On the evening of Wednesday 26 March, the CYCA and its naming rights sponsor Audi Australia launched the Audi Winter Series 2008, Australia’s most established and largest ongoing winter sailing series, which falls annually in between offshore seasons and attracts fleets over 140 to Sydney Harbour weekly. 

Audi Australia’s Rosebery dealership hosted the function which also served as a prize-giving ceremony for the Audi Sydney Offshore Newcastle Yacht Race.  Syd Fischer’s Ragamuffin was recognised as the line honours winner and the IRC Division 0/1 winner.

The Audi Winter Series commences on Sunday 6 April with the Great Veterans Race and Ladies Day Race.  Currently, the fleet for the Audi Winter Series 2008 has over 110 registered contenders, with additional entries expected before the first race.  Casual entries may join as the season progresses.

2008 marks some changes to the race format with the CYCA dropping all non-pointscore races excluding the opening and closing Ladies Day races, thereby turning the pointscore into a tough 14 race series beginning 13 April and concluding 13 July.  An additional race may be dropped to allow crews and their families to take advantage of the June long weekend.

Another initiative by the sailing committee is the ability for the race committee to postpone the start to give the autumn and winter breezes more time to fill in.  Last year’s series was marked by light morning breezes with typical winter westerlies creeping in during the early afternoon and should the same occur this year, the committee now has the flexibility to hold the fleet back until the pressure is consistent.  The sailing committee has introduced a numbered start (with boats separated by one minute) as opposed to a specific start time to facilitate this.

In launching the Audi Winter Series, Commodore Matt Allen said, “We thank Audi Australia Managing Director Joerg Hofmann and the Audi Australia team for their ongoing support of the CYCA and their support of yachting in general.”

In accordance with last year’s change in entry criteria for the Great Veterans Race, eligible boats over 30 years old that have previously competed in a Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race are able to compete in the race.

Each week all divisional placegetters will go in the draw to drive a luxury Audi A6 saloon for the week and will pick up great Line 7 gear.  At the conclusion of the Audi Winter Series 2008, divisional pointscore winners will be announced at the Audi Winter Series Prizegiving on 18 July 2008.