Weekly Sailing Summary

AROUND THE WORLD

After a fast and furious race up through the Caribbean from Panama to Jamaica, the Clipper fleet slowed to a crawl as they rounded the island’s most easterly point and were caught as the wind died away, the last 25-mile stretch of the race taking almost six hours for the leading boats to complete. Spirit of Australia and Hull & Humber were locked in battle for line honours, with Cape Breton Island and Team Finland nipping at their heels. Line honours were eventually claimed by Spirit of Australia as they crossed the finish line just three minutes and 50 seconds ahead of Hull & Humber. The fleet left Port Antonio for the start of Race 10 to New York on Monday 24 May. See Clipper Round the World.com for more details.

KEEL BOATS

Eleven boats out of 27 persevered with some of the most frustrating weather yet encountered this season, to complete the final race of the 2009/10 McConaghy Melbourne Offshore Championship. It was a race where tide, more than wind, pushed the fleet out of the heads, but with many overall results hanging on the final calculations there were plenty of motivated crews. Overall winner of the 2009/10 season was Paul Buchholz’s Extasea. ORCV.org.au.

Jay Griffin, Will Parker and Ted Hackney, on the Meridien Marinas sponsored Elliott 6.0m, outsailed the other teams racing for the Kellett Shield in tough winter conditions on Sydney Harbour. The team has begun training for the Governor’s Cup which they will contest in late July at Balboa Yacht Club, California. The Kellett Shield has a schedule of six fleet races and each sailor can only helm a maximum of two races. CYCA.com.au.

In the first rain affected race of the season, the Audi Winter Series fleet sailed towards Manly under a stunning rainbow and crews were elated when they found pockets of breeze around the course on Sydney Harbour. CYCA.com.au.

Despite the sudden onset of winter weather in Australia’s southern-most capital the crews of some 20 yachts and about 40 dinghies turned out for the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania’s opening Winter Pennant Race which was run as a pursuit race. RYCT.org.au.

Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team clinched victory over Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing in Match Race Germany after a controversial call by Gilmour’s team which took them round the wrong windward mark. This is a turning point for Mirsky who according to Gilmour has a “long and high profile career ahead of him” – he has beaten his master, who Mirsky back in Marseille said was his ‘inspiration’ to take up this sport. Mirsky was defeated in the semi finals by Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing, the current World Champion and winner of Match Race Germany. www.wmrt.com.

OLYMPIC CLASSES

The Australian Sailing Team is in the final stages of preparation for round five of the ISAF Sailing World Cup in Medemblik, Holland, with racing set to begin on Wednesday, 26 May. Yachting.org.au.

CRUISING

The Dent to Dunk Rally kicked off on Saturday 22 May off Airlie Beach. The fleet had a beautiful spinnaker run to Gloucester Eco Resort where nearly all the crews dressed as pirates or prostitutes for the night’s entertainment. The next two days were more relaxing spinnaker runs in south east 10-20 knot winds. All the sailing stories and the fish caught were enjoyed at Cape Bowling Green anchorage with a barbecue on the beach. APYC.Yachting.org.au.

SANCTUARY COVE BOAT SHOW

Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show exhibitors confirmed strong sales at the close of the four-day event. “The Show has proven to be the place ‘Where the Marine Business Does Business’ and we have had exhibitors already indicating interest in the 2011 Show,” said the show’s general manager Barry Jenkins. The 22nd annual event attracted 424 exhibitors, the third highest tally in the show’s history. A total of 576 boats and watercraft were on display plus engines, electronics, marine products and services. The final visitor tally was 39,019, up on the 2009 Show. SanctuaryCoveBoatShow.com.au.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

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

May 29 - Dent to Dunk Race starts. APYC.Yachting.org.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. Whitsundayboatshow.com.

June 16 - Alex Whitworth tells his story of sailing Berrimilla through the North West Passage above Canada in 2008 at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Rushcutters Bay, Sydey. Arrive early, view the yacht, enjoy dinner on the deck and be seated for the 6.30pm start. Free and all welcome. Please register attendance with CYCA reception by email reception@cyca.com.au or 8292 7800

July 1 - 5 -- Melbourne Boat Show, Melbourne Exhibition Centre. MelbourneBoatShow.com.au.

July 6 – Aug 17 -- CYCA Medical Management for Mariners course - St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney aims to teach those who go to sea in small craft, especially yachts, how to deal with a medical emergency should it arise when professional medical assistance may be hours or even days away. The course consists of seven three-hour nights at the hospital followed by a three hour practical session taught by Helicopter Rescue Paramedics on board a yacht at the CYCA.  During the course, participants are shown how to treat and stabilise a patient and prepare and package the injured person for rescue. All welcome. CYCA.com.au.

July 4 - Melbourne to Vanuatu (M2V) ORCV.org.au.

July 15 - 18 -- Adelaide Boat Show, Adelaide Convention Centre. AdelaideBoatShow.com.au.

July 24 - Sail Indonesia Yacht Rally departs from Darwin. Sail Indonesia.net.

July 29 - Aug 2 -- 2010 Sydney International Boat Show, Darling Harbour SydneyBoatShow.com.au

Photograph: The close finish of the Clipper fleet in Jamaica. Hull & Hunber is on the right and the winner Spirit of Australia is in the foreground. Courtesy of