_display.php?EventID=22