Close of entries under a week away for 2010 Pittwater to Coffs Race

10:50 AM Sat 28 Nov 2009 GMT

'Wild Joe - Pittwater Coffs Race 2007' Crosbie Lorimer

With the close of entries just under a week away, another spectacular start is expected as entries roll in for the 29th Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race and associated series, hosted by The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (RPAYC) in Newport, Sydney.

A Category Two event, the 226nm Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Ocean race will be the first race of the new decade when it gets underway on the 2nd January 2010 at 1pm and is part of a four race offshore series in association with the Coffs Harbour Yacht Club. The race attracts racing enthusiasts from a broad base of yacht clubs across Australia and a mix of experienced offshore sailors, youth and newcomers to the sport of ocean racing due to its desirable distance, destination and spirit of the race.

With the inaugural Paradise series, hosted by the Southport Yacht Club, commencing straight after the Pittwater and Coffs Series with a race from Coffs Harbour to Southport, starting on the 7th January followed by Sail Paradise, five days of exciting short races staged off the Gold Coast beaches, interest from Queensland boats has been high.
A whole mix of yachts have entered the Pittwater to Coffs Harbour race so far ranging from Sydney 38s, Cookson 12s, a Sydney 39s, a Murray 42, Farr 40s, a Marten 49, Beneteau 40.7s and 44.7s right through to the largest in the fleet so far, Bruce Absolon's Volvo 60, 'Spirit of the Maid', who will make the journey down from Hamilton Island. These, along with many more that have expressed their intention to race, bring excited anticipation about the size and calibre of the fleet, with 70 yachts expected on the starting line for the 29th running of this warm water classic.

Back to defend his IRC race and series crown is CYCA's Julian Farren-Price with his Cookson 12 'About Time'. Farren-Price is excited about his return to the series, 'About Time and crew are preparing to defend their Pittwater and Coffs Harbour title from January 2009. This will be our 3rd race in 4 years and the tally stands at one all between us and our esteemed competitor Bill Ebsary on 'Le Billet'.

'The 2009 race could not have been more ideal for About Time being just cracked enough that we could surf a bit faster than the heavier displacement boats but not deep enough that a spinnaker could be set and the light weight masthead kite flyers could punish us.

'This year to give our nine year old Cookson 12 a bit of a lift we have gone to slightly bigger spinnakers for our club racing as seems to be the fashion with IRC. I think this will likely work against us as the new higher rating means we will be giving everyone a bit more time than we did before and it certainly will not help if is it the traditional North Easter on the 2nd.'

On his crew and the hospitality in Coffs Harbour, Farren- Price commented, 'While we were thrilled to win the 2009 race and series we were probably even more honoured to be presented with the magnificent trophy called the 'Fun & Friendly Award' by the Coffs Harbour Yacht Club and staff. We love to race and do well on About Time but we have no professionals and sail with a great team who just like to be together. That way even a poor result can be a good day. It was lovely tribute to my crew that others recognised the good spirit that existed. The trophy of a boat made of various pieces of flotsam and jetsam was every so carefully loaded onto About Time the night it was presented and was on its way to Sydney within hours, it now has pride of place in a specially made alcove in our house.

We are looking forward to participating in the series again and crossing swords with our friendly rivals. Bill (Ebsary) we will be watching you, I just hope it is from in front!,' added Farren-Price.

PHS Series winner and local Coffs entrant Andrew Johnson aboard his Northshore 380 sports 'Overdrive' is another to return in 2010 to defend his title and is also looking forward to the race and series. Johnson commented, 'It was a great result for us in the 2009 series. As a local boat, the club and city really enjoyed the result as much as we did. We look forward to completing our preparation for our defence in 2010.'

Others to return for 2010 are2009 line honours winner Bruce Hogan and his Marten 49 'Perpetual Mocean', the Murphy/Hudson/Lockley syndicate aboard their Farr 45 'Pretty Woman', second last year over the line and on handicap and the experience of multiple series winner Bill Ebsary and his Beneteau 44.7, 'Le Billet'. Making a welcome return after competing in the past two Hobarts is Secret Men's Business, the Murray 42 owned by the syndicate of Rob Curtis, Ross Trembath and Doug Snedden. All these yachts represent the host Club, The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club.

The first boat to enter both the Pittwater and Coffs Harbour Series and Sail Paradise and also the largest boat in the fleet on the list of entries is 'Spirit of the Maid', a Volvo 60 owned by Hamilton Island Yacht Club Vice Commodore Bruce Absolon. She is named in honour of his previous boat, 'Ausmaid', who was completely destroyed when she broke anchor and ended on a beach in Noosa, on a delivery down to the start of the Brisbane to Gladstone Race in April this year.

'I was devastated,' said Absolon 'She got caught in a micro system off the Queensland coast on a delivery and lost her stick when she went vertical and got back flipped and barrel rolled three times down a 10-12 metre wave. After being rescued by coastal patrol, she then broke anchor and ended up on the beach, written off, 12 hours later. Anyway, we're back in business and ready to get back on the bike and are really looking forward to getting down there for the Pittwater Coffs Race and series. We had such a great time last year and wouldn't miss it for the world.'
Absolon's Ausmaid competed in the Pittwater and Coffs Harbour series last year with a third over the line in the passage race and, both Absolon and his crew are 'keen to better that result and hopefully take home the coveted Line Honours Bell Trophy. That's the game plan anyway. We competed on the new boat for the first time at Hammo this year and this boat is fast, so it should be interesting.'

'Spirit of the Maid', previously won two Volvo around the World races as Illbruck V2 (1997-98) and EF Communications (2000-01) as well as holding a wealth of other credentials competing under various aliases over the years since. Absolon will warm the boat and the crew up in the Rolex Big Boat series on Sydney Harbour in mid December before bringing her up to Pittwater for the Coffs series.

The smallest in the fleet to date is the 11.16m Elan 37 Orion Blue owned by surgeon Nigel Curtis and partner Steve Capell who this year have competed in the Sydney to Southport Race and then finished with a first place in Airlie Beach Race Week and a second in the Hamilton Island Race Week in the performance racing Division.

The Pittwater & Coffs Harbour Offshore Series kicks off with a 30-40nm offshore race starting off Barrenjoey on 30th December, then the Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Race on 2nd January followed by two offshore sprint races in Coffs Harbour encompassing the majestic Solitary Islands on 5th and 6th January to round out the series.

Both the Pittwater & Coffs Harbour Offshore Series and the Paradise Series form the brand new East Coast Offshore Summer Circuit. There will be an overall championship trophy plus trophies for each event.

The commitment by the Department of Lands to dredge the entrance to Coffs Harbour Marina with the installation of a permanent dredging pipeline means that yachts will have no trouble getting into the marina with a 4.7m low tide clearance.

The series will kick off with a bang with a huge New Years Eve Beach Party at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club on 31st December for its members and visiting competitors. Then it will be a day to get prepared and clear the cobwebs in readiness for the start of the 2010 Pittwater to Coffs Harbour offshore race.

The 2009 race attracted a strong field of 61 yachts with line honours going to RPAYC's Bruce Hogan's Perpetual Mocean, a Marten 49 in the closest finish in the history of the race, crossing the finish line a mere three and a half minutes ahead of Pretty Woman. The race record stands at 18 hrs 29 minutes and 14 seconds, held by Bob Oatley's former Wild Oat IX in 2003.

Close of Entries for the 2010 Pittwater to Coffs Race and associated series is next Friday 4 December.

The notice of race and application for entry for the Pittwater & Coffs Harbour series can be downloaded from the event website at www.pittwatertocoffs.com.au

The notice of race and application for entry for the Coffs to Paradise Race and Sail Paradise can be found at www.southportyachtclub.com.au

For race enquiries and documentation please contact the RPAYC Sailing Office on (02) 9997 1633 or yachting(at)rpayc.com.au or from Southport Yacht Club on (07) 5591 3500.

by Damian Devine