Please select your home edition
Edition
Sailingfast 2018 2 728x90

Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship - Overall

by Lisa Ratcliff 28 Nov 2021 09:58 GMT 27-28 November 2021

Victoire, Nine Dragons and Mille Sabords take SSORC top honours

Paul Jenkins and his Sydney 38 crew onboard Mille Sabords won their first ever regatta on a wild and wet Sydney weekend racing for the host club in the annual Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship that drew 55 mixed keelboats boats from various New South Wales clubs.

"Persistence in Saturday's offshore race and a reasonable Sunday gave us our first regatta win after buying the boat in January," a delighted Jenkins said. "The youngest in the crew is 50 - we keep saying where are the 25-year-olds who used to be us? - and everyone had three jobs today with only a broken winch handle to replace. We've been together as a team for a long time and did the 2019 Hobart race together - they are a great group of guys."

After a punishing coastal passage race on Saturday in strong southerlies, the Middle Harbour Yacht Club crew of Mille Sabords fronted six-up for Premier Division 2's three windward/leeward races on Sydney Harbour, the race management team adjusting the program prior to day two racing and electing to keep all fleets inshore, out of the nasty swell.

Bob Cox's DK46 Nine Dragons saved the best for last, sneaking through the two RPAYC boats in Premier Division 1, Gerry Hatton's Bushranger and Mark Griffith's Old School Racing, on handicap in the final short course race of three to add another SSORC trophy to the Dragon's impressive collection.

Amazingly, it was the first time the boat had lined up after more than a year out undergoing extensive repairs from hitting South reef during a Short Ocean Pointscore race. "It's pretty amazing we were able to come back so strong to take it by one point," said the surprised skipper. "Special thanks to the crew who never gave up, in particular Billy Sykes and Will MacKenzie."

Second in Premier Division 1 was Bushranger, the Mat 1245 from the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club and third on a countback to second was clubmate Mark Griffith's DK46. "I'd say those two RPAYC boats are the best in the country on IRC; for the old girl [his boat] to comeback like this is incredible," Cox added as the beer flowed down at The Spit where MHYC hosted the trophy presentation after racing.

Full SSORC results.

Darryl Hodgkinson's Carkeek 40 Victoire (CYCA) narrowly wrapped up top honours in the Super 40 Spring Regatta series of four races that constituted one of the Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship pointscores - a countback with Indy Beck's MC38 InfoTrack separating the top two teams. Full Super 40 results.

"It was an exciting weekend and it's always great to race against the MC38 teams," Hodgkinson said. "We love doing Middle Harbour regattas and we really enjoyed the racing. Earlier I thanked my wife, who loves gold things, for the new yellow A4 kite which made it very easy to spot us on the harbour on a dull and rainy weekend."

Though there were some nervous moments, Hodgkinson managed to keep Victoire on its feet for Saturday's Seven Islands Race and Sunday's two inshore passage races.

Conditions moderated on Sunday November 28, 15-25 knots out of the S-SE compared to Saturday's rolling rain squalls, step seas and blasts of southerly wind which peaked around 35 knots offshore.

MHYC is grateful for the support of CYCA race management and thanks key SSORC sponsors Club Marine, Sail Racing, Robert Oatley Wines and Short Marine for their generosity.

Related Articles

MC38 Series Act 2 at Middle Harbour Yacht Club
Ginger crowned champions in challenging weather conditions The second act of the 2023 MC38 Season has concluded, and it was a weekend of intense competition and thrilling yacht racing. Hosted at Middle Harbour Yacht Club, the event drew in seven teams. Posted on 13 Mar
Conspiracy are Sydney 38 NSW Champions
Conditions could not have been more dissimilar over the two days They would not be denied, the reigning Sydney 38 NSW champions, Peter Byford and David Hudson today claimed their third straight Sydney 38 One Design NSW title with their beautifully named Conspiracy. Posted on 5 Mar
Nautilus Marine Sydney Harbour Regatta overall
Ideal autumn day decides winners An ideal autumn day on Sydney Harbour and offshore decided the winners and new Australian and NSW champions in three classes at Middle Harbour Yacht Club's 2023 Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta today. Posted on 5 Mar
Sydney Harbour Regatta marks Int'l Women's Day
Women's participation in the sport of sailing continues to increase in Australia On Wednesday 8 March, the world will celebrate International Women's Day and Middle Harbour Yacht Club (MHYC), through its Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta this weekend, celebrates all those women contesting the regatta Posted on 4 Mar
Nautilus Marine Sydney Harbour Regatta Day 1
Light touch and patience win points A light and shifty nor' easter kept competitors on their toes at the 2023 Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta today, favouring the lighter boats and those who were able to pick the crafty shifts and remain patient. Posted on 4 Mar
Contenders shape up for Sydney 38 OD Championship
Conspiracy ready to defend title at Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta Reigning Sydney 38 NSW champion Conspiracy, owned by Peter Byford/David Hudson, is ready to defend their title at Middle Harbour Yacht Club's (MHYC) Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta over two days this coming weekend, 4-5 March. Posted on 1 Mar
J/Boats set for Sydney Harbour Regatta
J/70's, J/99's and J/24's to compete in three of the thirteen divisions J/Boats and their classes to compete in three of the thirteen divisions in Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta, hosted by Middle Harbour Yacht Club to be held this weekend 4-5th March 2023. Posted on 28 Feb
Nautilus Marine Sydney Harbour Regatta Preview
High stakes and great prizes at Middle Harbour Yacht Club Numbers are building for the 2023 Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta and the good news is that organiser, Middle Harbour Yacht Club (MHYC), has extended the early entry fee to 28 February 2023. Posted on 24 Feb
Entry open for Sydney Harbour Regatta
Take place on the weekend of 4-5 March The Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta will take place on the weekend of 4-5 March, with online entry now open and the Notice of Race published for the largest annual keelboat regatta in NSW, organised by MHYC since 2006. Posted on 18 Jan
Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship overall
Nine Dragons and Stormaway take the spoils The 2022 Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship (SSORC) concluded late this afternoon with two out of the three windward/leeward races completed Posted on 27 Nov 2022