Seven Islands Race a popular inshore alternative

by Lisa Ratcliff on 30 Nov 2008 While the IRC and short ocean race fleets were busy battling for supremacy offshore yesterday, within the natural confines of Sydney Harbour a fleet of 35 was pursuit racing around seven islands.

Part of Middle Harbour Yacht Club’s 31st Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship, each yacht set off at their allocated time to chase the leading boats over the scenic course, which included passing Shark Island, Clarke Island, Fort Denison, Goat Island, Cockatoo Island, Snapper Island and Spectacle Island.

Winner of Division 2 was the MHYC Vice Commodore - racing, Alister Morison, aboard his J24 Bruschetta.

“We had good conditions, anywhere between 10 and 15 knots of south sou’east breeze with gusts up to 18 knots. We had wind all the way to Birkenhead Point and back, but with all the usual traps.

“Racing up under the Harbour Bridge is not our regular course, it only happens a couple of times a year and each time you have to remember where the holes are,” said Morison.

“Being a pursuit race, it’s a very exciting event and yesterday we had a bit of everything…rain and sunshine, and we were sailing odd angles so the kites were constantly being hoisted then dropped,” he added.

Bruschetta beat John Crawford’s J24 Innamincka and John Winchester’s Hanse 370 Carte Blache in third place.

In Division 1, Neil Hitchcock’s Farr 11.5 Titoki out-classed Ken Krone’s Adams 10.6 Kestrel and Jack Stenning’s Sydney 36 Stormaway.

Steve Plante’s Beneteau 34 Twitcher collected the Division 3 win from Cameron Barton’s Beneteau 38S5 Pappillion and the Don Telford helmed and Neville Crichton owned Plym, a timber Saludies Classic 56 which regularly wins ‘best presented’ yacht on Sydney Harbour.

The Seven Harbour Islands Race is the SSORC’s popular alternative to racing offshore in the windward/leewards or passage race.

Racing will continue today for the IRC and short ocean race fleets with this morning’s sou’easter expected to clock around to the north east at 10-15 knots this afternoon, a typical Sydney summer sea breeze to farewell another successful SSORC in spectacular fashion.