Sailing Mistral double handed throughout the series, Rupert Henry and Greg O’Shea won the inaugural Australian Ocean Racing Championship (AORC), the Sydney pair applauded during the prize giving at Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (RPAYC) in December.

In a case of extremes, Mistral, a Lombard 34, won from the John Winning Jr skippered 100 footer, Andoo Comanche. Sebastian Bohm’s TP52, Smuggler, took third while Anthony and David Johnston’s RP72, URM Group was fourth. All four are from NSW.

Showing just how good they are, in late December 2024, Henry and Frenchman Corentin Douguet sailed Henry’s Lombard 34, Mistral, to ninth overall from 104 yachts in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. In doing so, they won Division 4 (by just shy of 10 hours) and the Double Handed division (by just over 10 hours). It was a massive achievement by the pair.

The AORC was a close series, just 15.4 points separating the top four. Now the 2025 AORC is ready to kick off, with the Notice of Series published at: https://rpayc.com.au/sailing/australian-ocean-racing-championship/

The first race of the series was the Bunbury and Return Ocean Race (Western Australia). The Championship encompasses events stemming from every state of Australia and comprises 20 major ocean races (see schedule below) with 196 boats scored in the first year.

Discussions between RPAYC, the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria and Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club resulted in the RPAYC being appointed Organising Authority for the AORC and that Nick Elliott, RPAYC Race Director, would oversee the running of the Championship.

Speaking on behalf of the three clubs, Elliott said of the first running of the Series, “It was fantastic to show off the diversity of offshore racing in Australia. Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland all have classic offshore racing with interesting and challenging racetracks, so easy to miss when you are based in Sydney.”

Elliott added, “I really hope by just publicising the list of races we encourage more people to participate around the country.”

The Championship was created by Tony Ellis, a yachtsman from NSW and holder of the record for the most Sydney Hobarts by an individual (54 inclusive of two line honours victories and an overall win) and who has competed internationally at the America’s, Admiral’s, Clipper/Kenwood and Congressional Cups with success in all.

Ellis was pleased the inaugural event was so well-received: “A complete success,” he said.

On the night he was presented, Henry also lauded Ellis for his foresight in creating the Series and added, “I will help encourage its further acceptance nationally.”