Dates for regattas
Feb 18-20 Hamilton Island Farr 40 Australian Championship 2005 (CYCA)
Feb 24-26 Farr 40 Pre-Worlds regatta (CYCA)
March 1-4 Rolex F40 World Championship (CYCA)
Where the race track will be
The planned racing area for all of these regattas will be the southern circle off South Head approx 2-4 miles offshore depending on weather conditions. There is an allowance for a course in the harbour and this may be used depending on conditions and traffic on the harbour.
Races are planned to start from 11.00am most days with the three-day regattas having nine races and the four day regattas having 10 races.
The Regattas
The Hamilton Island Farr 40 Australian Championship 2005 will be the culmination of the Australian season with the winners of both the National Champion and Australian Circuit pointscore being decided. This regatta is being sponsored by Hamilton Island for the first time this year. This relationship continues the close association between the well known sailing family of Bob and Sandy Oatley and the Farr 40 class in Australia. It is expected that a majority of the overseas boats planning to race in the Pre-Worlds and Worlds will also race in the Nationals.
The Pre-Worlds is the traditional ‘warm up’ regatta and a lead in event for the Rolex Farr 40 Worlds. This event will be the last chance for teams to fine tune before hitting the track for the Worlds.
This is the seventh Farr 40 World Championship and the fourth year of Rolex’s naming rights sponsorship. It is anticipated there will be 30 boats racing with nine countries represented. The last three Rolex Farr 40 Worlds have been raced in San Francisco USA, in 2004, Porto Cervo, Sardinia in 2003 and Nassau, Bahamas in 2002. Now it’s Sydney’s turn.
Countries and Entries
The countries that will be represented will be Australia, USA, Italy, New Zealand, France, Norway, Germany, Sweden and Denmark. These teams are made up of world class competitors both professionals and amateurs. Racing will be conducted according to strict One Design class rules with all boats being weighed and measured, sails measured and crew weighed in.
The CYCA will be well represented by the likes of Neville Crichton, Matt Allen, the current CYCA Ocean Racer of the Year and Club Director and Richard Perini, who is aiming for the double crown of World Champion in the Mumm 30 class, which he achieved last year in Canada, and the Farr 40 class.
Other CYCA members lining up for a crack at the title include Sydney property developer Lang Walker, Andy Offord and Chris Meehan and John Calvert-Jones and Marcus Blackmore who are both CYCA members but will represent the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club. Calvert-Jones won the worlds in Newport, RI, USA in 2000.
For news, results and pointscores throughout the regatta go to www.farr40.org or www.regattanews.com The CYCA’s web site will also feature extensive coverage.
Tacticians
Many internationally renowned tacticians will be attending including: Russell Coutts – Morning Glory, Grant Simmer – Southern Star, Adrian Stead – Mascalzone Latino, Vasco Vascotto – Nerone, Hamish Pepper – Evolution, Terry Hutchinson – Barking Mad and Mark Reynolds – Pegasus.
