Reigning Sydney 38 NSW champion Conspiracy, owned by Peter Byford/David Hudson, is ready to defend their title at Middle Harbour Yacht Club’s (MHYC) Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta over two days this coming weekend, 4-5 March.

Conspiracy, from the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club at Pittwater, doubles as the reigning National Champion and won Division 1 of the Pittwater Regatta in February without dropping a race. Whether they can be beaten remains to be seen, but six-windward leeward courses will decide their fate.

“Peter and I do not take it for granted. In a one-design fleet everyone has their opportunities and skills to win,” declared Hudson, who is also President of the Sydney 38 Association.

“We’ve got the same hard driving tactician with his Cat o’ Nine Tails that we had at the Pittwater Regatta,” Hudson said with a grin.

If anyone can dethrone Conspiracy, Peter Sorensen and his Advanced Philosophy from MHYC are candidates. Sorro has scored a multitude of victories across a broad spectrum of boats from skiffs to offshore racers. The two boats went into the final day of the 2022 NSW Championship tied on points, with Sorro leading on countback.

Conspiracy holding off her contemporaries – Sydney 38 One Design NSW Championship – photo © Andrea Francolini

Conspiracy won out before Advanced Philosophy went on to win Performance Division 1 win at MHYC’s 2022 Sydney Harbour Regatta.

Challenge’s owner, Greg Croak, has a similar story. “We’ve been very close to beating Conspiracy. We’ve led into final day, but then they beat us. Our consistency hasn’t been great. We need to fix that. The boat is going quick and we need to keep our heads in the boat,” he said.

Croak’s team from Royal Motor Yacht Clut at Toronto at Lake Macquarie is normally a full family affair. This time around, his son, Wade Croak and a nephew Jason Field are aboard and mates make up the rest.

“It’s the reason I brought the boat – family – it keeps you close. If the family weren’t interested, I’d probably do something else.”

“This will be our fifth year in the class. I like the one design aspect and they are rigid with compliance, so it’s a fair class,” he ended.

Phil Herscovics, owner of Shine On – Team Callendina from the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, finished third overall in the 2022 Championship and has enjoyed his share of victories across a broad spectrum of events.

 Advanced Philosophy and Risk go head-to-head at a previous event – Sydney 38 One Design NSW Championship © Andrea Francolini / MHYC

Then there is Mondo, owned by Stephen Teudt and Lisa Callaghan from Manly Yacht Club, MYC, which took on the 2022 Rolex Sydney Hobart, but a broken gooseneck broken gooseneck brought their campaign to an abrupt end. Repaired, Mondo is ready for action.

New to Sydney 38 Championship events is Kaizen (MHYC), owned by Brad Newton, Mark Glover and Anthony Mellowes. The boat is best known as Zen and has the legs to do the job. It is up to her latest owners to sail Kaizen to her full potential.

The trio are as keen as mustard, with Newton an active member of the Sydney 38 Committee and a competitive sailor

Campaigned extensively by former owner Gordon Ketelbey as Zen, and campaigned heavily, the boat placed fifth overall in the 2014 Sydney Hobart after winning Port Lincoln Race Week early that year. She has also scored other notable results as Clockwork.

Although an excellent fleet, it is a depleted one, due in the main to boat injuries suffered at other events.

One other entry was expected, but as David Hudson explains, “The Association continues to support the women in sailing imitative, but unfortunately it is not to be at this event. Due to logistical challenges, the women’s team could make it from Victoria on this occasion.

“However, those of us vying for the title are very much looking forward to the Championship,” he said.

Full results will found at: www.shr.mhyc.com.au.

For all information on the Sydney 38 class, please visit: syd38.com.

by Di Pearson / Sydney 38 media