Please select your home edition
Edition
P&B

Sydney Harbour clubs combine for winter racing series

by Peter Campbell 1 Apr 2016 06:17 BST 1 April 2016

Yacht owners and their crews who enjoy racing year round, or just during the winter will have a greater opportunity to enjoy their sport on Saturday afternoons this winter on Sydney Harbour.

Three of Sydney's major Harbour based Clubs, RANSA, Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron and Sydney Amateur Sailing Club, with the involvement also of a Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club, will collaborate in running a Combined Clubs Winter Series each Saturday.

The exciting new series will start on May 7, with racing each Saturday starting at 12.30pm and will continue through to August 20, providing unprecedented interclub and individual winter competition on the Harbour.

For those keen winter sailors there will be a choice of 12 or 15 races while for those who like to watch some rugby or AFL matches, there will be a six race series.

Appropriately, this innovative programme for winter racing has been announced on the eve of the last day of summer racing on Sydney Harbour, Saturday, 2 April.

Chris Stone, sailing manager of the RSYS, estimates the Saturday winter series will attract between 70 and 90 boats each Saturday. There will be five divisions – 1,2,3, non-spinnaker and a Classic yachts division.

The Combined Clubs Winter Series for 2016 is a result of 18 months work in assessing each club's needs and working out an acceptable format for a wide range of yachts. Each of the three major clubs, RSYS, SASC and RANSA will take it in turns to manage each Saturday's racing.

A feature will be three big social events through the winter, with each club inviting all competing boats to each of the clubs.

Handicaps and results will be published via the new eTime system which has been developed in conjunction with experienced handicapper John Maclurcan, with all three major clubs using the system on and off the water.

"All the clubs are really excited by this new venture...it's amazing to see how everyone has come together to create better racing opportunities for members of each club and the broader Sydney Harbour yacht racing community," Chris Stone added.

Christian Brook, RSYS Rear Commodore and Chairman of the Squadron's sailing committee commented: "On behalf of the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron we are excited that this opportunity has become a reality, with the other Sydney Clubs working together for a combined series.

"Two significant features are that there will be several point scores of various lengths and divisions, giving the competitors different opportunities and also that each club will be able to host a function after racing during the season," he added.

Dave Giddings, RANSA Vice Commodore, recalled: "Last year's inaugural RANSA/SASC combined series was a success. This year should be bigger and better with the addition of the RSYS fleet."

Matthew Prentice, SASC Winter Fleet Caption expressed great enthusiasm for the Combined Clubs Winter Series.

"This new Winter Series brings together great people and boats that have been sharing our Harbour for years and can now race together with competitive fun. The series enables our keenest sailors to race every week and gives others the flexibility for a short six race hit-out to keep the crew together over winter and enjoy the social spirit of our participating clubs.

"The social aspect of this series is particularly important and the short race format is designed to get sailors back to the host clubs and enjoy swapping stories with a greater audience.

"I'm thrilled with the collegiate spirit our clubs have demonstrated with this combined initiative and I'm keen for some good times on the water with our wider sailing community," Prentice added.

Related Articles

49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 Europeans Day 5
Veterans and Rookies each demolish their fleets to win with two races to spare Both the 49er and Nacra 17 European Championships were secured with one fleet race and one medal race remaining to be sailed. Posted today at 8:12 pm
Loro Piana Giraglia day 1
Spectacular conditions welcomed the competitors, with a beautiful sunny day. The 72nd edition of the Loro Piana Giraglia kicked off this morning in Saint-Tropez. A total of 139 boats hit the water: 29 Maxis competed on the Pampelonne course, while the rest sailed a coastal course in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. Posted today at 7:09 pm
Galicia 52 Super Series Royal Cup overall
American Magic Quantum Racing are Galician royalty, winning 2nd event of 2025 with a race to spare. Delivering an impressively consistent series across 10 races sailed in broad range of weather conditions Doug DeVos's US flagged crew of American Magic Quantum Racing won the second regatta of the 2025 season to lift the prestigious Royal Cup. Posted today at 6:40 pm
Freestyle Pro Tour Sardinia day 1 and 2
Foilstyle, flowstye and tow-in at Porto Pollo Day 1 at the Freestyle Pro Tour (FPT) in Porto Pollo started slow, with the forecast showing light winds - riders completed registration and attended the initial skipper's meeting in the morning. Posted today at 6:22 pm
HISC Launches New Moorings Tender 'Selene'
To Improve Deep Water Mooring Access Hayling Island Sailing Club (HISC) has enhanced its support for cruiser sailors with the launch of a new club moorings tender, Selene. Posted today at 2:13 pm
Kitesurfer inspired to join RNLI after rescue
Urging others to volunteer with the charity A lifesaver with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) who was inspired to join the crew after being rescued while kitesurfing, is encouraging others to explore volunteering opportunities with the lifesaving charity. Posted today at 12:28 pm
RYA named Official Community Impact Partner
Connecting the local community, children and groups in Portsmouth with the water. As excitement builds ahead of the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix in Portsmouth this July, the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) is proud to be named the event's Official Community Impact Partner. Posted today at 11:00 am
A more sustainable Transat Café L'OR edition
The race aims to be innovative and a driving force for the transitions taking place in ocean racing For the upcoming 17th edition, the TRANSAT CAFÉ L'OR Le Havre Normandie is stepping up its commitments to take better care of the earth's climate and the natural, living planet. Posted today at 10:28 am
Engedinwing 2025 WingFoil Racing World Cup preview
The world's most daring wingfoilers are heading for the heights... literally The world's most daring wingfoilers are heading for the heights - literally - as the Ensis ENGEDINWING 2025 WingFoil Racing World Cup Switzerland descends on lake Silvaplana. Posted today at 9:19 am
Diverse maxi fleet ready for Loro Piana Giraglia
Inshore/coastal racing prior to the event's famous offshore race to Genoa The International Maxi Association's 2025 Mediterranean Maxi Inshore Challenge (MMIC) continues tomorrow, Saturday 7 June with the first of four days of inshore/coastal race of Loro Piana Giraglia, organised by the Yacht Club Italiano Posted today at 9:04 am