Reception & Tender Service

Saturday: 0800 - 1700
Sunday: 0800 - 1800
Monday: 0800 - 1800

Bar Trading Hours 

Saturday: 0800 - 1900
Sunday: 0800 - 1930
Monday: 0800 - 1800

Bistro Trading Hours 

Saturday: 0800 - 1500
Sunday: 0800 - 1900
Including Sunday Roast Dinner 
Monday: 0800 - 1500

Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club held their Inaugural “Thirkell Trophy” over the weekend. This under 23 Youth Match Racing Regatta was run in the clubs recently purchased second hand fleet of Elliott 6’s. NCYC purchased these 8 Elliott’s which were the boats used in the 2012 London Olympics, and are in near new condition.

Racing was conducted over two days in the harbour, in close quarters racing. The Alfreds was represented by two teams from the Youth Development Program, with Alistair Read and Cam Whiteside skippering. Both teams managed to make the semis, with Read finishing on equal points to Cole Tapper (CYCA) and Whiteside coming in third ranked.

Tapper elected to verse Miller (NCYC), leavening the other semis for both Alfreds team to battle it out.

Both Tapper and Read won their semis convincingly and progressed to the finals. In the finals, Read and Tapper found themselves in close matches. Tapper was getting the initial edge of the start line with Read using his upwind speed to force a lead change. Tapper and team proved to be the better team on the day and took the semi finals 3-1. Cam Whiteside finished a credible 3rd at his first event on the helm.

A big thank you to Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club for hosting a great event.

Our two teams comprised of:

* Alistair Read (Skipper), Emma Rankin and Sean Gregory

* Cam Whiteside (Skipper),  Jasmine Bridge and Tom Quarrie

The 2019 David Lukins Memorial regatta once again saw some of the RPAYC’s best sailors assemble for what has become one of the most sought-after trophies in the club, the David Lukins Memorial Trophy.

The regatta is run in memory of the late David Lukins, who was a tireless volunteer and well-respected member at the Alfred’s during his long association with the club.

The ages of the competitors competing this year ranged from 15 through to 60, where nine teams competed in this two-day match racing event run in the club’s fleet of Elliott 7 keelboats.

After the completion of the round robin, the points were tight, with the top 4 spots hotly contested.

Murray Gordon (TEAM FOMO), managed to only lose one race in the round robin, to finish as top placed competitor. He chose Pat Langley (TEAM VAIKOBI) to verse, which was a surprising choice as Langley had finished 2nd behind Gordon in the round robin.

Malcolm Parker (TEAM Better late then never) and Nick “Chewbacca” Garland (TEAM HARKEN) filled up the other two semi-final berths.

Langley managed to surprise Gordon, who was the regatta favourite going into this competition having won this event twice previously.

Garland also managed to do a great job with both boat handling and speed to proceed to the finals, defeating Parker in the process.

The finals saw Nick Garland take the first race with a convincing win over Pat Langley.

The second race saw an aggressive prestart with the umpires penalising Langley for not keeping clear.

Langley however managed to keep control off the start line to lead around the course. By the final downwind Langley had amassed enough of a lead to undertake his penalty turn prior to finishing...or so he thought!

Disaster struck for Langley when he was unable to complete the penalty turn due to the spinnaker not being lowered below the boom (a requirement when match racing). Frustration was evident on Langley’s team as Garland sailed on by to steal the win in Steven Bradbury style.

For what would be the final race, disaster struck for Langley, who was unaware the start sequence had started for the best race. Langley was changing the spinnaker over to the other side of the boat, when suddenly Garland came and started to attack. Langley copped a penalty for not entering, and to add further insult to injury, damage to the Elliott’s steering system saw Langley have to reluctantly throw in the towel.

As a formality, Nick Garland and his team of Julian Plante, Ian McKillop & Grant Pellew had to complete the course on their lonesome.

On the final leg for the finish, it was clear that this was a very important win for Garland and his team with both Nick and team principle Grant Pellew both visibly emotional.

The team crossed the line to take the finals 3-0 in front of a large spectator fleet, which included members of the Lukins Family.

Commodore Michael Lockley thanked the large contingent of volunteers of umpires and race management who made this event possible.

David’s daughter Kylie was then invited up to present the beautiful Trophy in honour of her Father.

On receiving the Trophy, a clearly overwhelmed Garland had the following things to say “Out of all the sailing achievements I have had, nothing means more to me than being able to get my name on this trophy. David Lukins, was a very special person. He selflessly did so much for the sport of sailing, this club and personally for myself and other young sailors, through the youth development program”

“My team describes me like a bad owner driver, and they are probably right” joked Garland.

“I can’t thank them (my team) enough. I’ve been bridesmaid so many times before, reaching the semis and not progressing any further. Now we have done it!”

Full placings below:

1st Place Nick Garland (TEAM HARKEN) Julian Plante, Ian McKillop, Grant Pellew

2nd Place Pat Langley (TEAM VAIKOBI) Trent Barnabas, Paul Gudmunson & Pete Winter

3rd Place Murray Gordon (TEAM FOMO) Shane Lukins, Billy Sykes & James Catts

4th Place Malcolm Parker (TEAM Better Late Than Never)

5th Place Alistair Read (TEAM YD BLUE)

6th Place James Farquharson (TEAM GRAND V)

7th Place Chris Way (TEAM EASY TIGER)

8th Place Craig Souter (TEAM COCO)

9th Place Juliet Costanzo (TEAM YD RED)

The sailing office is now taking entries for the Women’s Twilight Series which starts October 29 and finishes March 23, 2020.

With new fleet captains Nicole Butcher, Evelyn Curtis and Lisa Ratcliff up and running, there is a renewed push to get more club boats out racing, and more women sailing in the series.

If you are an RPAYC boat owner who has enough female crew to compete we’d love to see you on the start line. Entry is free for full members, enter via https://www.rpayc.com.au/sailing/yacht-racing/online-entry-system

If you are an owner willing to offer your boat for the ten-race spinnaker & non-spinnaker series but don’t have enough crew, register via TopYacht and let the sailing office know your situation. They and the fleet captains will try and match you with a suitable crew over the coming weeks.

If you are a female member looking for a crew spot, the fleet captains are building a register to match owners with enthusiastic crew. Email sailing@rpayc.com.au to register yourself and please include ‘Women’s Twilight Series’ in the subject line, then details of your sailing experience and contact information in the email body.

Members can also lease an Elliott 7 for the series. Please contact the RPAYC sailing office to arrange.

Avalon Travel Agency TravelView is kindly donating travel vouchers for 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd places weekly and Mistral Clothing is throwing their support behind the series, with lucky door prizes. 

If you have any questions about the twilight series please contact the sailing office who can put you in touch with our representatives. 

Evelyn, Nicole, Lisa

Photo - Thank You to Dee Why Camera Club 

The 2019 David Lukins Match Racing Regatta gets underway this weekend, run out of the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club.

The regatta is run in memory of the late David Lukins, who was a tireless volunteer and well respected member at the Alfred’s during his long association with the club.

An exciting forecast is on the cards for tomorrow with 20 knots from the North East predicted for the entire day, which should see some fast paced match racing in the clubs fleet of Elliott 7 keelboats.

Coming in as top seed in the world sailing open match race rankings at 165 is Youth Development squad member Juliet Costanzo. Juliet also comes in as 20th in the world for the women’s match racing ranking. An impressive feat considering Juliet is still eligible for youth events. “Wow no pressure” joked Costanzo, when notified she is the top ranked competitor. “We spend more time than anyone else in these boats through our training in the Youth Development Program, so we are hoping our boat handling gives us an edge against our opponents” commented a determined Costanzo. Juliet’s older sister Clare has been runner up the last two years, so I’m sure Juliet wants to go one better to have bragging rights at Christmas.

Pat Langley comes in with recent form, having qualified for the David Lukins through his recent win in the Dustbuster series.

Murray Gordon is also dusting off his sailing cardigan as he re-joins the competition this year. Murray is a 3 time winner of this event. Twice as skipper and once as crew. On-board with Gordon is David’s son Shane Lukins, who has also previously won the event as crew.

This event is arguably becoming one of the most competitive club events and sought after trophy to win with some big names on the winners list.

Silver medallist Nina Curtis and Jason Waterhouse have both had their names etched on this magnificent trophy. Former Youth Match Racing Worlds Champion Will Dargaville also joins the list of winners.

For the past 3 years Club Coach Tom Spithill has had a stronghold on the trophy, earning straight wins on the trot.

However with Spithill out with injury, and a diverse range of competitors coming from varying sailing backgrounds, this year’s spoils could go to either of the 9 teams competing.

There certainly won’t be any easy matches, particularly with the line-up of skippers listed below.

Please come out and watch the spectacular racing on the beautiful waters of Pittwater.

Last year’s 2018 semi-finalist (From Left to right) Clare Costanzo, Nick “Tangles” Garland, Pat Langley and Tom Spithill