SPORT - All happening in December at Sail Sydney!
The first round of Sail Sydney has just been completed and the teams are geared up for the next instalment. From December 16 to 18, the waters of Sydney Harbour and Botany Bay will be filled with boats in all classes and sailors of all ages, all vying for their spot on the leader board.
The November round saw the Olympic classes compete over four days in a range of conditions that tested the competitors. On the final day, two fleets competed, the Lasers completing one race and the Radials two.
The final scoreboard for the Laser Radials had Alex South winning the regatta on 12 points. Eight points separated her from second placegetter Nur Amirah Hamid from Malaysia, with a further five points to third place, Beth Lygoe from St Lucia.
The top three of the Laser class was a truly international affair. Kiwi Josh Junior won on 19 points, followed by local James Burman on 30, with Charlie Buckingham from the USA on 35.
There were no races for the Finns on the final day. Rob McMillan won the regatta by a clear margin with 17 points from his son Joseph on 32 points. The latter tied with Andrew Gavenlock who took third.
The RS:X sailboard fleet was led from start to finish by Sebastian Wang-Hansen from Norway, winning the regatta with just 10 points. Second was James Levey (AUS) on 34 points, and Luke Baillie (AUS) took third on 35.
The revised Notice of Race for the December regatta is now on the website with new race schedules and entry fees. Youth classes will be racing over three days, and all open classes competing for two days over the weekend.
Friday, December 16 is the Dash For Cash at Woollahra Sailing Club, where the Moths and skiffs line-up for an adrenaline-filled screech around the Harbour in the evening to see who is the fastest. Bragging rights will be won or smashed as the speed machines light up the evening. Watch from shore, watch from the water, and join in the party afterwards.
Every night, there is a barbecue and drinks back at the club where you can boast about your exploits or duck and hide as the results come out. Saturday night is party night with the regatta fee covering the entry.
Professional race management with national and international level race officers will officiate, and national level juries will be on all courses.
Sail Sydney is the regatta to be at in December.
Special notes:
This Sail Sydney regatta forms part of the 29er State Titles.
In addition to the Sail Sydney Trophy, the race results from Saturday and Sunday will be counted towards Round 1 points for the 2011-2012 NSW State Championships.
For further details, phone Lachlan Gilbert on 0411 619 898 or email: sailsydney@nsw.yachting.org.au