The CYCA will celebrate its blue water sailing heritage with the return of the Great Veterans Race.
24 boats are set to line up across two divisions for the pursuit start on Saturday 15 May.
The race is open only to single hulled self-righting displacement boats with a launch date prior to or in 1976, and which have competed in a Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.
The 2019 winners – Samuel Hunt’s Sparkman and Stephens 3/4 tonne IOR Nike (Division 1) and Annie Lawrence/John Whitfield’s Halvorsen 36 Solveig (Division 2) – will both compete in Division 2.
This year’s race also features a number of Sydney Hobart winners: Fidelis (Line Honours 1966), Kialoa II (Line Honours 1971), Love and War (Overall 1974, 1978 and 2006), Margaret Rintoul (Line Honours 1950 and 1951), Nerida (Overall 1950), Anitra V (Overall 1957) and Solveig (Line Honours 1953 and Overall 1954).
In Division 1, Bill Ferris’ Boden 60 Archina will go off first alongside the classic Gaff Cutter Nerida.
Archina is etched into Australian offshore sailing folklore, having raced in the inaugural Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and many more since.
Long-time CYCA Member Bill now primarily enjoys ‘pleasure sailing’ on Archina, but relishes the thrill of lining up against other historic boats.
“Everybody is generally relaxed and enjoying it all, then when the five-minute warning goes, you can smell the adrenaline rushing through the harbour,” Bill laughs.
“It’s all very friendly, but when the gun goes, it’s still a race with pumping energy, anxiety and good fun.
“We’re normally just out cruising with our friends, but people around Archina have always supported the club and veteran/classic yacht races.
“She’s a lovely thing and we’re caretakers while we’re alive, looking after her. It’s a great credit to the shipwrights of old – she sails well and is a treasure.”
Visit the race page for more information, including the Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions.
Check out some of the action from the 2019 Great Veterans Race below.
| Division 1 | |
| Boat | Skipper |
| Archina | Bill Ferris |
| Caprice of Huon | David Champtaloup |
| Defiance | Nicole Shrimpton |
| Electra | Bradshaw Kellett |
| Fair Winds | Mark Chew |
| Fidelis | Nigel Stoke |
| Kialoa II | Patrick Broughton |
| Love and War | Simon Kurts |
| Margaret Rintoul | Bruce Gould |
| Nerida | David Hardy |
| Division 2 | |
| Anitra V | Philip Brown |
| Boongown | Eddy Vinks |
| Cardinal Puff | Martin French |
| Duet | James Dalgliesh |
| Jasnar | Gordon Ingate |
| Lolita | Nick Cassim |
| Malohi | Maurie Evans |
| Maris | Tiare Tomaszewski |
| Mister Christian | David Salter |
| Nike | Samuel Hunt |
| Plum Crazy | Angus Clarke |
| Solveig | John Whitfield |
| Suraya | Carl Sriber |
| Valhalla | Tony Burgess |
