CYCA Members Bob Steel (Quest) and Commodore Matt Allen (helming on Michael McMahon’s X3) have won their respective divisions, with both of them taking the title of Yachting NSW IRC Champion.
With forty knot winds, gusting above 44, racing in all divisions was abandoned on the final day of Sail Port Stephens.
From the biggest boat in the Port Stephens Trophy fleet – the 65 foot Margaret Rintoul V out of Middle Harbour Yacht Club, to the IRC fleet ranging from CYCA’s Bob Steel’s TP52 Quest, to the smaller Hunter based competitor in Newcastle’s Tow Truck, there was plenty of twiddling of thumbs and coffee in the sun at d’Albora Marina whilst owners and crews waited patiently for a decision from the Principal Race Officer, Denis Thompson.
Never one to shy away from a racing opportunity, Denis left it to the 11th hour to call it quits for the day, but the conditions failed to abate, and three blasts of the hooter at 1:30pm signalled the end of the regatta.
Not exactly the glamour finish that everyone was hoping for in a regatta that has attracted rave reviews and huge enthusiasm for the future from a 64 strong fleet across 6 divisions that have travelled from as far north as Mooloolaba and as far south as Melbourne to compete…and to play.
In the Yachting NSW IRC Championship, 2008 Rolex Sydney Hobart winner, Quest took out division one, with the Sydney 38, X3, helmed by Commodore Matt Allen for fellow CYCA member Michael McMahon, laying claim to the number one spot in IRC division two.
Bob Steel is again a very happy man. “You take wins when you can get them,” he said.
“It was a very exciting regatta racing in a small but competitive fleet. Whilst we only got four out of the six races completed – we won all four of them so it was great. Race 3 was probably our closest race, beating Shogun by 6 seconds on corrected time.
“Our crew work was excellent, we came up with some good wins and Port Stephens is a great venue for a regatta,” concluded Bob.
X3 owner Michael McMahon was ecstactic when told of his win. He entrusted X3 to CYCA Commodore Matt Allen for the regatta. X3 had undergone some modifications to make it competitive on IRC rating including a modified spinnaker pole and masthead spinnaker.
“IRC Division 2 was a big division that had some very competitive yachts including Rod Jones’ Alegria (Archambault 40), Gerry Hatton’s Bushranger (Beneteau 40.7) and R & P Hill’s Ruth Magic (Beneteau 44 with Peter Sorenson (2007 Audi IRC Champion on board),” said Matt Allen.
“It was very pleasing to see X3 performed competitively in IRC Division 2. Warwick Rooklyn did an excellent job as tactician, picking the wind shifts all weekend, David Lowe on main trim and myself helming, the crew work was sensational and I’m pleased that we could give Michael the win!
“It was a pity that we could only get four races in, but it was great racing in varying wind conditions,” concluded Matt.
“As Commodore of the CYCA, it is really pleasing to see CYCA members win two major divisions over the weekend,” added Matt Allen
The Melges32’s adapted well to the conditions inshore and offshore in the Port Stephens Trophy (PHS) division, with Rock n Roll owned and skipped by Kim Williams taking first place in Division one, whilst Ron Hayden’s Cloud Nine from the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club took the number one spot in the Division two.
As the current Australian Sports boat champion, Mako Sunglasses was the form boat coming into the Melges 24 Nationals and it wasn’t too much of a surprise when the father and son combination crew were crowned National Champion in the prize giving at the marina yesterday afternoon.
A great time has been had by all over the last seven days, giving organisers plenty to build on for a bigger and better 2010. By Jody O’Brien with additional information from Jennifer Crooks
