Saturday 30 - Sunday 31 March 

The third of four seasonal weekend regatta's is fast approaching. If you sail a One Design Yacht or Sports Boat register today for this fun, fast regatta on Pittwater.
Free berthing for visitors, extended hours for Halyards post racing.

Don't have a boat? Lease a Club Elliott 7 for the weekend contact the Sailing Office for more details.
Register Here...

INCLUDING - Pittwater Invitational for Off The Beach (OTB) Multihulls (ie F18, F16's, Nacra, A Class etc) Details below.
RPAYC is hosting the One Design Sports Boat Regatta and inviting sailors of high performance catamaran and dinghy classes to join the event.
This event forms part of a drive by RPAYC to encourage a catamaran fleet sailing on the Pittwater from RPAYC.
Critical to the sustainability of a high performance catamaran fleet is a professionally run club, youth program and paramount to this is boat storage.
A club where you can leave your catamaran mast up and ready to go at a moments notice. Quick rigging and waterside proximity will provide
opportunity for evening sailing during the week in summer and hassle free outings and racing during weekends and holidays.

A nominal regatta fee of $20, overnight boat storage and trailer parking. Come and join us for a great weekend of racing and check out what the
RPAYC and catamarans have to offer. There will be RPAYC representatives available over the weekend should you have any questions or suggestions
for the catamaran fleet.
Entries by 27 March 2019 at RPAYC website linked to topyacht, if you need assistance please contact Mark Griffith or Beau White at 0411 426506

Rigging area opens at 7:20 Saturday March 30 – located in Crystal Street, Newport.
Briefing 9:30 Saturday, Racing starts at 11:00
Overnight storage and trailer parking included in regatta fee. 

Notice of Race Version 2
Sailing Instructions
Online Entry System
List of Entrants
Notices & Amendments
Results

The RPAYC Sailing Office is currently seeking interest from any “Old Timer” who would like to Skipper a boat in the annual Old Timers Race to be held on Saturday, 13 April 2019. Boat owning members are also invited to host an “Old Timer” member on their boat to helm it during the casual non-spinnaker race.

An “Old Timer” is a member, who is 65 years of age or more and has been a member for at least 10 years consecutively. A short non-spinnaker race around Pittwater will commence at 1100hrs followed by a two course Luncheon at 1330hrs.
The luncheon is free for an “Old Timer” who skippers a boat, otherwise the luncheon will be $40.00 per head. If you wish to become involved in this special event please contact the Sailing Office who will endeavour to assist you. Luncheon bookings via reception on 02 9998 3700.

On Sunday we were pleased to host 35 people from Soldier On & their families as part of our Soldier on Family Days. 

The Family days sees Veterans and/or their families turn up at the RPAYC, enjoy a coffee & welcome briefing, then cruise down to Portuguese beach on-board members boats. Once at the beach, veterans enjoy everything from sunbaking to swimming, beach games & sailing the Club's Elliott 7's or Hobie Waves. A lovely freshly cooked BBQ is enjoyed on the beach (as well as a visit from the resident local goannas)  before heading back to the club. 

Thank You to all staff & volunteers who made this great day possible and thank you to Sonia Williams for the pictures below. 

Here is a great video giving a few snippets of one of our previous Soldier On Family Days. Thank You Scott Reynolds. View Video 

"Best yet" was the general consensus from the nine day long International 5.5 Metre Australian 'Festival of Fives'.  For the second year these amazing boats graced, raced and turned heads on Pittwater.  

 
The 5 event Festival started on Saturday 23rd February with a pursuit handicap race- The Friends of David Booth Regatta at RPAYC.  Forty one yachts lined up for the race from Bayview to around West Head Buoy and back to finish at Taylor's Point.  The dying southerly wind did not really suit the three 5.5m that lined up to start 12 minutes after the first boat departed.  It was great to see Mark Griffith's Arunga X rejoin the 5.5m fleet for the first time in many years.  Overall the leading Five managed to hold its position and was not overtaken by later starters  but could not reel in the winning Young 88 and some of the other boats that started ahead.  Martin and Anna Cross's Antares got the better of Bob Stoddard's Skagerak in the race within the race that mattered to finish 7th overall.  Skagerak was 9th and Arunga X 18th. 

The Australian Championships were held from Sunday 24th to Tuesday 26th with 9 boats competing.  The event was won comfortably by the newest boat in Australian fleet a Wilke Modern, John Bacon's Ku-Ring-Gai.  Martin and Anna Cross's Antares took out the Evolution Championships and Baragoola the Classic.  Rob Hart's beautifully varnished Marotte won the handicap prize.  The full report of the event is reported here: https://www.5.5class.org/single-post/2019/02/27/Epic-racing-at-the-Int55-Metre-Australian-Championship-at-Royal-Prince-Alfred-Yacht-Club

Wednesday 27th February was the chance to join 60 other boats for the Woody Point Yacht Club Twilight. A weekly non-spinnaker pursuit twilight race held in the summer months.  All the 4 Fives started together at 1759hrs in a light southerly wind on the figure of eight course for the fun event for the Alfreds Pittwater Gold Cup.  Scotty O'Conner's Kings Cross was first out the blocks but was run down and overtaken by Antares.  However John Bacon's Ku-Ring-Gai played a blinder and soaked down underneath the rest of the fleet then hardened up and got around the port rounding Stokes Point buoy just ahead of about 20 boats that had all arrived at the gybe mark at the same time.  Avoiding the carnage at the mark Ku-Ring-Gai extended away down the next leg and then on a long beat. She finished right amongst the leading boats being admired from many of the boats in other classes but most importantly won the Alfreds Pittwater Gold Cup.  Kings Cross finished second with Skagerak third. The fleet retired to a local Pizzeria for the prize giving.  

The last day of February saw the resurrection of an old RPAYC Associates (womens) Trophy.   The fleet was greeted by a sunny, classic Pittwater evening with the wind blowing at about 14kts from the North East.  Seven 5.5 Metres all with ladies helms turned up for the event.  The first beat was an epic drag race with all the boats very close.  However, at the first mark Lauren Crossman sailing Bob Stoddard's Skagerak led around but was then chased down and overtaken down the run by Chris Hancock's Rhapsody helmed by Annie Taylor, closely followed by Baragoola helmed by Alex Murray (with the well known Iain Murray crewing).  Although a very close race continued the finishing order was Rhapsody, Skagerak and Baragoola with Lyndall Bacon in Ku-Ring-Gai in 4th.  

Most of the fleet took a well earned rest for one day before Antares and Skagerak joined the Royal Motor Yacht Club Classic Yacht Regatta on Saturday and Sunday the 2nd and 3rd March.  Unfortunately following their success last year, winning both the spinnaker and non-spinnaker divisions, the handicaps they received this year were high.  Accordingly despite both boats sailing well and winning both races in the spinnaker and non-spinnaker divisions by a considerable margin the handicap resulted in Skagerak finishing 3rd overall in the spinnaker division and Antares finishing 4th overall in the non-spinnaker division.  However it was still very enjoyable and was a 'classic' end to an epic week. 

The active Australian fleet is growing and growing and some members are looking forward flying north for the winter to compete in Europe in 2019 and the rest are eagerly awaiting the next summer and 2020 Gold Cup and World Championships in on the Palm Beach Circle in early January.  

International 5.5m Class World Championship 2020 - Event Page 

Dinghy Fever Racing Photos - Courtesy of Warwick Crossman

Congratulations to Peter Byford and David Hudson (Conspiracy from RPAYC) who finished a strong 2nd at the Sydney 38 Australian Championships.

The first day belonged to the 2018 NSW champions, Peter Byford and David Hudson (Conspiracy from RPAYC), who came out brimming with confidence, scoring two bullets and a third to Outlaw’s pair of thirds and a win. Conspiracy’s crew was in form and hoping to successfully defend their title, but it was not to be.
By Day 2, the well-named Outlaw had settled in  and won all three races to take the Championship lead. Conspiracy fell into a bit of a slump, placing fifth in Races 4 and 5, before lifting to second place in Race 6, for second overall. Calibre’s (Richard Williams/CYCA) consistency across the board had her in third overall

David Hudson said of the Championship: “It was fantastic sailing, very close, which is the epitome of one-design racing. At the finish, there were literally seconds between the boats.
“Outlaws were superior sailors and deservedly won the Lou Abrahams Sydney 38 perpetual trophy. Tom knew Lou, so it was quite fitting,” he said.
Conspiracy, he said, “had a better day today, making up for some mediocre races yesterday. We had good height and speed on the upwind legs and good mark roundings – no mistakes. We were pleased to pit ourselves against Outlaw and match them. We raced in 12-14 knots and the boats come into their own in those conditions.”

MHYC Article
Full Results

Photo - Andrea Francolini