SUPERMAXI SHOCKWAVE IN BID FOR MILSON MEMORIAL CUP

by Peter Campbell on 2 Feb 2001 Shockwave, Neville Crichton’s 80-foot supermaxi, heads a strong fleet of offshore racing yachts entered for tomorrow’s Milson Memorial Cup race off Sydney Heads. Between 60 and
70 yachts are expected to race for this prestigious trophy.

The Milson Memorial Cup is one of the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron’s traditional offshore events, commemorating the contribution of the Milson family to the RSYS from the foundation of the club in 1862 onwards.

Originally a Squadron event only, it is now a significant race on the Combined Clubs short ocean racing pointscores with entries from the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, the Royal
Prince Alfred Yacht Club and Middle Harbour Yacht Club as well as the RSYS,



Shockwave returned to racing after her retirement from the recent Telstra Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race with a runaway line honours victory and first place on IRC corrected time in the
City of Sydney Sesquicentenary Trophy race to Botany Bay and return as part of last Friday’s 165th Australia Day Regatta.



Tomorrow’s Milson Memorial Cup is a significant race in the CYCA Short Ocean Points Score with only a handful of points separating the leaders in most divisions after eight of the 13
scheduled races this season.



In IMS Division 1, the Sydney 40, Davnet, skippered by Jamie McPhail, is just two points head of True North, Howard and Susan Piggott’s Beneteau 40.7 while in IMS Division 2,
AFR Midnight Rambler (Ed Psaltis and Bob Thomas) is equal on points with CYCA Commodore Hans Sommer’s Sommerbreeze.



In the IRC handicap category, Julian Farren-Price leads Division 1 with his Cookson 39, About Time, but two points from the 2000 Sydney to Hobart winner, Ausmaid (Kevan Pearce).
In IREC Division, Anne and David Taylor’s Pippin leads by four points from AFR Midnight Rambler.



The Milson Memorial Cup will be sailed over a triangle or windward/leeward course, with the start and finish offshore, with the start scheduled for 12 noon.