2014 Sydney Harbour Regatta- rematches and redemption

by Di Pearson on 18 Feb 2014 Middle Harbour Yacht Club has so far attracted over 140 quality entries for the upcoming Sydney Harbour Regatta (SHR), and the scene is set for rematches and redemption from some of the best in the business.

For those yet to join the fray, entries for the ninth edition of the regatta, to be held over the weekend of 8 and 9 March, close this Friday at midnight. Late entries will be accepted until midnight of Friday February 28, but attract a late entry fee.

Among the prominent competitors in the Premier IRC class is Matt Allen and his latest Ichi Ban. The Yachting Australia president is still making adjustments to his Carkeek 60 and is pleased with the results to-date.

'We’re competing in regattas and making small tweaks to the rig and systems. Each race lets us test the boat and we’re happy with how it’s going. It allows us to get data on the best way to sail the boat,' Allen said after winning the Sydney Newcastle Race on the weekend, in which he had beneficially lightened the crew weight.

Allen is ultimately expecting hot competition on the windward/leeward courses and Passage Race that Middle Harbour Yacht Club (MHYC) has planned: 'The Sydney Harbour Regatta is a good opportunity to ramp up for the Audi IRC Australian Championship in April, so I expect to see the majority of contenders there,' he commented.

Ichi Ban’s rivals include locals: two-time Audi IRC champion, Peter Sorensen with The Philosopher’s Club, Phil Dash’s 2013 SSORC Division 2 winner JustaDash, and the two DK46’s; Bob Cox and his evolving Nine Dragons and Rob Reynolds’ Exile, the 2012 SHR Division 2 victor. Bob Steel’s 2008 Rolex Sydney Hobart winner, Quest, will also be a threat.

Patrice, Wild Rose and Balance come to the Sydney Harbour Regatta looking for redemption. The three have proved their worth in the last year but came up short in the Sydney Hobart.

Launched in November, Tony Kirby’s new Ker 46 proved her worth early on. Patrice’s stand-out performance was winning Division 1 of the SSORC, but she has also made the podium in other events. In the top five throughout the Hobart race, a pounding sea took its toll on Patrice’s hull off the Tasmanian coast, causing Kirby to retire.

A trio of wins was instrumental in Roger Hickman’s victory in the CYCA’s 2013 Blue Water Point Score with his 28 year-old Farr 43, Wild Rose - and there were other top results along the way. Hickman held Darryl Hodgkinson’s Victoire to ransom for overall victory in the Hobart race, but the weather cut short his ambition and 11th overall was the end result.

Claimant of multiple wins and podium places, 37th overall in the Hobart was not Paul Clitheroe’s master plan for Balance. However, given the weather rundown, the ‘Money Man’ was unsurprised, reporting on the first day: 'As far as we can tell, we’re leading the boats from our line. Can we finish now? It can only get worse!'

The showstoppers are the various PHS classes and divisions which create a palette of colour and competitive racing on the Harbour. Among them this year are the creatively named Beware the Dog! (Terry Daly), Flying Fish Let Loose (Russell Bonner), Holy Cow (John and Kim Clinton), Clewless? (Guy Irwin), Very Tasty (Chris Sligar), Luna Sea (James Cameron) and Czech Mate (Phil Dressler).

As the Club promises, there is a class and division to suit all tastes and includes a spread of one-design classes; Melges 24 and 32; Adams 10, Yngling, Etchells, Flying Tiger, J24, Dragon and the McConaghy 38, which will shortly receive an injection of serious competition, as Marcus Blackmore, Neville Crichton and Lang Walker have ordered new boats.

Prospective entrants can also choose from the Premier and Performance Ocean Passage classes along with the Sports Boat, Super 30, Cavalier 28 and Production Boats, which will be joined by the historic 18 foot skiffs, arguably the most photographic class on Sydney Harbour.

Middle Harbour Yacht Club officials are thankful for the assistance of the CYCA, MYC, RANSA, RPAYC, RPEYC, RSYS, SASC, and SFS in holding this mammoth event each year.

To enter the Sydney Harbour Regatta and for further information, go to: website and click on ‘Enter Online Now’ in left hand panel.