The final day of racing saw a light to moderate NE breeze on beautiful Pittwater for the Grand Finale of the inaugural Harken Open Championships.

Congratulations to the winners for 2020: Team 2for22 Racing (Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron) David Chapman, Ryan Wilmot, Harry Hall & Finn Alexander/Mick Hayward who took out the Finals 2-0 from Team Dargie’s Angels (Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club) Will Dargaville, Sarah Parker, Josh Dawson, Katherine Shannon & Zander Bijkerk.

Eleven teams representing CYCA, RSYS & RPAYC battled it out over three days of incredibly tough racing on the Club's fleet of Elliott 7's.

Race Officer Ted Anderson did a fantastic job with this new event and format which consisted of 21 fleet races and a full Semi & Finals Series in Match Racing to crown the overall winners.

Third place was a tough battle between the master and the apprentice with Alistair Read from Tag Team Racing eventually beating his coach Tom Spithill and Wendy Junior Racing 2-1. A credit to coach Tom Spithill being narrowly beaten by two teams that he has obviously done too good a job of coaching over the years.

As with all events, the Harken Open Championship could not be made possible without the assistance of some two dozen volunteers and members who give their time effortlessly to the event in race management, mark laying and umpiring.

A special thanks to Harken, a leading manufacturer and marketer of quality sailboat hardware and accessories, which has continued to support the RPAYC for 23 years now.

Managing Director Grant Pellew commented: “As we couldn’t run the Harken International Youth Match Racing Championships this year I am pleased we were able to support this new event and was extremely impressed with the calibre of racing over the last three days. We hope the RPAYC finds space to fit it in the calendar next year as I think it was a unanimous yes from the teams on this exciting new format.”

1^st: Team 2for22 Racing (RSYS) David Chapman

2nd: Team Dargie’s Angels (RPAYC) Will Dargaville

3rd: Team Tag Team Racing (RPAYC) Alistair Read (1^st YOUTH)

4th: Team Wendy Junior Racing (RPAYC) Tom Spithill

5th: Team YTG (RPAYC) Clare Costanzo (1^st FEMALE)
 

Video with winners David Chapman & Team HERE

Full Results:  https://www.rpayc.com.au/sailing/yacht-racing/regatta-and-championships

Lake Macquarie is the largest coastal saltwater lake in the Southern Hemisphere, and twice the size of Sydney Harbour. For boating to enter and depart Lake Macquarie safely we must travel through the Swansea Channel to enjoy the the wonders for the whole family that awaits on the lake. 

Swansea Channel is the only marine access route in or out of Lake Macquarie and provides a gateway to the lake, beaches and mountains; beyond that to Greater Newcastle and the Hunter Valley; a world class tourist attraction with facilities, activities and events to meet all walks of life. Unfortunately the channel gets silted up severely restricting access in or out of the lake, putting property and lives at risk and taking up the resources of vital services such as Marine Rescue and Maritime Services.

The problem is the dredging is reactive, what is needed is a proactive dredging schedule, one that the dredging contractor can schedule into his business plan/calendar. A schedule that takes into consideration and works around peak periods of use, and one that in the event of a delay, for whatever reason, will not result in the channel being closed to much of the sailing/boating community. 

As many members would have and currently still do take a trip north it is with the Boards support that members are invited to sign a Petition to the NSW Government to implement a permanet dredging solution and schedule for all waterway users. 

Here is the link to the petition:-

• https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/la/Pages/ePetition-details.aspx?q=602za91mohnCxqAXYwOOBg%3D%3D&fbclid=IwAR2_atGGi16x9HPDE5TuDVQCOZQx8cmxHgppJZDdnuXcoYd_IvFV4wpKXio

VISIT LAKE MACQUARIE

Introducing our new weekly meal deals. Come down and join us for Friday, Saturday & Sunday Meal Specials. Halyards Bistro is now open on the weekend for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner. 

The F & B Hours extended trading hours are listed below.

HARKEN Open Championship 2020

Last minute entries see sailing heavyweights rush to get their expressions of interest in for the Harken Open Championship 20-22 November, 2020.

David Chapman and his teams from the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron are arguably one of the strongest teams to date that have expressed interest in entering this new and exciting event, that sees both fleet and match racing to determine the overall winner.

David “Chappo”, has made a big name for himself in the sailing scene from his early days sailing in the Harken Youth Match Racing Championship.

Since then Chappo has notched up some big career wins. Most notably winning the Sailing Champions League in 2019. His team representing the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron were the only non-European team left in the final stage of the competition that saw 24 clubs representing ten nations compete.

Also throwing his hat in the ring is former Youth Match Racing World Champion William Dargaville from the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club. Will has reunited the team that won the title for Australia in 2016, where they claimed victory on the waters of New Caledonia. They will be in good shape if they can do a good job in the fleet racing aspect of the championship, to then allow them to show their strength in the match racing final stage.

Further expressions of interests have been received from teams from the Cruising Yacht Club Australia, Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron and host club the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club.

Expressions of interest will be close Monday 9 November 2020. Email the RPAYC sailing office prior to the closing date at sailtraining@rpayc.com.au

View the Notice of Race https://www.rpayc.com.au/sailing/yacht-racing/regatta-and-championships

Youth Match Racing

Sailing Champions League Final - RSYS named best club in the world - photo © Sailing Energy

The leading NSW wind foiling sailors gathered at Marmong Point Sailing Club for the 2^nd round of the NSW Wind Foil Series.  23 sailors competed in a shifty 8-18 knot North Wester.  After five challenging races, RPAYC member, Dan Wilson finished on top with an unchallenged score card of 1, 2, 2, 2, 2.  Dan, who typically spends his weekends coaching the young and not so young wind surfers at the club, gave a great example of managing the tricky race conditions. 

RPAYC was well represented with three sailors Dan Wilson (1st), Will McMillian (5^th) and Jono Tuite (8^th).  Wind foiling is rapidly growing locally and internationally, and it was great to see in Round 2 of the NSW Wind Foil Series, 5 of the top 10 sailors, were under 17 years old.

If any members would like to learn more about wind foiling, please do not hesitate to stop by for chat, with any of the wind foiling crew rigging up on the centreboard lawn.

Event Video Here

Full Results Here