Weekly Sailing Summary

ROLEX SYDNEY HOBART

Late in the afternoon of 11 December, the former 98-foot Wild Thing, now known as Etihad Stadium, was coming down off the back of a large wave ten miles off Deal Island when the mast failed. The boat was being delivered to Sydney with a full racing crew of twenty on board and no one was hurt. Under motor Etihad Stadium refueled at Eden then made her way to Sydney.

Owner and skipper Grant Wharington is baffled as to what caused the 41 metre carbon fibre mast to fail. Neville Crichton is helping out with a spare mast and the crew will try to be on the start line of the 2009 Rolex Sydney Hobart. www.cyca.com.au and www.wildthingyachting.com.au

The men at the helms of the biggest, fastest yachts in this year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart will test their skills in a fun radio-controlled boat race in the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s marina ‘pond’ before a press conference to discuss their preparations for the race to Hobart on Boxing Day. The Little Boat Challenge will have representatives from seven of the 100 and 98 foot Rolex Sydney Hobart line honours contenders. http://rolexsydneyhobart.com

The 16th edition of the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge will start off Steele Point at 12.30pm on Tuesday 15th December and will finish in spectacular fashion off the steps of the Opera House mid afternoon. www.cyca.com.au

KEELBOAT RACING

Martin and Lisa Hill and their Estate Master crew won the Farr 40 class, while a bunch of Tasar sailors on Ian and Shane Guanaria’s The Tavern won every race of the Sydney 38 class in the Rolex Trophy One Design series’ sailed out of Sydney. www.cyca.com.au

The entry deadline for the 2010 Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Offshore race has been extended until Friday 18th December. At the provisional close of entries, host club The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club reported 48 yachts have entered the race, starting on 2 January 2010. www.pittwatertocoffs.com.au

18 FOOTERS

Newly crowned NSW champions Michael Coxon, Aaron Links and Trent Barnabas continued their excellent form when they brought Thurlow Fisher-City home a comfortable winner of the Syd Barnett Jr. Memorial Trophy race on Sydney Harbour. www.18footers.com.au

OFF THE BEACH & OLYMPIC CLASSES

World champions and Olympic gold medallists from across the globe will be competing at the ISAF Sailing World Cup, part of Sail Melbourne on 14 – 19 December. www.sailmelbourne.com.au

For the first time trophies will be awarded to first, second and third places overall, from the combined results of the three Sail Down Under Series regattas, Sail Brisbane, Sail Sydney and Sail Melbourne. www.saildownunder.org.au

AROUND THE WORLD

The first eight yachts of the Clipper 09-10 fleet have bunched up in light winds 500 – 600 miles from the finish at Geraldton, Western Australia. Spirit of Australia and Team Finland are within sight of each other, fighting for the lead after over 4,000 miles of racing from Cape Town. www.clipperroundtheworld.com

For the first time in over two weeks Jessica Watson saw something man made other than Ella's Pink Lady. It was a small white piece of plastic that floated by while she was becalmed for a short time. It made her think about how she is in the middle of nowhere and that every mile takes her further into an empty stretch of ocean. Jessica is in the Pacific Ocean heading towards Cape Horn. More on Jessica’s blog at www.jessicawatson.com.au

NEW BOOK

Rob Mundle has released his latest book, Hell on High Seas, which chronicles some of the most remarkable stories of survival and daring the world’s oceans have ever hosted. Amazing feats of courage: some verging on madness, others where death is eluded through sheer bravery, determination and innovation. Four New Zealanders survived 119 days in a capsized trimaran before being washed ashore onto a rocky beach; Australian Ben Carlin and his wife, Elinore, survived a hurricane and crossed the Atlantic in their tiny amphibious jeep; five Mexican fishermen went to sea on a three-day shark-fishing trip in an open dory and vanished, but three reappeared nine months later; and more stories.

NEWS BRIEFS

Where to find the best vantage points for Sydney’s New Years Eve celebrations and navigation restrictions for the start of the Sydney to Hobart race and other events are among many handy tips contained in Sydney’s Aquatic Events 2009-2010 – A Boating Guide, to be distributed free of charge by NSW Maritime to waterfront clubs, marinas, retailers and chandleries around the Harbour. www.maritime.nsw.gov.au.

Marina owners in Fiji are targeting the superyacht sector with the development of marinas able to accommodate large yachts. A drop in import duties on boats from 34 to 5 per cent, should also prompt charter boat owners and resort owners to upgrade their vessels in the area. www.ibinews.com

Geoff Holt from Britain has set out on his 60ft, purpose-built, wheelchair-accessible catamaran to become the first quadriplegic yachtsman to cross the Atlantic. Geoff will be accompanied on the voyage by a professional medically trained carer, to aid him with the physical aspects of his life but the carer will play no part in the sailing of the yacht. Holt is heading for Tortola in the British Virgin Islands, where in 1984 he dived into shallow water breaking his neck. www.geoffholt.com

SAFETY

Recent changes to marine safety regulations mean people spend more time wearing their Personal Floatation Device (PFD). In Victoria everyone in a boat under 4.8m has to wear a PFD. Quicksilver’s new inflatable PFD1 jacket has been designed to be safe and effective while being comfortable enough to wear all day. It doesn’t cut into the back of your neck, rub your shoulders or scratch your skin, and is much less restrictive than most PFDs on the market.

The first NSW ‘Targeting Tinnies’ safety campaign for the summer boating season showed speeding and breaches of safety equipment rules were the most common offences. www.maritime.nsw.gov.au

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Dec 14 – 19 -- Asia Pacific Regatta, part of the ISAF Sailing World Cup, is a grade one Olympic Class regatta. www.sailmelbourne.com.au/

Dec 26 – Rolex Sydney Hobart http://rolexsydneyhobart.com

Dec 27 – Jan 24 – Kids on Deck – The National Maritime Museum’s summer school holiday program in Darling Harbour, Sydney. Children five to ten years enjoy the magic and mystery of dragons, unicorns and mermaids. Wet world is for children three to nine years to participate in fun activities exploring the properties of water. www.anmm.gov.au

Dec 31 – New Year’s Eve on Sydney Harbour – Family fireworks at 9pm with the main show on at midnight. www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/nye/

Jan 2 -- Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Offshore Race hosted by The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club. www.pittwatertocoffs.com.au

Jan 21 - 26 –- Audi Victoria Week is the largest sailing regatta in Australia with over 450 yachts competing over the four days and plenty of shoreside activities take place for those not competing. www.victoriaweek.com

Jan 26 – Australia Day – Events on Sydney Harbour include a Ferrython, Awesome Forces displays, best dressed vessels competition, tall ships race, 174th Australia Day Regatta, Sydney Ports Jazz on the Water Concert. For details see www.australiaday.com.au

Feb 5 - 7 -- Melbourne International Boat & Lifestyle Show, Docklands. www.miblf.com.au

Feb 12 – 21 -- JJ Giltinan International Championship, Sydney Harbour, sometimes referred to as the 18 Footer Worlds www.18footers.com

Feb 19 – 21 -- The Melbourne Wooden Boat Festival will be held at the Docklands precinct on Victoria Harbour. www.woodenboat.com.au/mwbf2010

Feb 25 - 27 -- Variety Splash - Participants will travel a round trip from Docklands’ Melbourne Yacht Club Hotel, with nightly stopovers at Sandringham Yacht Club and Royal Geelong Yacht Club. www.varietysplash.org.au

Mar 6 - 7 -- The fourth Whyte, Just and Moore Lawyers Wooden Boat Festival of Geelong will be held at the Royal Geelong Yacht Club. www.rgyc.com.au

Mar 6 – 7 -- Audi Sydney regatta, Middle Harbour Yacht Club www.mhyc.com.au

Photograph: Martin and Lisa Hill's Estate Master win the Rolex Trophy Farr 40 One Design Series courtesy of Peter Andrews, Outimage