Strathfield Pittwater and Coffs Harbour Offshore Series 2002-2003

by Andrew Palfrey on 19 Nov 2002 Australia’s new domestic airline, Regional Express (REX) has joined with Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club and the Strathfield Car Radio Group in becoming a corporate partner for the 2002-2003 Strathfield Pittwater and Coffs Harbour Offshore Series.

REX is offering low-price, one-way fares to and from Coffs Harbour for competitors and family members. A valuable benefit of these tickets is their flexibility. REX understands that the nature of ocean racing will require some people to change their travel plans at short notice. The one way fare will be $170.00. REX will offer three flights per day between Sydney and Coffs Harbour during the regatta period.

Entries are steadily flowing in to the Yachting Office at Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club. RPAYC’s yachting manager Denis Thompson commented “We are expecting somewhere between 80 and 120 entries, but it hard to judge. The costs of safety compliance make it hard for those boats that only do one offshore race each year”.

Safety at sea in offshore yacht races is a hot topic. The playing field has been altered following the 1998 Sydney to Hobart Race. One major area of change is the education of participants. “The Club (RPAYC) is charging on with First Aid, Radio Operator and Safety at Sea courses. These have been taking place over winter and will continue right up until the end of the year. I believe we are the only yacht club to offer the entire range of safety courses in-house to members” said Thompson.

One recent entry is the pocket-maxi yacht, Bobsled. She is being chartered by a team of Coffs Harbour Yacht Club members, with the team being headed by CHYC Commodore, Mr Paul Jolly.

Several key businesses in Coffs Harbour have assisted in securing Bobsled, which will be re-named Coffs Harbour Challenger for the event. Two junior members of CHYC will be on board.

Related activities to the Strathfield Pittwater and Coffs Harbour Offshore Series are regularly taking place.

Next Thursday will see the respective Mayors of Pittwater Council and Coffs Harbour Council, Councillor Patricia Giles and Councillor Jenny Bonfield attending afternoon tea with Commodore Ross Scoble and regatta officials at RPAYC. Following the refreshments, the Mayors, accompanied with Council General Managers Mr Angus Gordon (Pittwater) and Mr Mark Ferguson (Coffs Harbour) will take to Pittwater sailing in the Rosemount Twilight race aboard Bob Oatley’s Another Duchess.

Race Director, Steve Merrington said “The RPAYC and the Strathfield Car Radio Group are very pleased to be the conduit to bring together these two progressive coastal councils in a spirit of closer co-operation and friendship”.

The 2002-2003 Strathfield Pittwater and Coffs Harbour Offshore Series kicks off with short offshore races held off Pittwater on the 28th and 29th of December 2002. The fleet will race the 226 nautical miles from Pittwater to Coffs Harbour, starting at 1300hrs on the 2nd of January 2003.

The series will conclude with two days of racing off Coffs Harbour (Jan 5th and 6th), including the traditional Solitary Island Race.