New boats, new winners in Teamsail Trophy Sydney 38 One Design NSW Championships (Round 1).

by Rob Kothe on 23 Apr 2002 The largest offshore One Design fleet in many years faced the starters gun for the Teamsail Trophy Sydney 38 One Design NSW Championship Round 1 on April 20th and 21st.

There were plenty of new boats and new competitors amongst the record fleet of eighteen Sydney 38’s, milling around the start line at Palm Beach circle.

Yachts sailing in major competition for the first time were Anthony Hooper and Doug Williment’s ‘The Bigger Picture’ and Neill Whiston’s ‘Fruit Machine’.

Michael Bellingham and many of the Loki crew chartered ‘Next’, while Matt Allen, Roger Hickman and the core Ausmaid crew sailed on ‘No Options’.

New co-owners, Jeff Matthes ‘ThE Business’ and Natasha Henley-Smith of ‘Next’ were looking forward to the even racing while Adam Brown (Ninety Seven) was having a checking out the Sydney 38 scene from the mid-deck of ‘Bashful’.

In very light breeze, ‘Fruit Machine’ had an excellent introduction to Sydney 38 One Design racing scoring a third in race one. Hugo Van Kretschmar and David Fuller’s ‘Bashful’ crossed the line in first place with Nigel Holman’s ‘Cuckoo's Nest’ second.

As the race progressed the wind dropped from six knots down to two knots and only ten boats finished the race within the time limit. Race two was sailed in much better breezes. ‘Fruit Machine’ overhauled ‘Chainsaw’ to win, with ‘No Options’ third.

The Sydney 38 Class has many young and young at heart owners and Saturday night was family party time at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club. The warm Pittwater evening saw the skippers, crews and families all enjoying the entertainment and great facilities at the club.

Teamsail CEO and event sponsor Alec Barrass commented, “The Club was jumping; the atmosphere was almost like the last night of the Hogs Breath Airlie Beach Sydney 38 Nationals. Our families really enjoyed it.”

Sunday’s racing commenced inshore just north of Scotland Island, in protected Pittwater.

Rod Walton’s floating restaurant ‘Skippers Afloat’ provided the perfect viewing platform and was crowded with champagne quaffing wives, girlfriends and sailors.

Race Director Denis Thompson explained, “The restaurant is a designated course obstacle and it certainly allows spectators a close up view of the racing.”

The fleet got away in a six-knot southwesterly and Matt Allen's ‘No Options’ was the best positioned in the shifty conditions. It was first to the new pressure and led to the finish.

‘Chainsaw’ was second ahead of ‘Bashful’, followed by ‘Rush’ and a fast finishing ‘Wadadli’. ‘Fruit Machine’ was close behind and managed to hold onto the overall series lead.

On each spinnaker run ‘Skippers Afloat’ was well positioned, so the fleet passed the restaurant between on and five metres to leeward. Quiet words of encouragement and gratuitous comments emanated from both decks.

However that was the end of the racing excitement. Sadly, after two hours of waiting the last two races were abandoned on a windless Pittwater.

Race Director Royal Prince Alfred’s Denis Thompson declared ‘Fruit Machine’ the winner of Teamsail Trophy with 11 points. ‘Rush’ and ‘Bashful’ were equal second on 13 points and ‘No Options’ was fourth on 14.

Class President Michael Jones is looking forward to the Round 2, as his new Golden Jubilee Sydney 38 (complete with gold hull and red trim) will be ready to race by then.

Standing in the sunshine overlooking the RPAYC marina, Jones said, “We saw some fine light weather sailing and once again a new round of race winners. It is particularly pleasing to see sailors chartering boats and ‘testing the water’ in this super successful class.”

Round 2 of the Sydney 38 State Championships will be held on Sydney Harbour on the weekend of July 20th and 21st 2002. Another five new Sydney 38’s will be on the water by then and CYCA race organisers are likely to set a longer start line.

Full results and images and video footage from the series can be seen on the official race web site http:www.sail-world.com/teamsail

The Teamsail Trophy was proudly sponsored by: Teamsail, Pittwater Yacht Charter, Sydney Yachts, Harken, Quantum Sails, Dimension Polyant sail cloth, Club Marine and Finlease.

Organising Authority: Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club.

Event sponsor Teamsail is heavily committed to the Sydney 38 fleet through a
business that manages seven of these yachts. Teamsail runs Team Development
and Teambuilding courses for corporate Australia on Pittwater. Using imaginative
formats participants are taken through what makes a great team and the
advantages of working as a team. The advantages back in the work place are
immediate and with careful implementation and follow up can lead to a positive
culture change throughout a company.

Teamsail also use Sydney 38’s as superb offshore training platforms, running coastal sailing courses up and down the East coast of Australia. Positions for trips to and from the Whitsunday Islands in July and August are filling now!

For more information visit www.teamsail.com or call Teamsail Australia on (02) 9999 3047.