10th March 2008

Weekend Racing Review

by Peter Campbell

Squadron members offshore winners

Squadron members Syd Fischer and Julian Farren-Price were the big winners in the CYCA’s ocean races over a weekend that saw Saturday Harbour yacht racing abandoned due to severe restrictions imposed to allow the Superboat Grand Prix event.

One speedboat driver was killed in the lead-up to the controversial event that has drawn widespread criticism from civic leaders and other regular recreational and commercial users of the Harbour. 

Spectator crowds are reported to have been far below the expectations of organisers who had hoped this test event would secure a world championship powerboat race for Sydney.

Fortunately, the Superboat Grand Prix did not affect the CYCA Blue Water Pointscore and Ocean Pointscore races that ended in Newcastle.

Syd Fischer climaxed his 45th season of ocean racing by skippering his TP52 Ragamuffin to a line and IRC handicap win in the 213 nautical miles Audi Sydney Offshore Newcastle Race which started on Friday evening.

The win clinched the 2007-2008 Blue Water Championship for the veteran skipper with Ragamuffin notching up three first places and two seconds over the season.  One of the first places in the Blue Water series was second place overall to the American boat Rosebud in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

Julian Farren-Price wrapped up a spectacular season with his Cookson 12 About Time by winning the IRC division of the direct race from Sydney to Newcastle on Saturday.

Over the season, About Time won seven of the eight Ocean Pointscores on IRC, also taking out the PHS pointscore with two wins in eight races.

RSYS racing will resume on Sydney Harbour next Saturday.

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