61 starters for the Pittwater to Coffs Ocean Race

7:18 AM Fri 19 Dec 2008 GMT

'Lining up for the start in the Pittwater to Coffs Race - 2009 Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Ocean Race' Jeff Thomas

A fleet of 61 yachts has been confirmed for the start of the 2009 Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Offshore race commencing on 2nd January at 12pm, hosted by The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club.

At the close of the extended deadline on Sunday 14th December, RPAYC Commodore Russell Murphy said, "we're extremely pleased with the 61 starters for the 28th Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Ocean race" adding "absence makes the heart grow fonder, having missed out on getting to Coffs last year.

We're hoping the weather Gods will deliver better conditions for the race and we can't wait to get to Coffs in the New Year. The launch at the Coffs Harbour Yacht Club and the announcement by the Department of Lands to dredge the marina entrance last Friday was welcomed with the customary hospitality by the Coffs locals, volunteers and media, so we're all set to go."

One of the first entries received and the largest yacht in the fleet is the CYCA's Matthew Short's TP 52 Short Wave, who will come into the race as line honours favourite and a contender to take out the handicap double. Previous owner of the Farr 40 Short Shipped, Matthew acquired Short Wave in April this year. Optimised for IRC offshore racing, their first offshore race with the TP52 was the 2008 Southport race where they placed fourth overall and fourth on divisional handicap.

It will be a family affair for the Short family with just about every member of the crew somehow related including Matthew's wife Christine, daughters and extended family all part of the team. This will be Matthew's eighth Coffs race and 3rd as a family, having previously completed the journey on the Farr 40 Short Shipped.

Says Matthew, "We're really looking forward to the Coffs race, it's a fantastic mid-distance offshore race and it's a great family event. My wife used to drive up to meet me in Coffs when the kids were young but now their with me all the way, either up the bow or up the mast and we enjoy sailing together. In terms of line honours favouritism Matthew commented, "we'll be out there battling and will give it our best shot. We'll be hoping for the breeze across the beam - it should be fun, can't wait to get there."

Another contender for line and handicap honours will be Pretty Woman, the IC mod Farr 45 who finished 3rd over the line in 2007 race behind Wild Oats XI and Wild Joe and will have co-owner and RPAYC Commodore Russell Murphy on board and experienced offshore yachtsman and past Commodore Richard Hudson (also co-owner) along with a mix of experience, talent & youth from the RPAYC youth Development program like 20 year Tom Spithill, brother of AC helmsman James and match racing sister Katie.

Race debutant and another to be amongst the front runners will be the new Marten 49 owned by RPAYC member Bruce Hogan who only took up the sport of sailing six years ago. Along with wife Tina, this will be their 1st race to Coffs but they will be backed by plenty of experience including race veteran and accomplished offshore yachtsman Peter Antill who has competed in all but two Pittwater to Coffs races. "We're learning fast," says skipper Hogan adding "this boat has a delightful balance, with the comforts of cruising and she's also very quick. We don't have unrealistic expectations on winning but we'll be competitive and we're really looking toward this terrific event as a team and being part of the major event of the year for the Alfreds."

In terms of handicap contention there's a bunch of boats including the Beneteau 44.7 Le Billet, the Cookson 12 About Time, the South Australian entrant Spirit of Lexus, a Farr 42 cruiser/racer and the custom Murray 37 Dark & Stormy Witch.

Experience counts for a lot in this race and for Bill Ebsary, owner/skipper of Le Billet this will be his 23rd race to Coffs.

He finished third on handicap in the 2007 race and 2nd in the altered 2008 race. He will be ably assisted by an experienced crew including direct past RPAYC Commodore Angus Gordon as navigator. This will be his 18th Coffs race and is highly regarded as a navigator with a good local knowledge of the race track and the tricky coastal conditions as they battle the headlands north. Gordon has had a tremendous year with numerous wins including the Southport race aboard the Cookson 50 Quantum Racing, taking out the triple crown.

Dark & Stormy Witch, one of the handicap contenders for Pittwater to Coffs Race - Jeff Thomas

Another force to be reckoned on handicap will be the Staples/King Murray 37 custom Dark & Stormy Witch, under the helm of Brian Ellis and Bruce Staples with Jim King taking a year off. They've been there before, having previously claimed the podium as overall IRC winner of both the passage race in 2002 and Coffs series in 2005.

Like Antill, Brian Ellis is another of the true veteran's of the race and this trip to Coffs he will be celebrating his silver anniversary, racking up his 25th Coffs race. He is hoping for "downhill conditions all the way, that will suit us just fine. We'll just go as fast as we can."

And on reaching this 25 year milestone, Brian said," By now, I should know the way there and a few of the shortcuts, it's an enjoyable race and you're usually there the next day. We all just get into Coffs warm hospitality. "

Whilst Dark & Stormy Witch will be blessed with an experienced "motley crew", co-owner Bruce Staples (24 races) quipped, " At our age we're just hoping to get there and enjoy a beer or two with the crew and all our friends in Coffs Harbour, it's a lot of fun. In terms of their handicap chances, Bruce added, "with the right conditions anything's possible, in reaching and running conditions we'll be up there somewhere." They will be hoping to hold the silver when the race and series is done.

One things for sure there will be plenty of action down on the docks in Coffs Harbour for locals as the fleet will be closely bunched as they cross the finish line. They will be out in force to barrack home their home town entrants B52, a Sydney 41 and Overdrive, a Northshore 380.

The 61 entrants represent over a dozen yacht clubs stretching from Queensland to South Australia. The "warm water" classic is the first ocean race of the new year and the fleet will be honoured to get away under the starter's gun from the majestic start boat Cambria II, owned by John David. Blasting the cannon will be guest starter, long term RPAYC member and local business identity Bill Buckle. The start line is between Barrenjoey Headland and Lion Island in the heart of Broken Bay at 12 noon on Friday 2nd January 2009.

The second race of the series will be the Solitary Island race in Coffs Harbour on Monday 5th January followed by the prize giving at Coffs Harbour Yacht Club later that evening.

The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club will provide regular updates on the progress of the yachts which will be posted on the event website at www.pittwatertocoffs.com.au

A list of entries can be viewed on the website at www.pittwatertocoffs.com.au

Race merchandise is now on sale at The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club and includes Line 7 polo shirts, long sleeved t-shirts, vests and caps.

For race enquiries and documentation please contact the RPAYC Sailing Office on (02) 9997 1633 or email yachting@rpayc.com.au.

by Damian Devine

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