Weekly Sailing Summary

ROLEX SYDNEY HOBART

Millions of yachting enthusiasts across Australia and New Zealand will this year have instant mobile access to the most comprehensive race result service in the history of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. Mobile phone updates will be provided as the fleet battles its way down the coast to Hobart. The mobile alert service is currently registering mobile users wanting to receive SMS updates from four hours after the start on Boxing Day, Saturday 26 December up until the overall winner is determined.

Sarah-Jane Blake, daughter of Sir Peter Blake who was murdered aboard his boat while on an environmental crusade in Brazil, is immersing herself in her late father’s past. She is putting the finishing touches on a museum display of his life back in Auckland and joining the crew of Lion New Zealand for this year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart. It is the same boat Sir Peter Blake helmed to a line honours victory in the tough 1984 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

Just seven years ago Tasmanian Sally Rattle stepped onto a little J24 day sailer for her first taste of sailing. She liked it so much she bought a one third share of the little boat. On Boxing Day she will skipper her own ocean racer, Archie, an Archambault 35, across the starting line of the Rolex Sydney Hobart 2009.

Ludde Ingvall has been absent from the Rolex Sydney Hobart ever since he snuck his 90 foot maxi Nicorette first across the line of the 2004 race. Now he’s back. The boat has a bigger rig and a new name – YuuZoo and will be connected to the internet throughout the race, with ten onboard cameras streaming constant vision of what is going on above deck, and plenty of computers below so the young crew can relay their personal experiences and achievements.

A replacement mast arrived on Monday night for Grant Wharington’s Etihad Stadium. Now the race is on for the 98 foot yacht to be ready to start the Rolex Sydney Hobart.

Representatives from seven of the eight maxis lining up for this year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart became mini boat skippers, racing two feet long model boats in the inaugural Little Boat Challenge. Neville Crichton’s Alfa Romeo, represented by helmsman Erle Williams, won the best of three series with two wins while Wild Oats XI’s skipper Mark Richards picked up one victory.

For all the news see http://rolexsydneyhobart.com

KEEL BOATS

The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia presented the CYCA Ocean Racer of the Year Awards at a function in Sydney. Crew person, Amanda Scrivenor, was named Ocean Racing Rookie of the Year. Owner of the TP52 Quest, Bob Steel and sailing master Mike Green were jointly awarded the Ocean Racer of the Year Award. www.cyca.com.au

Neville Crichton’s 100 foot Alfa Romeo capitalised on a wrap in the spinnaker aboard Wild Oats XI to take a resounding victory in the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge. www.cyca.com.au

Alan Brierty's RP63 Limit, helmed by Ian ‘Barney’ Walker, won the IRC 0/1 Division of the Rolex Trophy Rating Series by one point from near-sistership and major rival, Stephen Ainsworth’s Loki. www.cyca.com.au

An internal CYCA Inquiry is currently underway into the Flinders Islet Race which resulted in the tragic loss of Andrew Short and Sally Gordon and the vessel PricewaterhouseCoopers. Although the Committee is still preparing its final report, some issues have arisen which the Board feels it is important to draw to the attention of sailors competing in upcoming off-shore events. www.orcv.org.au

The Ocean Racing Club of Victoria’s annual holiday season races are set to start with the inshore Cock of the Bay race on Boxing Day. This is the traditional feeder race for the Kidder Williams Melbourne to Launceston and the Heemskirk Consolidated pair of Melbourne to Hobart East and Melbourne to Hobart West. www.orcv.org.au/

Southport Yacht Club announces a cash prize draw totalling $10,000 for yachts competing in the Coffs to Paradise ocean race and Sail Paradise series off the Gold Coast in January. Yachts that complete all races in their respective divisions at Sail Paradise will be eligible to share in a draw for an $8000 pool, broken into $5000, $2000 and $1000. And all yachts that complete the Coffs to Paradise race within the time limit will go into a draw for a $2000 prize. For Sail Paradise and the Coffs to Paradise NORs go to http://www.southportyachtclub.com.au/ and for information on the Pittwater to Coffs race go to www.rpayc.com.au

The Ocean Racing Club of Victoria is assisting the Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club with their 770 nautical mile Butlers Business and Law Round Lord Howe Island Yacht Race, starting on 9 May 2010. Thirty plus boats have already submitted an expression of interest for the Category 1 race. Many other vessels are expected to participate in either the non-stop Racing Division or the Performance Cruiser Division, which gives competitors a few days to explore the wonders of the World Heritage Park, before finishing back in Newcastle. www.orcv.org.au

The Royal Ocean Racing Club has made a decision to ban Dyneema® lifelines for the 2010 RORC race programme. At the ISAF annual conference in Korea last November Dyneema® fibre was approved as a material for use in lifelines for offshore race boats. The material has been used for a number of years in Melges 24 and Melges 32 and on IMOCA 60’s in the Vendee Globe but the RORC committee made up of very experienced offshore racers expressed concern about the suitability of the material for offshore boats where the crew are constantly hiking, especially in rough conditions. www.rorc.org/

SAIL MELBOURNE

The Australian Sailing Team finished Sail Melbourne with three class victories. Mathew Belcher and Malcolm Page were undefeated in the 470 class. Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen (AUS) won the 49er event and now head to the 49er World Championships in the Bahamas with their 100 per cent win record still intact. Jessica Crisp came out on top of the RS:X women’s windsurfing fleet. http://www.sailmelbourne.com.au/ and http://www.yachting.org.au/

AMERICA’S CUP

The first race of the 33rd America’s Cup Match is scheduled for February 8, 2010 in Valencia, Spain. The Defender’s giant catamaran, Alinghi 5, has finished sailing in Ras Al Khaimah and is being packed up to be shipped to Valencia. The shipping time will give the crew a break over Christmas. http://www.alinghi.com/

The BMW ORACLE Racing team’s boat has departed San Diego for Valencia aboard the cargo ship Oceanlady. http://www.bmw.oracleracing.com/

AROUND THE WORLD

Team Finland secured their third victory of the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race, crossing the finish line in Geraldton, Western Australia, just 33 minutes ahead of Spirit of Australia. Third place went to Jamaica Lightning Bolt. Cork retired from Race 4 due to a collision with Hull & Humber at the start. http://www.clipperroundtheworld.com/

Jessica Watson is sailing in the zone referred to as the ‘Roaring 40’s’ with strong, cold westerlies predicted in the coming weeks. She has less than 3,000 nautical miles to sail before rounding Cape Horn. Jessica climbed 12 metres up the mast to check all the rigging in preparation for the tougher conditions of the Southern Ocean. http://www.jessicawatson.com.au/

NEWS BRIEFS

Roy E. Disney, son of Disney Studios co-founder Roy O. Disney, and nephew of Walt Disney, passed away 12 December in California, following a year-long battle with stomach cancer. Disney was a successful businessman, philanthropist, filmmaker, and award-winning sailor, who played a key role in the revitalization of The Walt Disney Company and Disney's animation legacy. An avid competitive sailor, Disney holds several elapsed-time records for offshore races in the Pacific Ocean, including multiple wins in the 2,225-mile Transpac. http://corporate.disney.go.com/

Laura Dekker, a 14-year-old Dutch girl barred from sailing around the world solo by a Dutch children’s court has returned under police escort from the Caribbean island where she was found after running away from home. Her father had supported her ambitions, but her mother expressed doubts and the court had placed the teenager under the protection of child care officers until July 1 next year.

Yachting Australia and RFD, a supplier of marine safety products and inflatable watercraft, have signed a new sponsorship agreement. RFD will work with Yachting Australia on the IRC Rating System certification program, providing IRC certificate holders with a range of offers and opportunities surrounding RFD products. RFD will be involved in Yachting Australia’s Training programs, including the National Yacht Training Scheme, Sea Safety and Survival Courses (SSSC) and Student Course Packs. http://www.yachting.org.au/

SAFETY & RESCUE

A 47-year-old woman died following a catamaran crash in Townsville on Sunday 20 December. Early investigations suggest that around 9.30pm the 55-foot catamaran crashed into the rock break wall at the Townsville Port. The vessel became stuck on the rocks and then began to sink. Police and Queensland Ambulance Service officers treated 12 other injured people at the scene before they were transported to Townsville Hospital. Their injuries included cuts, bruises and abrasions. Police investigations are continuing. http://www.police.qld.gov.au/

A boatbuilder won his appeal against a manslaughter conviction over the deaths of four people when their yacht broke up at sea. The NSW Court of Criminal Appeal overturned the conviction of Alex Cittadini, 50, the director and engineer of Applied Alloy Yachts. The Excalibur sank in September 2002 when its keel split in two in high winds near Seal Rocks, off the mid-north coast of NSW, on a voyage from the Whitsundays to Sydney. Four crew members died.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

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. http://www.anmm.gov.au/

Dec 31 - New Year’s Eve - Spectacular fireworks are fired off the Sydney Harbour Bridge, barges, and city skyscrapers at 9pm and midnight. Over 50 charter vessels will participate in a themed parade following the 9pm fireworks. A special area is set aside for charter vessels in the Harbour. The theme this year is ‘Awaken the Spirit’ – igniting Sydney’s spirit and all our spirits for the year ahead. Everyone is asked to celebrate Sydney’s spirit by wearing a touch of blue on the night, representing the stunning blue harbour and blue summer sky. www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/nye/

2010

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

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

Feb 8 - 33rd America’s Cup Match is scheduled to start in Valencia, Spain. The defender is the Swiss team Alinghi http://www.alinghi.com/ and the challenger is BMW ORACLE Racing from the USA http://www.bmw.oracleracing.com/. The event website is http://www.amerciascup.com/

Feb 12 – 21 -- JJ Giltinan International Championship, Sydney Harbour, sometimes referred to as the 18 Footer Worlds http://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. http://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. http://www.rgyc.com.au/

Mar 6 – 7 -- Rosehill Trailerboat Show, Rosehill Racecourse, Sydney http://www.bia.org.au/

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

Mar 9 – 21 -- Louis Vuitton Trophy series - Ten countries are expected to compete in the regatta.

Mar 11 - 14 -- Auckland International Boat Show is being held in conjunction with The Louis Vuitton Trophy series to push up attendance at both events.

Photograph: Neville Crichton's RP100 Alfa Romeo wins line honours in the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge courtesy of ROLEX/Daniel Forster