Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship – Day 1
by Di Pearson / MHYC media 23 Nov 09:38 UTC
23-24 November 2024
Day 1 of the highly anticipated 2024 Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship (SSORC) kicked off under idyllic conditions, featuring a brisk north-easterly sea breeze complemented by radiant sunshine, creating the ultimate atmosphere for a thrilling day of ocean racing.
The illustrious Middle Harbour Yacht Club (MHYC), the longstanding organizer of this prestigious event now in its 47th year, charted a picturesque course leading to the iconic Lion Island, situated to the north of Sydney. The action commenced at Steele Point in Vaucluse with boats setting sail at 10 am sharp.
In the fiercely contested Super 50s class, six formidable contenders battled it out, with Marcus Blackmore’s illustrious Hooligan emerging triumphant, finishing a full five minutes ahead of Craig Neil’s formidable Quest. Local sailor, Gordon Ketelebey, demonstrated impressive sailing prowess, securing third place aboard his vessel, Zen.
Although Blackmore was absent, attending to matters on True North in support of the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, Martin Hill found himself thrilled to step in as the skipper of Hooligan for the weekend. As conveyed by the boat’s coach, Terry Wetton, “You can’t wipe the smile off Martin’s face,” reflecting the excitement shared by the team.
Hill’s performance undoubtedly lived up to the high expectations set by both the owner and the vessel’s notable reputation.
“What an unforgettable experience to sail on a brand new TP52 under such magnificent conditions,” Hill beamed. “Stepping onto a meticulously prepared boat is a stroke of luck; it’s hard to articulate the thrill of such an opportunity. Transitioning from a Farr 40, Etchells, and other craft, the first thing you notice is the exhilarating speed of 9 knots upwind followed by a stunning 17 knots downwind.”
“Sailing up to Lion Island amidst glistening waters and an azure sky was simply breathtaking. It rekindled wonderful memories of previous sails in that area,” Hill enthused, brimming with joy. Adding to their accolades, Hill and Blackmore celebrated Hooligan’s impressive win of the Gun Boat Trophy as the line honours victor for the race.
The event featured two divisions in the IRC/ORC Premier classes, boasting representation from all major yacht clubs on Sydney Harbour, along with participants from Pittwater and Cronulla.
David Ross showcased his extraordinary sailing skills aboard the Cape 31, Kukukerchu, securing a near five-minute victory over the DK46, Khaleesi, owned by MHYC Commodore Rob Aldis. Fellow DK46 competitor, Nine Dragons, owned by Bob Cox and a clubmate of Aldis, took third place, affirming their status as well-matched rivals.
“It was great conditions, a bit tricky in terms of the sea state with the nor’ easterly breeze making it a bit choppy. It was a little bit hard on the little boat going to windward, but we certainly made up for it downwind,” Ross reported.
“We saw 19 knots, with the odd gusts a bit more. Our top boat speed was 18 knots; it was exhilarating but quite tiring for an old bloke,” he chuckled.
“It’s a really nice fleet here; the wind was up, the sun was shining, and everyone was having a great time. We clinched wins in both IRC and ORC. Summer’s here, and the committee executed everything flawlessly,” Ross remarked with satisfaction.
Division 2 saw Peter Farrugia clinch victory aboard his Bull 9000, Bullwinkle, hailing from Pittwater. Bullwinkle managed to edge out consistent adversary Foreign Affair, a Farr 30 owned by Matt Wilkinson. Stepping onto the podium once again, Neil Padden’s Wailea, a Beneteau First 40.7, rounded out the top three.
Peter Farrugia expressed enthusiasm about his performance: “We got away to a good start and left the Heads ahead of the larger boats. The pace was exhilarating, and the conditions were fabulous. We executed several strategies well. Approaching Long Reef, we had a fantastic run on starboard tack. Coming out on port, we gained valuable ground on Wailea and Foreign Affair, with whom we usually face tough competition.”
Bullwinkle maintained its impressive pace all the way to Lion Island, where the crew cracked the sheets, hoisted the spinnaker, and pushed forward with relentless momentum.
“The highlight was experiencing a starboard gybe, hitting 16 knots sailing down the Harbour. The finish approached with tension; it was quite a hairy gybe. We just managed it, maintaining control thanks to outstanding crew work. A big thank you goes to our tactician, Tim Meyrick, for making brilliant calls throughout the race,” he added.
Farrugia continued, “This sets a wonderful tone for the beginning of our season. It kicks off with the SSORC, followed by the Pittwater Regatta in February, the Sydney Harbour Regatta in March, and concluding with Sail Port Stephens at the end of March.”
Joining competitors from Sydney’s major clubs was Clockwork, a Sydney 38 hailing from South Australia. Owners Andrew Lloyd and Mary Ann Harvey are honoring their commitment to participating in all major local races, covering local waters, Queensland, Victoria, Sydney, and Hobart. Their next challenge is the prestigious Rolex Sydney Hobart, marking their second consecutive year in this revered event, ensuring all sails are set for an exciting season ahead.
Tomorrow, yacht crews will be further challenged with two windward/leeward offshore races, commencing at 11 am.
In conjunction with the SSORC, the Seven Islands Race presented a test for competitors across two divisions. With a pursuit start off MHYC, Division 1 saw Peter Charteris’ Kailani cruise to victory, followed closely by Don Colantonio’s Trilogy and Derek Minihane’s Impulse on a stunning day on Sydney Harbour – the scenery and conditions were nothing short of spectacular.
Division 2’s victory went to Susan Rice’s Nawi, who triumphed over Martyn Colebrook’s Slac-N-Off and last year’s champion, Innamincka, owned by John Crawford.
For full results and all information on the SSORC, please visit: www.ssorc.mhyc.com.au.
What strategies did Martin Hill implement to ensure optimal performance for Hooligan during the Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship?
**Interview with Martin Hill – Skipper of Hooligan**
**Interviewer:** Welcome, Martin! Congratulations on your remarkable performance aboard Hooligan during Day 1 of the Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship. How does it feel to step in as skipper for such a prestigious event?
**Martin Hill:** Thank you! It’s truly exhilarating! Even though Marcus Blackmore couldn’t be here, it was an amazing opportunity to take the helm of a brand new TP52 like Hooligan. The conditions were incredible, with a north-easterly breeze and sunshine—it couldn’t have been a better setting for sailing.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned the speed you experienced on Hooligan. Can you tell us more about how it felt to sail at those speeds?
**Martin Hill:** Absolutely! Transitioning from other boats like the Farr 40 and Etchells, I was immediately struck by the speed. We were sailing upwind at about 9 knots, which is exhilarating in itself, but then to hit 17 knots downwind—what a thrill! It’s hard to find the words to express the excitement, but it felt like flying!
**Interviewer:** That sounds fantastic! We’ve heard you rekindled wonderful memories while sailing up to Lion Island. Can you elaborate on that experience?
**Martin Hill:** It was breathtaking, really. The glistening waters and the azure sky brought back so many great sailing memories in that area. Every moment felt special, especially with the team around me. Winning the Gun Boat Trophy as line honors victor made it all the more memorable!
**Interviewer:** Speaking of team spirit, how was the morale among your crew during the race?
**Martin Hill:** The morale was sky-high! We all enjoyed ourselves so much. Terry Wetton, our coach, said it perfectly—“You can’t wipe the smile off Martin’s face,” and that goes for the whole crew. Everyone was enthusiastic and worked extremely well together.
**Interviewer:** With day one complete, what’s next for you and the team for the rest of the championship?
**Martin Hill:** We’re looking to maintain this momentum! We’ll review our strategies and prepare for whatever conditions tomorrow brings. Our goal is to keep the spirit up, sail smart, and aim for more wins. Stay tuned—there’s so much more excitement ahead!
**Interviewer:** Best of luck, Martin! Thank you for sharing your insights with us today.
**Martin Hill:** Thank you! It’s my pleasure. We’re ready for more sailing adventures!
