Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship lands deal with Helly Hansen

by Di Pearson on 14 Nov 2012 The 35th Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship will be bringing the finest sailors around Australia in a two-day event hosted by the Middle Harbour Yacht Club. Event organizers recently hammered a sponsorship deal with Norwegian water sports and technical brand Helly Hansen, adding prestige to an already competitive racing tourney. Deadline of registration will close on Friday.

Among those coming to take on the locals in the pre-Hobart hit out in the Premier IRC and ORci series to be held on 24 and 25 November, are: Rob Hanna’s TP52 Shogun (Vic), defending Blue Water Pointscore Series champion, Victoire, the Beneteau 45 of Darryl Hodgkinson and sistership, Paul Clitheroe’s Balance, which was third in last year’s SSORC.

The local fancies so far entered are last year’s Division 3 winner and former Audi IRC Australian champion Peter Sorensen and his Sydney 36 CR, Philosopher’s Club, Ian Box’s brand new XP44, Toybox 2, Bob Cox’s DK46, Nine Dragons and Neat Eng Precision, John Anet’s Archambault 31.

Middle Harbour Yacht Club has introduced the Beneteau First 40 Championship to the SSORC this year; the first to be held in the class, in which the inaugural winner will be crowned.

Heading the field is Robbo Robertson’s Beneteau First 40, Lunchtime Legend (Qld). Among his opposition are CYCA commodore Howard Piggott’s Flying Cloud and Philip Dash’s Just a Dash from MHYC.

Craig Ryan, GM for Helly Hansen Australia, commented: 'With the success of the SSORC in 2011 we look forward to once again being a major sponsor of one of Australia’s premier yacht racing championships which has become the ‘pre-cursor’ to the summer racing circuit and the fabled Sydney Hobart.'

Entries are shaping up nicely for the exciting Seven Islands Race on November 24, which takes the yachts from a pursuit style start at MHYC to various islands around Sydney Harbour and return.

Sailing legend from the 1970’s and a past MHYC commodore Tig Thomas, is no less competitive than he was 35 years ago. The 85 year-old will be on the start line with his Carter 33, Highland Ghost and will take on some more modern boats sailed by younger crews.

Back by popular demand is MHYC’s fabled post-race beach party and live entertainment after sailing on Saturday 24 November. Don’t miss it!

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

To download the Notice of Race and to enter online, visit the Event website.