Weekly Sailing Summary

MATCH RACING

Reigning World Match Racing Tour Champion Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing declared his victory over close friend and fierce rival Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team in the final of the Danish Open as one of the best of his life. With the score tied at 2-2 in the first to three point series, Minoprio trailed Mirsky in the final match but battled back for the most dramatic victory of his career. www.wmrt.com

The Australian Women’s Match Racing Team crew of Nicky Souter, Nina Curtis and Olivia Price has won the 2010 Buddy Melges Challenge in Wisconsin, USA, their final event before the 2010 ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship at Newport, Rhode Island. www.yachting.org.au

AMERICA’S CUP

The America’s Cup has been re-energized and rejuvenated, ready for 2013 and the future. The best sailors in the world will race on the fastest boats with the introduction of an exciting wingsail catamaran. To build interest and audiences ahead of the 34th Match in 2013 is a new annual World Series, commencing in 2011. An independent race management and fully empowered International Jury will avoid show-stopping disputes. www.americascup.com

KEEL BOATS & MULTIHULLS

The TP52 known as Calm won Division One of the Racing Category in the annual Melbourne to Geelong race for the second year in a row. Part owner of the Farr-penned GenIV TransPac 52 footer, John ‘Willow’ Williams’ celebrated his birthday early with co-owners Graeme Ainley and Jason Van Der Slot. After the Melbourne to Geelong Race the final results are now available for the Melbourne Winter Series. www.orcv.org.au

Townsville sailor Leon Thomas scored two second places at the last two Sunferries Magnetic Island Race Weeks, and in the first ever event his boat sunk on the start line. However, in the overall results in 2010 IRC Grand Prix Division, Leon Thomas on his Farr 30 Guilty Pleasures III was the winner, finishing three points ahead of Peter Sorensen on Zen, with Wayne Millar and his Townsville crew on Zoe third. www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au

Elliot Noye and crew members Edward Snowball, Tom Ransley and Rowan Clark took out the 2010 Australian Youth Match Racing Championships hosted by Southport Yacht Club. The crew representing Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania won the final 2 - 0 over Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron's Jordan Reece. www.southportyachtclub.com.au

The Alfreds Festival of Sail will be held on 16-17 October at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club on Pittwater. The event will feature a two day Cruising Observation Rally, two days of racing for keelboats and multihulls with inshore and offshore courses, and spinnaker and non-spinnaker divisions. www.rpayc.com.au/regattas

Within minutes of the release of the Rolex Sydney Hobart 2010 Notice of Race, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia had received its first five applications for entry, and within 24 hours this figure had climbed to twelve. Nicholas Bartels’ newly acquired Cookson 50 Terra Firma from Victoria was the first entry, closely followed by Immediate Past CYCA Commodore Matt Allen’s Jones 70 Ichi Ban. www.cyca.com.au

OFF THE BEACH & OLYMPIC CLASSES

The Notice of Race for Sail Sydney on 6 – 9 December for 19 off the beach classes is now available at www.sailsydney.org.au

NEWS BRIEFS

NSW Maritime advised boaters to keep off the Murray River after the waterway was closed to boating and swimming on 10 September. The State Emergency Service (SES) issued the closure after heavy rainfall across southern NSW and northern Victoria resulted in significant flooding. www.maritime.nsw.gov.au

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Sep – Oct 3 – Melbourne Leisure Fest, Sandown Racecourse - the latest in boats, RVs, camping, fishing, 4x4 and accessories. www.melbourneleisurefest.com.au

Oct 2 – 3 – Heaven Can Wait (HCW) 24 Hour Yacht Race and the associated One Lap Dash will be held on Lake Macquarie, near Newcastle, NSW. The event raises money for the NSW Cancer Council and Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie. www.heavencanwait.com.au

Oct 8 – 10 – Club Marine Mandurah Boat Show, Mandurah Offshore Fishing & Sailing Club WA www.mandurahboatshow.com

Oct 9 – 24 -- Sydney Harbour Island Hopping gives people access to the harbour islands of Sydney Harbour National Park via one looped tour, with tailored entertainment and experiences on each. Cruises will run each Saturday and Sunday. www.harbourislandhopping.com

Oct 16 – 17 -- 2010 Classic and Wooden Boat Festival, National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour, Sydney - 100 boats from graceful yachts to streamlined speedboats, a festive marketplace selling all things nautical and an outstanding display of boating products. Discover the skills of traditional maritime craftsmen including blacksmiths, rope knotters, caulkers and sail makers. www.anmm.gov.au

Oct 30 - Hempel Gosford to Lord Howe Island Yacht Race www.gosfordsailingclub.com.au

Nov 7 – Try Sailing Day NSW - Sailing and yacht clubs around NSW devote their club, boats and instructors to give people of all ages, with little or no experience a chance to experience the joys of sailing for free. www.bia.org.au

Photograph: Minoprio vs Mirsky in the final of the Danish Open 2010, Bornholm, Denmark, part of the World Match Racing Tour. Loris von Siebenthal –WMRT