Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship entries close on Friday
by Di Pearson, MHYC Media 10 Nov 2016 06:22 GMT
26-27 November 2016
Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship Division 1 Premier class away in 2015 © Allan Coker
Standard entries in Middle Harbour Yacht Club's 39th Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship (SSORC), to be held over two days on 26 and 27 November, close on Friday, 11 November, and already an impressive list of boats is entered.
Karl Kwok is bringing his all-conquering TP52, Team Beau Geste, to Sydney for the first time, so will no doubt start odds-on favourite to take out the IRC Premier Class.
In August, Team Beau Geste claimed a hat trick of Australian titles in Division 1 of the Australian IRC Championship, hosted by Hamilton Island. Kwok, a Hong Kong retail giant, will use the SSORC as crew preparation for the Rolex Sydney Hobart in December, having entered his larger Botin 80 Beau Geste for that race.
He says: "I am looking forward to the summer of sailing in Sydney."
Like Kwok, others ready to sharpen the crew work ahead of the Hobart include that race's defending champion, Balance, a TP52 owned by media personality, Paul Clitheroe. Andy Kearnan and Peter Wrigley's TP52 Koa is also entered, the pair recently claiming third place in the Sydney Gold Coast race.
Peter Sorensen has entered his and Gordon Ketelbey's latest acquisition, the Cookson 12, 'Philosophers', in keeping with tradition of 'Sorro's' other boat names.
On winning the Gascoigne Cup in October, the former skiff champion and Middle Harbour Yacht Club member says: "To my mind, she is a find, one of the best Cookson 12 around, very powerful. We're ready for the competition."
Both Patrice (Tony Kirby's Ker 46) and Patrice Six (Shaun Lane's X-41), along with Sebastian Bohm/Bruce Foye's Rogers 46, The Goat, are also in the mix ahead of the Sydney Hobart.
From outside the Hobart hopefuls, 2014 and 2015 SSORC Division 2 winner, Phil Dash, reappears with his well-named Beneteau First 40, JustADash, ready to defend his title. Bob Cox, 2015 Division 1 runner-up and 2014 winner, is also back with Nine Dragons, a DK46, ready to breathe fire into his defence.
Two days of competition at the SSORC include the 34 nautical mile race to Lion Island return, with the finish on Sydney Harbour and is also a pointscore race for those taking part in the CYCA's Ocean Pointscore Series. Day 2 will feature action packed windward/leeward racing.
The popular Super 12's return too. Among the entries received are Little Nico, Adrian Walters' sexy Rob Shaw 11 Meter and Jonathan Green's Melges 32, Crusader.
For those wanting a challenging inshore race on Saturday, MHYC is also again running the very popular 7 Island Race, which attracts a large and diverse fleet.
All competitors and friends are invited back to Middle Harbour Yacht Club after each day's racing where they will enjoy the post-race beach party for drinks, sausage sizzle and live entertainment.
Middle Harbour Yacht Club would like to thank its sponsors: Helly Hansen, Sydney City Marine, Key Sun Laboratories, Robert Oatley Vineyards and Club Marine for their long association and support to the Club and its events.
Standard entries close at 2359 hours on 11 November, 2016. To enter online and for all information on the SSORC, please go to www.ssorc.mhyc.com.au