Bob Penty’s Beneteau First 38s5 Big Blue has been declared winner of the Milson Cup, Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron’s prestigious short offshore racing classic.

Big Blue, from the CYCA, scored a close win on PHS corrected time over the course off Sydney Heads yesterday in a light but steady 7-11 knot east-south-easterly breeze that eased to 6 knots as the fleet finished back in Watson’s Bay.

The Milson Cup, first sailed for in 1931 in memory of a past Commodore and 50-year member of the RSYS, is awarded to the winning yacht under Performance handicaps.

The three top-placed boats, of similar size, finished mid-fleet within three minutes of each other.

On corrected time, Big Blue scored a 35 second win from Groove, a Sydney 32 skippered by RSYS member Hugh Torode who won the Milson Cup last year with his previous boat.

Third place went to Soundtrack, Tim and Adrian Cox’s J35.  Tim, a Squadron member,  is wellknown as Chairman of the Race Committee of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. – Peter Campbell