Entries open for 2010 Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race Series

5:48 AM Fri 21 Aug 2009 GMT

'Pretty Woman - 2009 Pittwater Coffs Harbour Race start' Damian Devine

With the release of the Notice of Race, entries have opened for the 29th Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race and associated series hosted by The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club in Newport, Sydney.

A Category 2 event, the 226nm Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Ocean race gets underway on the 2nd January 2010 at
1pm and is part of a 4 race series in association with the Coffs Harbour Yacht Club.

The Pittwater & Coffs Harbour Offshore Series kicks off with a 30-40nm offshore race starting off Barrenjoey on 30th December, 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.

Following the Pittwater & Coffs Harbour Series, diehard competitors can then join in the inaugural Paradise series which commences with a race from Coffs Harbour to Southport, a 150 nautical mile coastal sprint, starting on the 7th January followed on 10th January by the Sail Paradise Series - five days of exciting short races staged just off the surf-line of the Gold Coast's magnificent beaches, conducted by the Southport Yacht Club.

Both the Pittwater & Coffs Harbour Offshore Series and the Paradise Series form the brand new East Coast Offshore Summer Circuit. Competitors will be able to contest any sector of the East Coast Offshore circuit - from all races to just one. There will be an overall championship trophy plus trophies for each event.

RPAYC Commodore Russell Murphy says, 'The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club invites and welcomes all past competitors and indeed newcomers to get a taste of some challenging and spectacular east coast racing to kick off the new decade.

The Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Ocean Race is one of the most popular racing events in Australia and is one of the major offshore events on the Alfred's racing calendar. This will be the 29th running of the event, we have some major social events planned to keep competitors entertained on lay days and we intend to ensure that all competitors enjoy great racing and tactical challenges in a true Corinthian spirit along with great camaraderie and a few laughs along the way.

With the partnership with both Coffs Harbour Yacht Club and now Southport Yacht Club we are looking forward to offering competitors the opportunity to cherry pick one or more races or participate in the whole two-week series. With the introduction of the brand new Paradise series we look forward to going further north after Coffs Harbour and anticipate this will become the one of the most popular ocean racing circuits in Australia. I look forward to welcoming competitors to this exciting event in 2010.'

Commodore Murphy added, '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 and we thank them for their vigilance in keeping the Harbour safe.'

Experienced Race officer, Ted Anderson has taken up the position as Race Director and is looking forward to the event. 'We're very excited about the prospects for 2010 and expect around 75 yachts in the starting fleet.'

Once again principal radio communications will be by means of VHF and radio communications will be ably supported by the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol and the radio relay vessel Alfreds 2, a Steber 34 that will follow the fleet to Coffs Harbour.

There will be IRC and PHS divisions with additional one-design categories for Sydney 32s, the 38s, subject to number of entries. Other categories may be included if the demand arises.

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, a Farr 45 co-owned by RPAYC Commodore Russell Murphy, Richard Hudson and Michael Lockley. IRC Handicap honours for both the Coffs race and series went to About Time, a Cookson 11 owned by CYCA's Julian Farren-Price.

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

The Coffs to Paradise race and Paradise Series NoR will be available soon from Southport Yacht Club.
Applications for entry close Friday 4th December 2008.