Nominations open for MHYC Special Awards

Nominations are now invited for three Special Awards for the 2024-2025 Season – the Tig Thomas Distinction Trophy, the Crew Member of the Year Award and the Jules Trophy for the MHYC Yachtswoman of the Year.

To be eligible for the Tig Thomas Trophy, a Senior, Full, Sailing or Youth member must have competed in a State, National or World Championship, Major Regatta or Major Ocean Race within the last year (1st April to 31st March).  Candidates can be nominated either by a Senior, Sailing or Full member, or self-nominate.

The Crew Member of the Year 2024-2025 is presented to an esteemed crew member, displaying the characteristics desirable of a MHYC Member, someone other crew members would aspire to emulate, and nominated from a yacht competing in a MHYC Pointscore Series Program.

The Jules Trophy for MHYC Yachtswoman of the Year will be awarded to a member who sails regularly from MHYC, is enthusiastic and active participant in the sport of sailing and shows good seamanship and sportsmanlike conduct.

All nominations must be submitted no later than 5pm on Friday 18th April 2025.  

Awards will be announced at the MHYC Annual Prizegiving on Saturday 3rd May 2025.

To download the Tig Thomas Trophy Nomination Form – click here​

To download the Crew Member of the Year Nomination Form – click here

To download the Jules Trophy Nomination Form – click here

Read more: Nominations open for MHYC Special Awards

MHYC Platinum Luncheon - 20 Year Plus Members  

This year’s 20 Year plus Members Platinum Luncheon will be on Sunday 20th July from midday in the MHYC Harbour View Room. 

The 2025 lunch promises to be entertaining with a great new cohort of members being inducted, together with some members being elevated into new brackets.  Keynote speaker will be Elizabeth Tucker from Za Racing.

Tickets are available through TryBooking - CLICK HERE

Read more: MHYC Platinum Luncheon - 20 Year Plus Members  

First Light Presentation with Elizabeth Tucker

Za Ocean Racing: A Voyage and a Vision

Join MHYC member Elizabeth Tucker (Za Za) as she shares her recent experience delivering her Open 40 yacht, "First Light," two-handed from the west coast of Spain to Middle Harbour.

Elizabeth will discuss the planning and execution of her two-and-a-half-month voyage, and outline the future program for "First Light," which includes participation in the 80th Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race with an all-female Za Ocean Racing crew.

Member entry: Free
Non-member entry: $10.00
Limited spaces are available. Early booking is recommended.

DATE

Wednesday 16 April 2025 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM (UTC+10)

LOCATION

Middle Harbour Yacht Club
75 Lower Parriwi Road, Mosman NSW 2088

For Bookings Click here

Read more: First Light Presentation with Elizabeth Tucker

Advertising now available in 2025-2026 Sailing Handbook

There is a limited opportunity to advertise your product or service in the MHYC Sailing Handbook that is published in August each year.

MHYC members cover a wide spectrum of professions and interests not only in boating but also in the legal, financial and property areas amongst many others. 

The Sailing Handbook is distributed free to members and is kept on their desks and on their boats. Ensure that your product or service remains front of mind for this important target market throughout the year with advertising at very modest rates.

For more information, download the rate card here or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Read more: Advertising now available in 2025-2026 Sailing Handbook

Vale David “Mossy” Moss

David “Mossy” Moss - 1952 to 2025

It is with great sadness to report that David Moss, a long-term member of MHYC for 38 years recently passed away after a long hard fight to overcome his heart issues.

In his younger years, David sailed on many boats including the yacht Timeout with Colin Boyle and Craig Nichols when they broke their mast on the Southport race. He sailed with the same team on the Sydney 38 yacht On the Boil.

For a long time he crewed on Lindsay Rose’s Ruff and Tumble which is where he met his wife Anne Jarvis in the early 90’s.

For many years he was a regular Wednesday crew on Gunther Shmidt-Linder’s yacht Austmark – when of course he was not happily tripping around the world with his beloved partner Anne. It was hard to catch up with their many adventures.

David was a proud medical/warrant officer in the Australian Navy and in recent years became the president of the Dee Why RSL sub- branch.  After retirement he worked with St John’s Ambulance organisation.

We will always remember David as someone who was always willing to help out where needed and always did so with his special smile.

MHYC extends its sympathies to David’s family and his many friends. There will be a celebration of his life at His life will be celebrated at Dee Why RSL on Wednesday, 19th March at 2.00 pm

Julie Hodder

Read more: Vale David “Mossy” Moss

MHYC Women's Regatta

The MHYC Women's Regatta will be held on Saturday 10 May 2025.

The Open Keelboat divisions will be contested by yachts with all female crews and mixed crews with a female helm. 

One Design divisions for mixed crews with a female helm are available for Melges 20, Adams 10, Yngling, J/24, J/70 and Elliott 7 classes with a minimum of four entries.

Commencing at 11am, two short windward-leeward races will be followed by a passage race starting at 1.30pm.  Sailing will be conducted on the waters of Sydney Harbour and The Sound. 

Join us back at MHYC after racing for some good company, drinks, nibbles and the presentation of prizes. 

For race documents and online entry, visit the MHYC Event Page

Photos by Marg Fraser-Martin

Read more: MHYC Women's Regatta

2025-2028 Racing Rules of Sailing now published

The 2025-2028 edition of the Racing Rules of Sailing with Australian Sailing’s prescriptions have now been published. 

To download a copy, and also download the World Sailing Study Version of the 2025-2028 RRS, visit the Australian Sailing Rules Hub at https://www.sailingresources.org.au/rules-hub/rrs/

As there have been a number of changes to rule numbers in the new edition of the rules, a series of minor amendments have been made to the MHYC series race documents.  These changes are advised in a Notice to Competitors with links to the affected documents.  See https://mhyc.com.au/images/Sailing/2024-2025/Keelboat_Racing/NoticesToCompetitors/NTC-2024-12-12-1-AmendmentstoMHYCRaceDocuments.pdf

Read more: 2025-2028 Racing Rules of Sailing now published

Keelboat Prizegiving and Awards Night

Middle Harbour Yacht Club's Annual Keelboat Prizegiving and Awards Night will be held on Saturday 3rd May from 6.30pm.

Trophies are awarded and achievements recognised for Inshore and Offshore competition, the Twilight Series and Cruising Division. The hard work of officials, volunteers, committee members and staff are recognised along with the wonderful support of the club's sponsors.

Tickets are $30 and include a welcome drink and canapes.

Prizegiving will commence at 7pm sharp.

Book now via TryBooking.com 

Read more: Keelboat Prizegiving and Awards Night

Winners finalised at Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship

Two offshore windward/leeward races at the 2024 Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship (SSORC) decided the SSORC champions for this year in conditions that were as brilliant as yesterday’s, with more sunshine and a north-easterly sea breeze beckoning.

Today’s start was north of Sow and Pigs Reef on Sydney Harbour, set by Middle Harbour Yacht Club (MHYC), organiser of the SSORC. The three divisions were away from 11am.

Two divisions raced in the Premier IRC/ORC Premier class and in both, others toppled Day 1’s leaders.

Bob Cox won both today’s Division 1 races, adding to his third of yesterday to win the Division. One can never underestimate Cox and his DK46 Nine Dragons, as they are well known for coming from behind to take the crown. 

Khaleesi, the other DK46, came into the day in second place and finished that way. Fourth and second places today were enough for MHYC Commodore, Rob Aldis, to hold on. Day 1 leader, David Ross’s Kukukerchu, finished third overall after scoring third and fifth places on his Cape 31. Just four points separated the top three, indicating just how close the racing was.

“The boat likes IRC and it likes windward/leewards,” Cox said. “The boat on boat battle was Khaleesi versus Nine Dragons and they got their nose in front on Saturday. We fought back today and opened the gap. In the last race, we literally crossed the line within a boat length. This is the best Khaleesi has done on windward/leeward courses.  

“It was a good fleet in Division 1, with dramatically different types of yachts. You could see the planing boats doing the job in the distance races while we’re better on the windward/leewards,”  Cox said.

It is incredible Cox can sail at all after breaking his neck and ribs just six months ago, but the tough 79-year-old explained, “The crew help me out. I love my sailing and I’ve got a great crew who help me on and off the boat - and around it. Today was quite rough, but it was rough yesterday too, so I had a couple of short stints at the helm only.

“Thanks to the organisers, they did their usual good job,” Cox ended.

A similar story in Division 2, as Matt Wilkinson fared better on the windward/leeward course too, with his Farr 30, Foreign Affair. Wilkinson toppled yesterday’s leader, Bullwinkle, from the top spot after winning both races. Bullwinkle, Peter Farrugia’s Bull 9000, claimed second place overall with fourth and second places today.  

Neil Padden maintained the status quo with Wailea, his Beneteau First 40.7. Padden started the day in third place and finished it that way, courtesy of second and third places.

Wilkinson said the first race of the day was in similar conditions to yesterday, “But the second race got a bit soft. It felt weird, it went down to 10-11 knots, which wasn’t as much fun.

“It was  bit bumpy, probably felt more so because there wasn’t as much breeze.

“We had a great day anyway. The Bullwinkles are good mates with us – they got us yesterday – so it was good to get them back today. You couldn’t have asked for a better weekend. I love the SSORC, I’ve done it, I can’t remember how many times,” Wilkinson finished.

Hooligan kept up the pressure by winning both windward/leeward races in the TP52s, scored under TPR, adding to yesterday’s second place. Marcus Blackmore, who is away, will be exceptionally pleased with his crew and nominated skipper, Martin Hill.

After winning yesterday’s TP52 race under TPR, Craig Neil’s Quest placed second and Mark Spring’s Highly Sprung took out third place, coming in over the top of Zen in the day’s two races, the latter finishing fourth.

The Super 50 division, where the TP52s were also included, was scored under IRC. Hooligan finished in the top spot again. Craig Neil’s Quest and Gordon Ketelebey’s Zen were second and third respectively coming into the day and finished up the same way.

Blackmore’s boats are always hard to beat, no matter the combination of races, as Hill explains:

“Again, you have to say, the boat is beautifully prepared and the team Marcus has created is second to none. We had Malcolm Page as tactician and he sailed with me in the Farr 40. It was good to get the old team back together. Richie Allanson and others are aboard, they’re all good.”

Of the opportunity he was given by Blackmore, Hill, a solid skipper across many classes, said, “I’ll make sure Marcus has my number on speed dial, because I’d do it again in an instant. I’ve even got bruises of honour where I bashed into the wheel in the seaway.

“Coming past North Head and surfing down waves was fantastic. They’re such fast boats,” Hill ended.

The TP52s and all others who took part in the 47^th running of the SSORC enjoyed the weekend, especially knowing that the warm sun and north-easterlies mean summer is here early.

For full results and all information on the SSORC, please visit: www.ssorc.mhyc.com.au 

Di Pearson/MHYC media

Photos by Andrea Francolini

Read more: Winners finalised at Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship