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The Offshore Division began in 1982 as a breakaway from the Mixed Divisions and a welcome respite from the congestion of the harbour. At its peak, the RSYS supported 2 divisions with over 20 yachts in total but in recent the years the numbers have dwindled, following the trend observed in all ocean racing.
The fleet favours the cruiser racer type of average length of about 35 feet. A category 4 safety certificate is required and the series consists of approximately 11 races, including the Club's traditional ocean races, the Milson and Gascoigne Cups. The series also includes the Morna Cup, a weekend of racing to Pittwater and back in Novermber.
Regular competitors include the J35 Soundtrack (Tim Cox), the Jarkan 40 foot King Billy (Phil Bennett) and Tom Cehak in the 24 foot Farr 727, Therapy, which has also been a regular competitor for over 20 years, along with the Bavaria Limelight (Alan and Lyn Husband) and the 32 foot Aurelia II, skippered by former Commodore and sometime Dragon sailor Norm Longworth.
Joining them this season have been the veteran former long ocean racer Inch by Winch, now owned by Andrew Wenham, the Beneteau 40.7 Ticket of Leave (Max Prentice) and the Sydney 36 CR Impetuous Too, skippered by Graeme Lambert, one of the winning skippers in the Australian Admiral’s Cup team in 1979 with his original Impetuous.
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