Yachts - Racing

Race Description 

The Club has a fleet of approximately 50 yachts ranging from 20ft to over 40ft. Not all race but there is a lively fleet on each Sunday race day.

The Race course is, for the most part, inside the protected area known as Pittwater with a single event called the Blue Water Sheild that ventures out towards Box Head. Our races are hotly contested but are friendly and do not normally create stress for either the crew or the boat. All yachts are required to have a Category 7 Safety Certificate. 

Since the fleet comprises a wide variety of yachts all races are on a handicap system, so the choice of spinnaker or non spinnaker is yours and will be taken into account in the handicap.

This makes racing enjoyable and winnable for all competitors. A typical fleet might consist of a Young 88 or two, East Coast, Northshore, Etchels, Tasman, Jeanneau, Bavaria, Beneteau etc etc.

Race management is by volunteer "duty boat". The crew of the duty boat provides a Yacht Coordinator assisted by rostered club members and a boatboy to conduct the start. The Club has an easy to use 30 ft committee vessel "Lucinda" well fitted with remote anchor winch, enclosed head etc. to make the volunteer experience an enjoyable day in itself.

The club also runs a limited licence bar for members and there is a Free Tender Service on race days for yachts moored in the immediate vicinity of the clubhouse.

 
The race season runs from September through to early April.

Winter races over a short course take place on the last Sunday of each month during the "non season" period and are followed by a BBQ

Yacht Course Sheet 2012-13 (Version 2 11-Oct-12)

Our program has three unique elements:- 

• You can choose to race in only one series of six races, with one heat per month
• You can race on a different style of course each Sunday of the month
• On the last Sunday of each month you can participate in the Family Day Race. Choice of spinnaker or no spinnakers, handicap start and a BBQ on the club deck post race.

Opening Day Trophy:Scratch start

Blue Water Shield: A handicap series raced on courses which include a mark laid approximately one mile off shore from Lion Island. Six heats, five to count (scratch start)

Koolong Trophy: A handicap series raced on a course within Pittwater, sailed concurrently with the Blue Water Shield. Six heats with five to count (scratch start)

Quartet Bowl: A handicap series raced on courses that include a mark laid off Juno Point. Six heats, five to count (handicap start)

Retriever Trophy: A handicap series raced on courses within Pittwater. Six heats, five to count (scratch start)

Family Races: Individual handicap races sailed on a short course within Pittwater. No "extras" allowed. Handicap start. BYO BBQ follows on club deck

Twilight Races: Individual handicap races sailed on alternate Fridays during Daylight Saving. No "extras". Scratch start. BYO BBQ follows on club deck

Shaz II Trophy: A scratch trophy for the fastest yacht in the Club. The winner is the yacht with the minimum points from all races in the thre major trophy series (BWS/KT - RT - QB) when calculated on the basis of scratch results

Commodores Trophy: A handicap trophy for the fastest yacht in the Club. The winner is the yacht with the minimum points from all races in the thre major trophy series (BWS/KT - RT - QB) when calculated on corrected times

Van Den Bosch Trophy: For perseverance in fair weather and foul. Awarded to the yacht competing in the most events during the year, providing it has not been a prize winner in any series (an event is a series trophy race)

Single Day Events: There are a number of single day events, such as: The two Islands Race which appear in the Race Calendar. Details are posted on the day