CYCA Two-handed Pointscore paves a pathway for two-handed participation

by Cruising Yacht Club of Australia 30 Aug 2023 17:34 AEST

Challenging and exhilarating, two-handed sailing has rapidly gained popularity in Australia over recent years, and the CYCA is using its 2023/24 Two-handed Pointscore to drive further participation.

The CYCA's race fleets of two-handed boats have grown steadily since the inception of the Two-handed Pointscore. The Club now has fleets that take part in our Club Marine Ocean Pointscore as well as the Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore (including the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race and Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race).

Thirteen two-handed boats recently competed in the 2023 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast race. The CYCA will follow this with a series of six shorter coastal offshore races between September and March as part of its Two-Handed Pointscore.

The series will start with four short offshore races (Category 4):

• Lion Island (16 September 2023)
• Botany Bay (7 October 2023)
• Lion Island (21 October 2023)
• City of Sydney Cup (26 January 2024)

and then finishes with two blue water style races (Category 2):

• Shellharbour (17 February 2024)
• Newcastle (9 March 2024)

Passionate crews from the CYCA have endorsed the concept of the Pointscore, throwing their weight behind it as a terrific way to hone skills and gain experience. These crews include Campbell Geeves and Wendy Tuck from Speedwell, Shane Connelly from Rum Rebellion, Peter Franki and his teammates on Salt Shaker and Jules Hall and Jan Scholten from Disko Trooper_Contender Sailcloth. Support is also strong with veteran ocean racer David Henry on Philosopher and Rupert Henry on Mistral.

Commodore Arthur Lane says this is an important critical pathway for two-handed sailors and an exciting growth area for the sport. "The express purpose of our Two-Handed Pointscore is to provide competitors with a pathway into two-handed sailing and the opportunity to discover a new style of racing. The move from Category 4, to 2 racing aims to develop skills and allow competitors to build their experience within a race environment."

"The 2023/24 Two Handed Pointscore consists of six pointscore races - four Category 4 races and two Category 2 races and all four category 4 races will be run in conjunction with the 2023/24 Club Marine Ocean Pointscore; crews are eligible to enter both series," CYCA Commodore Arthur Lane said.

The two Category 2 races will consist of courses of approx. 50-60nm and 100nm which will help crews to build blue water experience and will allow competitors to complete the qualification requirements for the 2024/25 Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore in a racing environment.

Specific requirements for each category race can be found in the Sailing Program in the Two-Handed Pointscore Sailing Instructions (page 55). All competitors must have competed in one Category 4 race together in the boat entered in the Two-handed Pointscore.