Sydney 38 One Design sets new standards.

by Ian Grant on 13 Feb 2001 Sydney 38 One Design sets new standards.

Sydney's highly competitive Club yacht racing scene has developed an exciting new image created by the cost effective Sydney 38.

The impact is worldwide with the exciting new Sydney 38 design showing the benefit of class One-Design racing off the stick and mixing this with IRC rated handicap fleet racing.

One-Design fleets are becoming increasingly evident amongst the Sydney Clubs.

Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club Commodore John Paul will take delivery of the latest sloop to roll out of the Sydney 38 mould.

Paul is looking forward to the actual hand over day, which be in April, he is well prepared to test his sailing skills amongst the ever growing fleet at Pittwater where seven Sydney 38's race regularly in the season point score.

Three weeks ago Grant Halliday & Jim McCormack's 'No
Options' joined the 'Alfred's' fleet and have absorbed the heat of the action, which make this type of racing popular.

There is another yacht confirmed after Commodore Paul's yacht, bringing the Pittwater fleet to nine and the current question bantered about the yachties bar at the Alfreds is who will be the tenth?

This relatively rapid growth is not strictly confined to Pittwater, with the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron interested in establishing their own One Design fleet.

Former North shore 38 owners Steven Proud and Will Hutchens have taken delivery of the Sydney 38 'Swish'which is expected to be the launch pad for One-Design racing at Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron.

Well-known CYCA offshore skipper John Messenger is soon to take delivery of the second Sydney 38 to be moored at the Rushcutters Bay marina with the third being Mike Delaney's new yacht expected to contest her maiden race in April.

Fleet numbers are growing at Middle Harbour with Martin Thompson of Sydney Yachts confirming a fourth yacht will be racing with that fleet later this year.

Class President Vaughan Stibbard commented 'The Ord Minnett & Telstra Cup Regattas saw tremendous racing with different Sydney 38 winners in each race. The rapidly growing One Design fleets in Pittwater and the Harbour Clubs will ensure the NSW Championships will be very hotly contested.'