Sydney 32 One Design Nationals … a taste of fleets to come

by Rob Kothe on 30 Nov 2003 With more than half of the entire JPMorgan fleet racing in One Design classes, its clear that Australia’s sailors have voted One Design.

The newest of these One Design fleets is the fast growing Sydney 32.

Yesterday the Sydney 32’s sailed the first two races of their inaugural Nationals, offshore on the Manly Circle.

The first 9 mile windward leeward course was sailed in a 10-12 knot north easter.

Middle Harbour sailors David and Zorana Bull on Jester, continued their good form to win by 46 seconds from Stan Montgomery’s Mainstay Marine.

Peter Whitford, from the successful Beneteau 36.7 Peugeot Racing team, sailed his chartered Ting into third place, only 23 seconds behind.

In the second 11-mile race Mainstay Marine, the leading Sydney 32 in the March Class event, held off Jester to win by just 27 seconds with Jim Cormack’s Who’z Nutz, third.

Jim, a previous part owner of the Sydney 38 No Options, sails his ’32 with wife Clem. ‘It was excellent offshore racing today, there were a lot of lead changes and it was a lot of fun. The ‘38’s are easy to sail, but the ‘32’s are even easier.’

After two races in the Sydney 32 National’s, Dave Bull’s Jester leads Mainstay with Jim Cormack’s Who’z Nutz in third place. David Bonallo’s Rollercoaster, the tenth ’32 in the water is well in the running for a podium place as is Peter Whitford and Ting.

Martin Thompson from Sydney Yachts commented yesterday, ‘It was a buzz for everyone out there today. There will be another four ‘32’s on the water by the next Class event and when the guy’s looked at the ’38 fleet they cannot stop talking about the fact that, ’32 racing in years to come, could easily be bigger.’

Place Sail No Yacht Owner R1 R2 R3 R4

1 GBR32 Jester Dave Bull 1 2

2 6257 Mainstay Stan Montgomery 2 1

3 6263 Whoz Nutz Jim Cormack 4 3

4 MH32 Ting Peter Whitford 3 5

5 3227 Rollercoaster David Bonallo 5 4

6 8832 Larrikin Ross Glasson 6 6