After a disrupted schedule throughout the season, six yachts have entered in the 2020/2021 Farr 40 NSW State Title, with the event hosted by Middle Harbour Yacht Club over the last weekend of summer.
During the morning briefing, PRO Phil Yeomans gave the option to Skippers and Tacticians to wait onshore due to the lack of breeze, while the management team set off outside the Heads to check conditions. The Owners group voted unanimously for this option and at 1100 the AP was lowered with the first race off at 12.10 on the Manly Circle course.
Races 1,2 and were held in shifting breezes under overcast skies in the 5-8 knot range with the length to the top mark reduced to 0.8 nautical miles to allow the fleet to complete several races in the first day.
After Day One Nutcracker, owned by Andy Baker and Rob Davis, takes the lead in the series, followed by Outlaw and Good Form. “It was good, close racing out there and it’s great to have Victoria represented in the fleet” said Andy. Their crew is made up of five Victorians and five sailors local to NSW.
Class President, Rob Reynolds, owner of the yacht Exile, stated, “we are so pleased with the turnout under the circumstances and thank Middle Harbour Yacht Club and the hardworking volunteers that laid the course in trying conditions”.
With an all-star line-up of Tacticians including Will Ryan on Newcastle entry Good Form, Harry Price on Edake, and Nathan Wilmot on Nutcracker, teams will need to consolidate over the final races tomorrow to be crowned State Champions.
The Farr 40 crews enjoyed a post-regatta carb-loading dock party at Middle Harbour. The final event for the Farr 40 season, the National Championships, will be hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia over 12-14 March 2021.
by Simone Hill
