6:36 AM Tue 2 Mar 2010 GMT
The 2010 Farr 30 Australian Championship to be hosted by The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club from March 19 - 21 is shaping up to be another fiercely competitive regatta with eight entries from three states entered to date. With only days before entries close, more are expected before they officially close this Friday 5 March.
The fleet will contest up to ten races over three days with no discard to decide the 2010 National Champion. PRO for the event will be under the experienced eye of RPAYC Club member Ted Anderson who will set windward/leeward courses on the Palm Beach Circle, off Barrenjoey Headland in Sydney's North.
Leading the charge will be current World and Australian Champion Guy Stening and 'Optimum' who will be back to defend his two year stranglehold on the title following his convincing win in Brisbane last year after not having to sail the final race and an even more convincing win in 2008 when hosted at his home Club, the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron. Stening is the clear favourite and will be looking to make it a hat trick of National crowns.
Biting at Stening's heels will be the three times Australian Champion Bruce Eddington and his 'K2' team from Victoria's SYC. Prior to the arrival of Stening's 'Optimum', Eddington was unbeatable in this class, formerly known as M30 or Mumm 30. An experienced campaigner, Eddington, is always in the mix and was a sound second in this event last year going down by a point in the 10 race series. He also brings with him a wealth of offshore experience and a seasoned crew who will ensure every race is extremely competitive.
A regular on the F40's and Sydney38 circuit, RPAYC's Chris Way of 'Easy Tiger' fame is chartering the less than famous 'Awarua - Boat Mate'. Way has assembled a very capable and competitive team. Having not competed in this event last year, his experience speaks loudly when in the two previous years he claimed a spot on the podium with a third in 2008 and a second in 2007.
Four very competitive boats from Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron this year include the newcomer Lew Perrin who will bring with him 'The Italian Job'. The boat has been named after the trials of getting it into Australia from its previous home in Italy. Perrin competed at the 2008 Worlds but was taken out by the runner up prior to a race start which almost sank the boat. Rumour has it that Perrin was used a decoy with Vincenzo forced to retire from the race after the incident, with the championship in his grasp.
Also joining them on the start line will be 'Asterix' owned and skippered by class president Colin Loel from the RQYS. He finished a credible third last year and is back with a top crew aiming to climb higher on the podium in 2010. Alex Douglas 'Synergy', very consistent sailors and very keen for a good result. Alex has been a long time participant in the class and has improved with every showing.
Rounding out the Queensland contingent is Chris Tyquin 'Goa', a very professional outfit including some well known Sydney sailors. Chris impressed on his debut in 2008 finishing with a second followed up by a fifth last year, so will be out to sail well boat looking for a podium position.
Clark and Guy Holbert, the oyster farmers from Port Stephens, representing the Port Stephens Yacht Club are good class participants who scored a clean second in the class at last year's Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta are back along with Garry Hobson who gets the gong for the most very creative name in the fleet, 'Don't tell Mumm'.
The Nationals return to The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, having previously held at the Club in 2007. All teams are looking forward to the generous RPAYC hospitality and hopefully good weather and wind of course.
The class weigh in will be conducted on Thursday the 18th followed by a series of practice races in the afternoon to warm up for the competition which gets underway on Friday the 19th at 1100hrs.
Social activity will centre around the yacht club with a Class BBQ on Saturday Night and presentation of trophies on Sunday. A 'Boat of the Day' will be awarded for each of the 3 days of competition to the crew who show that they have something special on the day.
Provisional List of Entries contesting the 2010 Farr 30 Australian Championship:
Boat Name - Skipper - Club
1. Asterix - Colin Loel - RQYS
2. Awarua - Boat Mate- Chris Way - RPAYC
3. Goa - Chris Tyquin - RQYS
4. K2 - Bruce Eddington - SYC
5. Don't tell Mumm - Garry Hobson - RSYS
6. Synergy - Alex Douglas - RQYS
7. The Italian Job - Lew Perrin - RQYS
8. Rumbo - Guy Holbert - PSYC
Entries close 1700 hrs Friday 5 March, 2010.
For the Notice of Race visit
www.rpayc.com.au/regattas.html
by Damian Devine
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