Last Saturday saw the commencement of CYCA’s amended 2020 offshore Sailing Program with Race 1 of the Ocean Pointscore, the Port Hacking Race.
After the first two Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore Series races were abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many crews were itching to get out on the water for their first real offshore hit-out of the season.
The 25-strong fleet was met with a crisp 12-15 knot west-south-westerly breeze for the 1000hrs start, which propelled them nicely down the harbour to round South Head. The good breeze was short-lived, however, as it began swinging to the south-east and dropped as low as 3-5 knots by lunchtime, causing the fleet to think light and race tactically.
Teams didn’t have to wait long, however, for the north-east sea breeze to fill in at 10-13 knots and make for an uphill beat back home to Sydney Harbour.
In the end, it was Matt Donald & Chris Townsend’s TP52 Gweilo which made the most of the conditions, winning the race on IRC handicap. Director David Griffith AM’s JV62 Chinese Whisper was first across the line but shifted to second place in IRC, and Bob Steel & Craig Neil’s TP52 Quest rounded out the podium in third.
Congratulations to all competitors, it’s wonderful to see so many boats back offshore racing again!
