Yachting Australia

Winter racing on Sydney Harbour

The Club is hoping to equal last year’s final entry list of over 200 for the series which commences 15 April with the non pointscore Ladies Day and Great Veterans Race before moving into the 11 race pointscore series starting 22 April. Non-pointscore races will be conducted over the 10 June holiday weekend and Sunday 15 July and the series will close with the final Ladies Day Race on 22 July before the Audi Sydney Gold Coast fleet sets sail.

Innovations for this year’s Audi Winter Series, the first for new naming rights sponsor Audi Australia, include a later start at 11.30am to better suit the wind conditions prevalent in winter, slightly shorter courses, two extra divisions and in response to a request from one design owners, an 11.20am scratch start rather than handicap start for the Sydney 38 division.  

Another change for this year is the extension of the entry criteria for the Great Veterans Race. Now boats over 30 years old which have competed in a Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race will be eligible whereas entry was previously restricted to boats built before 1970. The winner on corrected time on Sunday 15 April will have their name inscribed on the prestigious Windward Trophy.

Each week all divisional placegetters will go in the draw to drive a luxury Audi A6 saloon for the week and will pick up great Line 7 gear.

“Audi and the sport of sailing are linked through innovation, heritage, technology and strong competition. We have had a successful start to the year with our sailing commitments from Skandia Geelong Race Week to the Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta and more recently the Audi Sydney Southport Yacht Race.

“We want to encourage more boats to compete in Audi-sponsored regattas such as the Audi Winter Series that will help raise awareness of the sport, and of the Audi brand, in this country,” said Joerg Hofmann, Managing Director Audi Australia.  

If owners are short of crew, the CYCA Sailing Office has an email database of crew looking for a ride this winter - just call or email roger.wragby@cyca.com.au with specific requirements. In addition, CYCA crew liaison officer Mervyn Clarke will be on deck in the Sydney Hobart Bar every Sunday from about 9am, matching those looking for crew positions with skippers who are short of hands.

The CYCA’s Breakfast Club volunteers will once again be providing the best value breakfasts in Sydney to kick off the only way to spend Sundays in winter.

The Notice of Race and Entry Forms are now available from the CYCA Sailing Office and online at www.cyca.com.au Entry is open to all boats from all yacht clubs that satisfy the entry criteria.

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