Tony Donellan and his team aboard the Reichel Pugh 47 Shamrock proved that you don't need to have Volvo Round the World crew aboard your boat to get a glamour start.
Starting close to the pin end of the line Shamrock appeared to have her own private breeze in a harbour full of 'holes', reaching quietly north down the harbour and holding her lead almost to The Heads before yachts twice her size finally overhauled her.
By sunset most of the fleet were still visible some miles offshore of the Northern Beaches in a fading breeze.
Crosbie Lorimer followed the fleet out of the harbour to take these images.