Entries open for the 30th Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Race
Report by Damian Devine
With the release of the Notice of Race, entries for the 30th Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race and associated series in 2011 have opened. The event is hosted by The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, Newport, Sydney.
The race began with humble beginnings back in 1981 with just 14 boats with the fleet swelling to 108 boats by its 10th Anniversary in 1991. The 226nm, Category 2 Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Ocean race gets underway on the 2nd January 2011 at 1pm..
The Pittwater & Coffs Harbour Offshore Series will be a five race series in 2011 with the Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Race kicking off the series followed by a short windward/leeward sprint and a 20nm Solitary Island race over two consecutive days in Coffs Harbour on the 5th & 6th January.
Start of the Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Race RPAYC Commodore Russell Murphy says, “The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club invites and welcomes all past competitors and indeed newcomers to get a taste of some challenging and spectacular east coast racing to help celebrate the 30th Anniversary of this warm water classic. We’re pleased with the hard work the Coffs Harbour Yacht Club are putting into the welcome at their end and we know this year will be a great event for everybody.”
There will be IRC, PHS and a Cruising division with additional one-design categories if sufficient entries warrant.
The 2010 race was won by the 100 foot ‘Wild Oats XI’ in a time of 21hrs 3mins 57secs, with the perennial competitor ‘Dark & Stormy Witch’ winning the IRC crown on corrected time for the second time having previously won back in 2002. Bill Ebsary’s Beneteau 47.7 ‘Le Billet’ won the coveted IRC overall series for an incredible third time in four years and Robert Alders J35 ‘Jayhawk’ took out the PHS Division having also won a series title back in 2005.
A veteran of the Coffs Race, Bill Ebsary will compete in his 26th Coffs Race in 2011 and commented on the series, "This is a great series that offers a bit of everything, many challenges and tests everyone to the limit. We’ll certainly be back next year to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the event. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Three times in the past four year's IRC Series winner, Le Billet will be back to defend her title - pic by Tom Spithill
It is anticipated 100 boats will take their place in this special anniversary race providing a spectacle at the start and all the way up the coast to Coffs Harbour.
For the diehards who just can’t get enough racing, the Coffs to Paradise Race, a 150 nautical mile coastal sprint hosted by the SYC, starts on the 7th January followed by Sail Paradise Series on the Gold Coast.
An online entry system will be launched in the coming weeks and this year the event will provide yacht tracking to assist media, competitors, spectators and families onshore following the race. The race can also be followed via Twitter and Facebook with frequent updates.Renowned as a fun, family event there will also be plenty of onshore activity for families organised by the receiving Club, Coffs Harbour Yacht Club.
The notice of race and application for entry for the Pittwater & Coffs Harbour series can be downloaded here.
Applications for entry close Friday 3rd December 2010.
For race enquiries and documentation 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 .'; document.write( '' ); document.write( addy_text32303 ); document.write( '<\/a>' ); //--> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
