It's Back! MHYC Two Handed Race

by Sailing Office on 11 Nov 2005 This Sunday sees the return of the MHYC Two Handed Race, if you intend to race please have your entry in to MHYC by 1300hrs Friday 11 November, 2005. Notice of Race Available at http://www.mhyc.com.au/2handedrace.htm


1980, the year before I was born Middle Harbour Yacht Club held the Inaugural Two- handed series. I’ve heard the stories over and over again from my Dad (Phil Yeomans) Grandfather (John Dibble) Uncle (Jaime Dibble) and family friend Jamie Wilmot.

There were sponsors like Tooth LA, KB and Cut Price Deli.

In September 1981 a fleet of 48 boats greeted the starter for the 28 mile ocean Race to Botany Bay. The second Race in October was a 15 mile Olympic type triangle and the last a 20 mile Harbour race on the 22 November.

The fleet included the three members of the winning 1979 Admiral’s Cup Team Impetuous, Police Car and Ragamuffin. Half Tonner Beach Inspector (mini version of Police Car by Dubois) was cleaning up the local scene.

Race 1
IOR 1st Beach Inspector JOG Thirlmere
2nd Industries Jumpin
3rd Salamander 11 Pure Imagination
4th Defiance Turning Vehicle
5th Quetzal Megabyte

Race 2
IOR 1ST Industries JOG Waikikamukau
2nd Salamander 11 Montego Bay
3rd Defiance Thirlmere


Race 3
IOR 1st Police Car JOG Not available
2nd Defiance
3rd Beach Inspector
4th Industries
4th Salamander

Overall
IOR 1st Industries Jaime Wilmot/Geoff Davidson
2nd Beach Inspector Graham Jones/Richard Hudson
3rd Defiance John Dibble/Phil Yeomans
JOG 1st Not available

Through out the 1981 series there was only one retirement and not one protest between the competitors despite some close encounters at mark rounding’s when crews had their hand full with spinnaker handling. In fact the spinnaker sets on most of the boats were better than the majority one sees in normal club racing.

In 1982 I’m now a veteran around the boat, well at least from the car seat strapped to the back of Defiance. This is the year I hear about most -Race 2, it was to be offshore however with a 40 knot Southerly and rolling seaway to make things interesting it was decided to hold the course on the Harbour. This gave the day-trippers to Manly a site to remember.

The White brothers onboard Salamander 11 were confident they would be able to drop the spinnaker well before the Manly West mark leaving things a little too late in the building breeze. The photos my mum took show just how close they were to losing more than just the spinnaker, these were later used in the club Log showing the true story.

With the spinnaker flying several metres behind the boat they gathered up the Manly West mark and started heading toward the rocks dragging the mark as they went. Defiance deciding rounding the Mark and boat was not an option so passed just on the course side of the mark in the vicinity of its normal location. A quick swim saw boat and mark go their separate ways with the rest of the fleet following close behind. Industries had decided to chance the mark rounding and raised their protest flag (they lost the protest).

Heat 1
IOR 1st Salamander 11
2nd Much Ado
3rd Defiance

Heat 2
IOR 1st Defiance
2nd Industries
3rd Much Ado

Heat 3
IOR 1st Industries JOG Waikikamukau
2nd Defiance Farr Thing
3rd Much Ado Megabyte

Overall
IOR 1st Defiance John Dibble/Phil Yeomans
2nd Industries Jaime Wilmot
3rd Much Ado
4th Salamander 11 White brothers
JOG 1ST Waikikamuka Frank Martin/John Hebden


1983 Defiance is no longer a part of the Dibble family, the mourning is over and we now have an 1104 Farr Out to sail. I have graduated from the Car seat to be replaced by my younger sister Jillian. My grandfather decides to retire on a high and gives my uncle a go.

The names may not be know to some of you, to the older members of the club I feel I should give them a mention: Tierney, Green, Kelly, Hayes, Hebden, Messenger, Mascord, Walpole, Martin, Bell, English, Stone and Gosling.

Another Admirals Cup representative Once More Dear Friends owned and sailed by Peter Kurts joined the fleet.

Heat 2
IOR 1st Impeccable
2nd Endlessadvice
3rd Salamander 11
Heat 3
IOR 1st Impeccable JOG Megabyte
2nd Endless Advice Corfu
3rd Hullabloo Temeraire
Overall
1st Impeccable JOG Megabyte
2nd Endless Advice Temeraire
3rd Salamander 11 Aliska
4th Farr Out Corfu

There is only one other year in the family photo album and that is when Dad and Daniel Yaffe sailed my Grandfathers yacht Indulgence in the early 90’s. I remember sitting at a Centreboard Division Coaching Clinic at the club and I think it was Mal Page talking when everyone started looking down Middle Harbour, that is when Nathan Wilmot turned to me and said “Is that your Dad?”

Sure enough there they were coming down Middle Harbour with a Blooper up showing off!

There is one thing I would like to find, somewhere the perpetual trophy being two Brass lanterns and plaques donated by Mike Sharpe with the winners engraved on them.

It has been several years since the last two-handed race was held at MHYC and in 2005 its back.

Come and compete against the Starters Team, being represented by my Dad Phil Yeomans and Sailing Secretary John Hurley who will be competing on The Carpenter care of Pat Carroll.

The race will be a handicap start off the club to allow for them to compete and will be held on the 13th of November 2005.