Weekly Sailing Summary

SAIL PORT STEPHENS

Graham Morton and Graham Buckeridge's 18.5 metre German Frers designed sloop, Margaret Rintoul V, won Division 1 of the Performance Cruising series by just one point from Jim Thomas’ Beneteau 40.7 Dances With Waves. Both boats are from Sydney.

Rob Hanna’s Victorian TP52 Shogun won on countback division one of the Yachting NSW IRC Championship, a just reward for their herculean effort getting to the start line.

Chris Williams and his Melges 32 Team GUE from Gosford won the Performance Racing on countback from Sally Warneford’s Sydney 38 Thirlmere from Sydney.

Jono Shelley, an English sailor living in New Zealand but spending a lot of time in Australia, carted off the SB3 Australian Championship. For all results and media releases see Sail Port Stephens.com.au.

KEEL BOATS & MULTIHULLS

Three Australians and eight New Zealanders in nine monohulls and two multihulls finished the Solo Trans-Tasman Challenge from New Plymouth, New Zealand, to Mooloolaba, Australia. Solo-Tasman.co.nz.

Fidelis, the classic Knud Reimers designed 75sqm yacht built in 1964 and lovingly maintained by Nigel Stoke, won the Great Veteran’s Race double, taking line and handicap honours and collecting the Windward Trophy for a fourth time. The Great Veterans Race and Ladies Day Race mark the commencement of the Audi Winter Series 2010, conducted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia on Sydney Harbour. CYCA.com.au.

Audi confirms its sponsorship of Audi Hamilton Island Race Week for another three years. Hamilton Island Race Week.com.au.

After five races for the Rolex Farr 40 Pre-Worlds in the Caribbean, Lisa and Martin Hill’s Estate Master (AUS) finished on top, with Doug Douglass’ Goombay Smash (USA) second, and defending Rolex Farr 40 World Champion, Jim Richardson’s Barking Mad (USA) in third place. Farr 40 worlds.com.

AROUND THE WORLD

The evening after Jessica Watson’s family flew over her, lightning flashed around Ella’s Pink Lady and this was followed by wind gusts tearing her mainsail. After pushing a needle through the thicker parts of the sail with her palm the mainsail is all stitched up again, but her hands are bruised. The prediction is for better weather over the next week as the sixteen year old sailor heads east to Tasmania. Jessica Watson.com.au.

The start of Race 8 of the Clipper Round the World Race from San Francisco to Panama will now take place on Tuesday 20 April. Clipper Round the World.com.

The course and dates for the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 have been officially announced. The racing format and stopover schedule features a number of innovations, the most notable sees the event conclude with an In-Port race in the finish port of Galway. Volvo Ocean Race.com.

PRODUCTS

Mercury has released an Auto-inflating Personal Floatation Device (PFD) with an absorbent switch which, when it comes in contact with water, automatically inflates the vest. The PFD is also cut to be comfortable and less restrictive than other PFDs on the market. In NSW new regulations mean that from 1 July 2010 everyone in a boat of less than 4.8 metres must wear a PFD. Victoria has already introduced this requirement.

Outback Marine Australia Pty Ltd is releasing a new range of Australian-made marine refrigeration units in a world release at Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show on 20-23 May. Outback Marine’s refrigeration systems are designed for under counter installation with two self-closing 70L drawers simplifying access to the contents. The fridges run on a 12V/24V DC Frigomatic system manufactured by Veco in Italy.

NEWS BRIEFS

The preliminary program for the national Marine Safety Conference to be held in Perth on 22-24 August 2010 is now online at NMSC.gov.au. The conference, themed ‘Safe Passage to a Marine Nation’, is the sixth to be hosted by the National Marine Safety Committee.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

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.

June 8 - Long Distance Offshore Sailing Seminar - Search and Rescue at Royal Brighton Yacht Club at 7pm. ORCV.org.au.

June 13 - 14 -- The Oceanic Whitsunday Boat & Leisure Show, Meridien Marinas Abel Point Marina, Airlie Beach. Whitsunday Boat show.com.

Photograph: Shogun at Sail Port Stephens courtesy of