On Saturday fifteen yachts competed in the third Short Ocean Pointscore of the 2021/22 season – the Gascoigne Cup.
The Short Ocean Pointscore is a 10-race series, spread over the 2021/22 summer sailing season, organised by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA), Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron (RSYS) and Middle Harbour Yacht Club (MHYC).
The 112th edition of the Gascoigne Cup, ran by RSYS, saw competitors complete a 14-nautical-mile course within the Manly circle. The 15-17 knots north-easterly winds were ideal for those stretching their legs following the NSW Covid-19 lockdown.
Robert Kelly’s R/P 52 Virago (CYCA) won overall on scratch in Division 1.
In Division 1 on PHS, Tim Cox’s DK 43 Minerva (RSYS) came equal first place with Walter Carpenter’s MBD 15.2 Samarkand (MHYC), followed by Peter Williams’ XP44 Erica.
“The three- to three-and-a-half hour race was ideal and enjoyable for all. This is the sort of racing that will maintain Saturday offshore racing,” Minerva’s Tim Cox said.
Cox applauded the RSYS’s Race Officials on the smooth running of the event: “The RSYS course and Race Management [team] were excellent.”
Karl Onslow’s Hanse 505 Ciao Bella (CYCA) placed first on PHS in Division 2, followed by J. Stening and C. Gunn’s Sydney 36 Stormaway (MHYC). Phil Herscovics’ Sydney 38 Shine On had a solid day on the water, finishing third on PHS in addition to its Division 2 scratch win.
Phil Bennett’s 38ft sloop King Billy (RSYS) came fifth on PHS in Division 2, a solid result for the wooden yacht which is looking to get some training in ahead of this year’s Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.
“We were a little rusty and our spinnaker gybes sorted out a few technique issues,” Bennett said.
“This was our first race in our Hobart campaign and it was good to see that King Billy was able to keep up with the fleet.
“It was a great day of sailing with friends.”
For the full results, see: https://app.sailsys.com.au/club/2/results/series/1346/races/10676?handicap=5&boat=1669
There are seven more races scheduled for the 2021/22 Short Ocean Pointscore calendar:
Race 4 – Saturday 4 December 2021, RSYS, Morna Cup
Race 5 – Wednesday 26 January 2022, CYCA, City of Sydney Cup
Race 6 – Saturday 5 February 2022, MHYC
Race 7 – Saturday 19 February 2022, MHYC
Race 8 – Saturday 12 March 2022, RSYS, Milson Memorial Cup
Race 9 – Saturday 19 March 2022, CYCA
Race 10 – Saturday 2 April 2022, CYCA
By Greta Quealy
