Friday 4th January 2008 5pm

With competitor's unable to be in Coffs Harbour this year for the first time in the 27 year history of the race,  tomorrow's race, the popular Solitary Islands Race traditionally raced off Coffs Harbour  to wrap up the series has moved South, far South and renamed in honour of our friends in Coffs Harbour as the...........

Far South, South Solitary Islands Race.

The course will be a triangular course of approximately 12nm off Broken Bay starting tomorrow. The fleet will be gunned from the starting line in the vicinity of Barrenjoey Headland and Lion Island, then sail out of Barrenjoey south to a mark affectionately re-named the south "Solitary" buoy that will be positioned east of Bangally Head , with the fleet then spinning around to sail round the North "Solitary" Buoy, an inflatable yellow buoy which will be laid SSW off East Reef, before turning back to the round the Gropper Buoy mark to be laid NE of Barrenjoey Headland, with a final turn for the finish line and the Committee Vessel, located at the Northern end of Pittwater.

It should be spectacular for the punters on Palm and Whale Beach as the fleet goes sailing by.

 If conditions worsen overnight and it is deemed unsafe to sail offshore, an alternate course within Pittwater has been prepared and that decision will be made by the Race Committee and Race Director tomorrow.

For a copy of the  Amendment 4 to the Sailing Instructions click here and read the Notice to Competitors 3 below 

Scheduled Race start is 1230hrs on Saturday 5th January.

Either way it will be champagne sailing and a whole lot better than a day in the office and the view either offshore or within Pittwater will be beautiful, as always. That's why it's called God's country.

Race 5 will see the 27th "Alternate" Pittwater & Coffs Harbour Offshore Series for 2007-08 wrap up tomorrow, it's certainly been an historical year and disappointed we all can't be in Coffs Harbour to enjoy the warm hospitality of the locals and the festival of sail activities and, of course, the welcome drink at Coffs Harbour Yacht Club by the staff and army of volunteers.

We'll back next year for sure for the 28th Pittwater & Coffs Harbour Offshore Series.

With the series pointscore to be finalised tomorrow following Race 5 the pointscore currently shapes up like this.

In IRC, unless something drastic happens tomorrow it looks like it's  back to back IRC series titles for Bill Ebsary and his team on 'Le Billet' , who is currently the clear leader in 1st with 4 wins on the trot in the series, with the Jimmy King and Bruce Staples "Dark & Stormy Witch" in 2nd and Grant Halliday's Sydney 38 ' The Business' , just behind in 3rd.

In PHS, the series pointscore sees anotheer Sydney 38 Anthony Pickering's 'Love Byte'  climbing into 1st place, followed by the Coffs Harbour boys  aboard 'B52' on their Sydney 41 in 2nd and Ray Hudson's 'Next Moment' next in line. It's still anyones series however, and tomorrow, it will be all hands on deck and serious racing to see who takes the PHS series crown.

For the updated series pointscore  click here 

Good luck to all competitors and see everyone at the 27th Pittwater & Coffs Harbour Offshore Series Prize Giving commencing at approx 1800hrs back at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club.

One thing's for sure - the trophies and the t-shirts this year will take on a whole meaning, collector's items and might I add, a story or two for the grandkids.

See you on the start line!

Report by Damian Devine

Notice to Competitors 3

It is advised to all competitors, that Series Race 5, the ‘Solitary Islands Race’ shall be altered and is to be sailed in the Pittwater and Broken Bay area. The altered series race 5 shall be known as the ‘Far South, South Solitary Islands Race’.

It is the intention of the Race Committee to conduct a 12nm triangular course offshore off Broken Bay. An alternate course inshore shall also be planned should weather deteriorate.

The race will start at 1230hrs as previously programmed and amended sailing instructions will be available from RPAYC reception late afternoon.

Chris Stone

Race Director

Pittwater and Coffs Harbour Offshore Series