1:01 AM Mon 14 Dec 2009 GMT
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'The Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club is but a few minutes from the Pacific. Pic by Mike Eggleston. - Butlers Business and Law Round Lord Howe Island'
John Curnow
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At 770 nautical miles, the Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club's, Butlers Business and Law Round Lord Howe Island Yacht Race is Australia's longest, annual Cat1 race. This makes it just over 140nm longer than the soon to be held Rolex Sydney Hobart.
Now, for sure the Melbourne to Vanuatu, Melbourne to Osaka (Cat0) races and a certain Bob 'Freight Train' Williams' Around Australia Ocean Race and Rally are longer, but they are not annual events.
The longer distance is appealing, as the boats have become faster and a good number of the Rolex Sydney Hobart fleet are already part of the Expressions Of Interest received so far. Now that online entries are available, it is expected that many more will join them.
Conducted by the Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club, it should be a tremendous race and best of all, a screaming reach both there and back - so long as nature provides the right sort of breeze. Usually in May, that occurs, thankfully, with NW and SE the predominant directions (better than 85%). Accordingly, the May 9, 2010 start is well timed to capitalise on this fact. Assisting the NCYC with race management is the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria.
The Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club is looking forward to welcoming the 30 plus boats that have already submitted an EOI. Many other vessels are expected to partake in either the Racing Division, who will complete the lap non-stop or the Performance Cruiser Division, who have a few days to explore the wonders of this World Heritage Park, before they too finish back in Newcastle.
The NCYC's new clubhouse, with its delightful open aspect, will be alive with all the activity and Newcastle itself is set to showcase all that it and its immediate environs have to offer visitors.
Notice of Race and online entries are now up at
ncyc.net.au/butlers-round-lord-howe-island-race/
, so make your way there now.
by John Curnow
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