Inclusive Sailing Easter Regatta

An Inclusive Classes Regatta was conducted by Middle Harbour Yacht Club over the Easter weekend attracting sailors from four Australian States and Territories and a team from New Zealand.

The Hansa 303, Liberty and International 2.4mR are all small keelboat classes enjoyed by sailors of all ages and abilities around the world. 

Twelve of the 31 sailors who competed in the regatta have some form of disability.  Sailors who are blind or have low vision, with deafness or hearing loss, wheelchair users and those with limited mobility – all raced with and against non-disabled sailors for four Open State Championship titles.  An acoustic buoy was provided for vision impaired competitors sailing solo in the 2.4mR and Hansa 303 one-person divisions.

The event incorporated the NSW Championships for 2.4mR and Hansa classes and was the inaugural NSW Para Sailing Championship with scores for eligible para sailors extracted from the open results.

While Sydney turned on some beautiful autumn sunshine across the weekend, the north-easterly breeze was slow to arrive on the first two days of racing. On Easter Monday, racing was finally able to get underway on time, enabling all divisions to complete a good number of races for their series.

Peter Russell (ACT) posted five race wins from six starts to claim the NSW 2.4mR Championship.  Charles Weatherly (VIC) finished with a two-point margin to daughter Ali Weatherly to win the NSW Hansa Liberty Championship.  Chris Symonds and Manuela Klinger (TAS) had a perfect scorecard in the Hansa 303 two-person Championship and Symonds backed this up with five wins from seven starts in the Hansa 303 one-person to secure two NSW Championship titles.

In the NSW Para Sailing Championships, Chris Symonds took out the Hansa 303 one-person and two-person competition, Ali Weatherly (VIC) was best in the Hansa Liberty and Peter Coleman (VIC) claimed the 2.4mR title.

There was a great atmosphere of friendship and cooperation between all the competitors and volunteers at the regatta, but one example of kindness stood out.  After two days of racing, vision impaired Kiwi Paulien Chamberlain was hot on the heels of Chris Symonds in the 303 one-person division and striving to keep ahead of Victorian Stephen Griffiths.  The breeze was freshest on the final day; 13-14 knots and increasing when this group started racing in the second session.  On the first upwind leg, Chamberlain suffered a mast failure and with just one further race to complete the series was destined to tumble down the order with a DNF and DNS to finish.  In a generous display of sporting spirit, fellow New Zealander Rhonda Ritchie retired herself from that race so Chamberlain could change into her boat to contest the final heat of the championship.  Chamberlain went on to secure her only race win for the series and maintained her second place on a tie-break from Griffiths.  Ritchie’s gesture was warmly celebrated at the prizegiving ceremony later in the afternoon.

An Inclusive Sailing Forum was also held at MHYC on the Sunday evening following racing, attracting an audience of sailors, officials, administrators and other interested people.

Ali Weatherly outlined the makeup and activities of Australian Sailing’s Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Advisory Group, Sarah Ross provided an update on World Sailing’s Para Classification Working Party and David Staley described the work of World Sailing’s Inclusion Development Working Party.  The open forum generated discussion on a range of topics with Hansa Sailing’s Chris Mitchell emphasising the importance of inclusive design and Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club Vice Commodore Julia Hornsby highlighting the value of sailing clubs taking a more inclusive approach.

Thanks to the race management and shoreside teams, especially the Sailability Middle Harbour volunteers, the event ran smoothly on the water and at the dock.  Gratitude also to photographer Marg Fraser-Martin who was on the water every day to capture the action.

Major inclusive classes events to be held in Australia over the coming year are:

• October 2024 – Asia-Pacific Hansa Class Championships at Southport Yacht Club QLD.
• November 2024 - Sail Melbourne and Australian Para Sailing Championships at Royal Brighton Yacht Club VIC.
• January 2025 - 2.4mR Australian Championships at Gippsland Lakes Yacht Club VIC.
• March 2025 - Hansa Class World Championships at Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club NSW.

For links to the MHYC Inclusive Classes Regatta results, NSW Para Sailing Championships results, photo galleries and event information, visit the event webpage:  https://mhyc.com.au/sailing/regattas-championships/inclusive-classes-regatta

Photos by Marg Fraser-Martin

Read more: Inclusive Sailing Easter Regatta

MHYC Special Awards Nomination - OPEN

Nominations are now invited for three Special Awards for the 2023-2024 Season – the Tig Thomas 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 2023 to 31st March 2024).  Candidates can either be nominated by a Senior, Sailing or Full member, or self-nominate.

The Crew Member of the Year 2023-2024 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 26th April 2024.  Awards will be announced at the MHYC Annual Prizegiving on Saturday 4th May 2024.

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: MHYC Special Awards Nomination - OPEN

Helly Hansen Women’s Challenge for the final race of SHWKS 2024

The Helly Hansen flag was hoisted at Manly Yacht Club over the weekend for the 29th anniversary of the Helly Hansen Women’s Challenge. There was a record number of entries for the yacht race on the Sunday with 42 boats listed across the two divisions. Conditions were looking dire in the morning with the fleet bobbing around with no wind in the Sow and Pigs starting area fifteen minutes before the scheduled start time. A call on the radio from maritime announcing a huge tanker coming in the heads created another difficulty for the race committee. As the breeze filled in there was a sigh of relief with the starting gun set to go off at 1pm for division 1 just half an hour later than planned in a moderate easterly breeze. Competition was tight on the start line with boats jockeying for position but both divisions managed a clear start with only one OCS across the fleet despite the outgoing tide pushing boats closer to the line.

The Overall results in Division 1 Bridget Canham took out first place on It Happens with Esprit (Christine Mah) coming in second place and MHYC boat Jambo taking third spot skippered by Stephanie Cook. In Division 2 Catherine Thornton-Rofe came in first place on Kaotic followed by Melody (Marike Koppenol) in second spot and Ace (Tegan Franklin) in third. Tracy Richardson took out first place for Division 1 in the All Female category in her Adams 10, Artemis.

The MYC Women’s Challenge was the fifth and final race of the Sydney Harbour Women’s Keelboat Series, now in its third year. The collaboration between Sydney Harbour Clubs CYCA, MHYC, RSYS, RANSA and MYC is now a popular staple amongst the women’s sailing fraternity.

Congratulations to MHYC’s  Katie O'Mara and the crew of Birubi J70 Racing taking the overall win in Division 2 of the female helm. Tracy Richardson and the Artemis crew winning Division 1 of the all female crew. Thanks to the combined efforts of all the clubs hosting this year and a huge round of applause for Marg's Yacht Photos and her great shots out on the course.

We look forward to seeing more boats participate in the series next season.

To view Marg Fraser- Martins photos click the link below.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/rh8tlmhaen6usmovjh5v0/h?rlkey=ztn30p0co70v6qvxipb8ohf84&dl=0

For full results of the HH Women’s Challenge click here https://app.sailsys.com.au/club/23/results/series/3520/races/24190?handicap=5

For the SHWKS click here https://app.sailsys.com.au/club/27/results/series/2715/races

Read more: Helly Hansen Women’s Challenge for the final race of SHWKS 2024