Weekly Sailing Summary

18 FOOTERS

The Thurlow Fisher Lawyers team of Michael Coxon, Aaron Links and Trent Barnabas took out Race 15 of the Australian 18 Footers Club Championship on Sydney Harbour, giving them an overall win in the series. Find out more at 18 Footers.com.au.

KEEL BOATS

A fleet of 49 yachts is expected to start the 61st Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race on Good Friday. Defending line honours champion Peter Harburg’s Black Jack and her rival the Bruce Absolon helmed Spirit of The Maid will challenge the 20 hour, 24 minute, 50 second record set by Skandia, skippered by Grant Wharington in 2004. Brisbane to Gladstone.com.au.

AROUND THE WORLD

Big seas are hampering California's attempt at setting up a jury rig after dismasting in the Clipper Round the World Race. Without any halyard available, the only way to get to the top of the remaining section is to free climb and once in position, set up temporary stays and lines for hoisting sails. The motion of the yacht without its full rig in place is uncomfortable and climbing is out of the question until the seas start to flatten. For now, the yacht continues to motor towards San Francisco and her support team of Spirit of Australia and Hull & Humber continue to stand dutifully by. Once Edinburgh Inspiring Capital arrives on the scene, the crews of the two stand-by yachts can turn their thoughts back to getting to San Francisco in the quickest possible time. Clipper Round the World.com.

Jessica Watson is sailing in the Indian Ocean towards Australia in her attempt to be the youngest person to sail around the world solo, non-stop and unassisted. Mostly the wind has been sitting on a pleasant 15 to 20 knots pushing Ella's Pink Lady along nicely. But recently it dropped off again and a big swell knocked the boat off course. Jessica Watson.com.au.

OLYMPIC CLASSES

The Australian Sailing Team’s Mathew Belcher and Malcolm Page got their 2010 European campaign off to the best possible start, winning the opening 470 men’s race at round three of the ISAF Sailing World Cup in Spain. Follow the Australian teams competing at the event at Yachting.org.au.

AMERICA’S CUP

BMW ORACLE Racing CEO Russell Coutts and the team's skipper and helmsman James Spithill were honoured at a gala reception in Moscow. BMW Oracle Racing.com.

NEWS BRIEFS

Event organizers of the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show believe the marine sector is showing boosted confidence in the economy with close to 340 confirmed exhibitors and further bookings coming in daily. The Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show celebrates its 22nd year from 20-23 May at 9am to 5pm daily. Sanctuary Cove Boat Show.com.au.

The proposed scuttling of the former navy frigate, HMAS Adelaide, off the Central Coast has been postponed indefinitely due to court action. More details.

Despite the adverse weather conditions and the recent cyclone that passed through Airlie Beach, the Port of Airlie Development remained unscathed. Meridien and Hutchinson Builders successfully took the necessary precautions to ensure complete safety of the development site.

VALE GARRY JOHN SCHIPPER (SKIP)

Garry John Schipper passed away in the early hours of Wednesday, March 24, 2010 after a three-year battle with cancer. Since his late teens, the big man of sea safety had a huge sailing career around Australia and overseas. A lot of people will remember him for his presentations on sea safety at boat shows, after he went overboard with just a Dolphin torch in his hand in the 1998 Sydney-Hobart race. That very waterproof and famous torch guided his boat crew back to pick him up. ORCV.org.au.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

April 2 - 61st Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race starts. Queensland’s most famous blue water yachting event sets sail in the waters off Brisbane every year on Good Friday. Brisbane to Gladstone.com.au.

April 2 – Hydro Tasmania Three Peaks Race starts at Beauty Point on the Tamar River just north of Launceston and finishes in Hobart on the River Derwent. Three Peaks.org.au.

April 4 – 11th Solo Tasman Challenge from New Plymouth, New Zealand to Mooloolaba, Australia. Solo-Tasman.co.nz.

April 6 - Information night at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Rushcutters Bay, Sydney on diesel engine maintenance with Dave Giddings of Drive Marine Services. All welcome. Please book at CYCA reception on 8292-7800 or reception@cyca.com.au.

April 12 - Long Distance Offshore Sailing Seminar - Sail Repairs at UK Halsey Loft, Beach Road Sandringham. ORCV.org.au.

April 12 – 18 -- Sail Port Stephens - The feeder races for the event will be RPAYC’s Pittwater to Newcastle on 10 April and NCYC’s Newcastle to Port Stephens race on 11 April. Sail Port Stephens.com.au.

April 18 - ORCV's Rip Tour on Port Phillip. ORCV.org.au.

April 27 - Long Distance Offshore Sailing Seminar - Medical and Dentistry with Rosie Colahan at Royal Brighton Yacht Club at 7pm. ORCV.org.au.

April 28 - Don McIntyre and crew depart Tonga to re-create Captain William Bligh’s 4,000 mile open boat ‘Mutiny on the Bounty’ voyage. Talisker Bounty Boat.com.

May 4 - Information night at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Rushcutters Bay, Sydney on electrical maintenance with Rob Starkey. All welcome. Please book at CYCA reception on 8292-7800 or reception@cyca.com.au

May 9 - Butlers Business and Law Round Lord Howe Island Yacht Race. ORCV.org.au.

May 11 - Long Distance Offshore Sailing Seminar - Communications with Neville Rose at Royal Brighton Yacht Club at 7pm. ORCV.org.au.

May 20 - 23 -- Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, Gold Coast. Sanctuary Cove Boat Show.com.au.

May 20 – 23 -- 1770 Festival, Town of Seventeen-Seventy, Queensland. Celebrating the "Birth Place of Queensland", this festival has been an annual event for 17 years and commemorates the visit of the Endeavour and landing of Lt. James Cook and his crew in May 1770. 1770 Festival.com.au.

May 21 – 30 -- Port Douglas Carnivale, Tropical North Queensland. The seaside resort village of Port Douglas sets aside ten days each year to celebrate music, arts, sport, food culture and entertainment. Carnivale.com.au.

May 27 – June 21 -- Vivid Sydney, a festival of light, music and ideas, featuring the spectacular illumination of the Sydney Opera House sails. Events NSW.com.au.

Photograph: 18ft Skiffs Club Championship – Race 15 on Sydney Harbour – courtesy of Frank Quealey © /Australian 18 Footers League