Ominous clouds threatened to dump their load over Sydney Harbour for the fourth race of the 2021/22 Sydney Harbour Women’s Keelboat Series on Sunday, February 27.
Fortunately, the rain held off for first-time hosts — Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club. After some deliberation, RPEYC race officers placed the start line off Robertson Point, on Sydney’s lower Northshore.
The second edition of the series is run by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA), Middle Harbour Yacht Club, Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, Manly Yacht Club and first-time hosts Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club.
Sailors across the 13-boat fleet donned wet weather gear as they worked their way to the first marker off Garden Island, Rushcutters Bay, in light southerly winds. But the wind died as the fleet reached across to Cannae Point, Manly. Conveniently for the competitors, a wind shift to the northeast brought in slightly stronger conditions, and with that some hotly contested racing.
A shortened course meant competitors finished off Shark Island as they returned from Cannae Point.
In Division 1, Bridget Canham and the It Happens team (mixed crew) (CYCA) won on PHS, followed by Katy MacDonald’s Wilde Rush’s (all-female crew) (CYCA) and Rachel Williams’ Law Connect (all-female crew) (MHYC). Tracy Richardson’s Artemis (all-female crew) (MHYC) will defend its overall lead on PHS over It Happens in the final race on March 27, hosted by Manly Yacht Club.
In Division 2, Wendy Tuck’s Pacatack (all-female) (CYCA) continued its stellar season with a win on PHS. Pacatack is second overall on PHS in Division 2, and leads the full-female crew in Division 2. In second place was Genevieve Slattery’s Genovefa (all-female crew) (RSYS) and Alice Walker’s Zig Zag 2 (RSYS).
For the full results, see: https://app.sailsys.com.au/club/27/results/series/1227/races
By Greta Quealy
