Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race to celebrate 30 years in 2011
by Damian Devine
The organisers of the Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race, The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club are expecting a large fleet to assemble off Barrenjoey in Sydney’s north to help celebrate the 30th anniversary of the 226nm “warm water classic” which gets underway on 2nd January 2011.
There have been some major changes to the event schedule for 2011 with a five race series planned kicking off with the Pittwater to Coffs Harbour ocean race on 2nd January followed by four races in Coffs Harbour over two consecutive days on the 5th and 6th January with a short windward/leeward sprint and a longer race around the South Solitary Islands each day. There will be no lead up offshore race at the Pittwater end of the regatta prior to the passage race to Coffs Harbour.
A major commitment has been shown by the receiving Club, the Coffs Harbour Yacht Club, with considerable renovations either planned or undertaken to their clubhouse including a new bar, upgraded toilet/shower facilities and catering sees them eagerly awaiting the crews when they arrive. This, coupled with the Coffs Harbour International Marina ready and willing to accommodate as many boats as needed, it’s a huge positive for the 2011 event and will hopefully mirror the 10th and 20th anniversary of the event when in excess of 100 boats entered the race.
Coffs Harbour is a family tourist destination within an easy 6 hours drive from Sydney and with the Pittwater & Coffs Harbour Offshore Series positioned as a family friendly event, a huge social calendar is planned to accommodate the families with bus trips and social events at the Coffs Harbour Yacht Club and fun lay day on water events including Lasers and Dragon boat races. The city’s Festival of Sail will also take place with a busy calendar for all the family including movies on the beach and sand modeling competitions.
Le Billet, four time Pittwater & Coffs Series winner including 2010 series by Tom SpithillAfter the Pittwater & Coffs Harbour Offshore series, some of the fleet will re assemble on the 7th January to take part in the 2nd annual Coffs to Paradise Race, a 150 nautical mile coastal sprint, hosted by the Southport Yacht Club.
The 2010 race was won by ‘Wild Oats XI’ in a time of 21hrs 3mins 57secs, with the perennial competitor ‘Dark & Stormy Witch’ winning on corrected time overall IRC. Bill Ebsary’s Beneteau 47.7 ‘Le Billet’ won the overall IRC series with the J35 ‘Jayhawk’ skippered by Robert Alder taking out the PHS series. All have vowed to be back for the 30th Anniversary to defend their titles.
In the inaugural Pittwater to Coffs Harbour yacht race thirty years ago it was Keith Le Compte’s ‘White Pointer’ in a time of 47hrs 31mins, twenty years ago it was ‘Southern Cross Advertising’ in a time of 44hrs 21mins and 10 years ago it ‘Xena’, the Open 60 leading the fleet all the way to cross the finish at 32hrs 24mins 26 seconds. This year it was the 100ft ‘Wild Oats XI’ in a time of 21hrs 3mins, missing their own record by 3hrs to take home the coveted Coffs Harbour Line Honours Bell Trophy. So who will it be in 2011 when the 30th race is run to write their name in the history book?
The Pittwater to Coffs Harbour ocean race began with humble beginnings in 1981 with just 14 boats, the smallest fleet of this popular race. At the other end of the spectrum, the largest fleet assembled for the 10th anniversary when 108 yachts competed.
Dark & Stormy Witch, 2010 IRC Pittwater to Coffs race handicap winner by Damian DevineThe seven year race record is held by Bob Oatley’s ‘Wild Oats IX’ in a time of 18hrs 29mins 14secs in the 2003 race and speculation remains whether it will be 2011 when the record books are re written.
The notice of race and application for entry for the Pittwater & Coffs Harbour series will be available shortly. For the first time, competitors will be able to submit their entry online via the event website www.pittwatertocoffs.com.au which will be launched to coincide with the NOR.
To commemorate the 30th Anniversary, immediate Past Commodore of the RPAYC, Angus Gordon is writing a book on the history of the race. Titled “Racing to Coffs – Memoirs of a Coffs Tragic” Gordon himself a 20 year veteran of the race is in the final stages of the book which will be published towards the end of the year. The book not only covers the history of the race but also covers preparation of vessel and crew, understanding the weather and currents as well tactics, navigation and position reporting. The book will have appeal to those interested in the race whether they have previously competed or intend to compete.
For race enquiries please contact the RPAYC Sailing Office on (02) 9997 1633 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
