Ellene takes historic Gillawa Shield - MHYC

by Peter Campbell on 22 Mar 2001 Middle Harbour Yacht Club's historic Gillawa Shield for the 2000-2001 summer sailing season of offshore racing has been won by Tony Levett in his optimised Northshore 38, Ellene.

Ellene won two of the eight races, and sailed consistently in the others, to finish with 273 points, two ahead of Sea Jay, Scot Wheelhouse's BH41, and Kingtide, Colin Boyle's Bashford 36, both of which finished with 271 points.

Only point behind these two boats came the Farr 50, 2GB Titan Ford (Hodder/Sorenson/Zemanek) on 27 points.

The Gillawa Shield pointscore ended one race short following the cancellation of the Sydney-Coffs Harbour passage race for the Coffs Coast Race Week.

One of the pioneers of ocean racing from MHYC, Alf Wildman, donated the Gillawa Shield to the club, naming it after one of his most successful yachts. Engraved on it are the names of the many great ocean racing boats that have won the Club's offshore pointscore.

Former Admiral's Cup yachtsman Gordon Reynolds has recently restored this great trophy and it holds pride of place in the Club's trophy cabinet.

Winner of MHYC's IRC pointscore for the 2002-2001, which included the Ord Minnett Regatta, the short ocean pointscore races and the Palm Beach Regatta, is the Michael Jones' Sydney 38, Obession, with a remarkable season-long performance.

Obsession placed first on corrected time in 12 races and second in the other four other races. With a six-race discard, this meant that Obsession's discards included two wins and four seconds, to finish with a net 616 points.

Second place overall in the IRC pointscore has gone to Nigel Holman's Sydney 41, Zurich, with three wins amongst its scorecard to finish on 599 points, third overall going to Crow Bar, Bruce Thomas' Masrm 950, on 563 points.

Further information: Peter Campbell - 0419 385 028 or
Email - peter_campbell@bigpond.com