Rolly Tasker Short Handed Race Abandoned

by Media Services on 9 Jun 2007 For the first time in their 24 year history the Short Handed Sailing Association of Australia abandon the start of a Shorthanded Race.

At Thursday’s race briefing the SSAA advised competitors in the Rolly Tasker Australia Port Stephens Shorthanded Race that due to deteriorating weather, resulting from the east coast low forming off the NSW coast, that the premier race in their winter calendar would not proceed.

Since it’s inception in 1983 the SSAA has never abandoned a race, however after watching the east coast low gather energy over the previous 48 hours the committee became increasingly aware that the worst of the low would be right over the 035 degree track from Sydney to Port Stephens.

AMSA and the Sydney and Nelson Bay Water Police appreciated our call that we had abandoned the race.

'It is a very difficult decision to cancel a race, as our sport is inherently dangerous and the risks must be accepted. Paramount to yacht racing is the responsibility of the skippers and crew to decide to compete and continue in a race, but after the low was forecast to drop to 998 and cross the coast over the hunter region we saw that our track from Sydney to Port Stephens would put our yachts about 20 miles Sth East of the eye of the storm. At the briefing on Thursday we advised all competitors that unless there was a dramatic improvement in the forecast the race would not proceed. After a review of the forecast it was quickly agreed to cancel the race. Many yachts agreed that they could compete in these conditions, but with all ports north of Broken Bay likely to be closed there was no place to run and hide, or retire in case of breakages’

When I woke on Friday morning and saw the sea state that had developed, and the rescue and media frenzy ensue as the bulk carrier foundered at Newcastle, I was glad that we made 'the call'. Given what we knew in advance I would not have wished any of my friends to be out there, and god forbid, have any of the already stretched rescue resources looking for them.'

Drew Spring – SSAA Committee

The next race in the SSAA Calendar is the Inner Circle Rum Polar Challenge – East to Longitude off Sydney www.ssaa.com.au