Wotif.com Australian Match Racing Championships

by Jenni Bonnitcha & Lisa Ratcliff on 30 May 2006 For the first time in the history of the Australian Match Racing Championships, the 2006 regatta will be hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia on the beautiful waters of Sydney Harbour.

The Championship was held in Perth for 12 years before moving to Pittwater last year where Michael Dunstan and his crew of Murray Walters, Ben Lamb and Simon Reffold from the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron defeated early series favourites Seve Jarvin, Steve Jarvin, Sam Newton and Ben 'Felix' Croucher from the CYCA.

This year the Yachting Australia endorsed ISAF Grade 3 event will be hosted by the CYCA, which is again expected to field a strong team, this time with the home advantage.

The Wotif.com 2006 Australian Match Racing Championships will be held from Saturday 30 September to Wednesday 4 October and will be sailed in the host Club’s fleet of ten Elliott 6's, providing every team with its own boat for the duration of the event.

Graeme Wood, CEO of Australia’s leading accommodation website, Wotif.com (www.wotif.com), has joined with the CYCA to ensure this pinnacle match racing event is a great success.

'It is an honour to be involved with such a professional organisation and an esteemed event.

'There are many Wotif.com customers within the Australian sailing community and it is great for our business to be aligned with a prominent event in the racing calendar,' he added.

The regatta format provides for two round robins followed by a semi and final round robin as well as the opportunity for places 4-10 to sail off for final placings. All in all 20+ races will be sailed for all entrants, if the weather conditions allow, over the four days of racing.

The Notice of Race and Entry Forms have recently been sent to all state and interstate Yachting Associations and yacht clubs. A weight limit has not been set for this open regatta, although it is generally agreed that 240-250kg is the ideal weight for most conditions in the Elliott.

A maximum crew number has also not been specified however unless the crew is particularly small, maneuverability within the boat maybe hampered by more than three crew members including the skipper.

Chief International Umpire Phil Mostyn from Western Australia will oversee a strong team of 10-12 umpires throughout the regatta and International Race Officer Doug Talty will oversee the experienced race management team.

For the first time in a CYCA match racing regatta, each team will also be allocated their own spinnaker colour so for spectators and competitors alike, following the competition will be much easier.

Wotif.com was co-founded in 2000 by CEO, and CYCA sailor, Graeme Wood and has since grown to become Australia’s favourite website for holidaymakers and business travelers seeking accommodation deals.

In line with their business, Wotif.com is providing accommodation vouchers as prizes for the first three teams.

For further information on the Wotif.com 2006 Australian Match Racing Championships visit the CYCA web site www.cyca.com.au or email jenni.bonnitcha@cyca.com.au

To download a copy of the Notice of Race and Entry Form go to www.cyca.com.au/editorial.asp?key=2474

Jenni Bonnitcha & Lisa Ratcliff