The Yachtsman 2017-2018 RPAYC Yachtsman 2016-2017 | Page 24

OFFSHORE FLEET REPORT
STRONG GROWTH AND PARTICIPATION
W
e had some very strong growth in both offshore fleets,
and were blessed with fresh sea breezes most weekends
ensuring a fantastic season of very competitive offshore
racing! On behalf of the fleet I would like to pass on an
emphatic thank you to the volunteers and Club officials
along with Brendan and his sailing office team that enable us to get out
there and race.
It was great to welcome the skippers and crews of new boats Firefly,
Jazzamatazz, Pekljus and Showtime. Some of the teams are new to
offshore racing and others long-time campaigners in new boats, which all
are now familiar colours on the horizon to the beach goers and residents of
the beautiful Northern Beaches and Central Coast.
Racing this year was close and reflected at the prize giving. In the Short
Ocean Pointscore, bragging rights and silverware went to the Conspiracy
crew, rewarded with 1st place on PHS and 3rd on IRC with very consistent
performances throughout the year, while Mark Griffith and the Showtime
team took home the first place double for both IRC and ORCi. On behalf
of the fleet a big congratulations to the skippers and crews on both boats,
and a special mention to Ray Hudson and his team on XS Moment who
placed 2nd PHS and 3rd IRC, along with the other SOPS place getters
Pretty Woman (2nd ORCi), Windy Too (2nd IRC) and my team on High
Anxiety (3rd PHS).
In the BlueWater Pointscore we tried out a couple of new races formats,
including going south to Port Hacking replacing Cabbage Tree Island and
of course our signature Bluewater race heading to Southport instead of
Coffs for the first time. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, as it was
for Mandy and her food and beverage team leaving out sandwiches, hot
food and beer for the races that finished late back at the Club. I know it was
much appreciated by weary crews and a great opportunity for the teams to
tell a few tall stories and question each other’s tactics.
Results in the BlueWater Pointscore were very close and first place on
PHS went to David Suttie and his team on Pekljus