With the weather forecast for Sunday showing light to moderate south to south easterly winds, the stage is set for the grand dames of yachting to launch the Audi Winter Series with The Great Veterans Race. This race is a tribute to those classic Sydney Hobart Yacht Race yachts that sailed south in the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.
 
With the changes to the race regulations now allowing yachts aged 30 years or more, the fleet for the 2008 Great Veterans Race now stands at thirteen – double that of the 2007 race.
 
The yachts will compete for the historic Windward Trophy to mark the opening day of the Audi Winter Series on Sydney Harbour, along with the Ladies Day Race.
 
“The Great Veterans Race is a wonderful gathering on the water – and later back at the CYCA – for these fine classic yachts which contested the early races to Hobart,”  CYCA Sailing Committee Chairman Garry Linacre said today.  “It’s a non-spinnaker event sailed in a relaxed atmosphere.”
 
Among the fleet is Nerida, owned by Sir James Hardy, which is returning to sailing after her unfortunate sinking whilst moored in Sydney Harbour in June 2007. Lovingly restored to her finest over a period of six months, Nerida will take to the seas again this Sunday.

“For a grand old dame, she is 75 years young. If the weather conditions are right on Sunday, we hope to put up the jack-yard top sail and have a nice day out on the water,” said owner Sir James Hardy. Nerida  is the same age as Sir James – both having been born in 1934, and she won the 1950 Sydney to Hobart.

Nigel Stoke’s Fidelis which  took line honours in the 1966 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race  is also taking part, as is last year’s Great Veterans Race winner, Kevin O’Shea’s Stormy Petrel, which won the 1971 One Ton Cup in New Zealand.
 
Regular competitors in the fleet include Carl Sriber’s Suraya, Chris Dawe’s Polaris of Belmont and Nick Cassim’s Lolita.

The Audi Winter Series opening day is on Sunday, 6 April. The winter pointscore series starts the following Sunday, 13 April, with 14 pointscore races for eight spinnaker, two non-spinnaker and a Sydney 38OD division. There are currently 140 block entries for the Audi Winter Series with more expected, and casual entries will join as the season progresses.  Those wishing to be in the pointscore must block enter before race 4.