MEDIA Release

SOLO TASMAN YACHT RACE COMING TO SYC!

After 48 Years the Solo Tasman Yacht Race; from Port Taranaki, New Plymouth, New Zealand to Mooloolaba is now concluding at Southport Yacht Club, Gold Coast, just in time for its 50 th year celebrations in 2022.

The Solo Tasman Yacht Race; which is run every 4 years is the second oldest singlehanded offshore race in the world, after the trans-Atlantic event, and is the only yacht race of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.

‘It’s so good to have a Cat 1 Ocean Race finishing at Southport Yacht Club’ says David Hows from Ocean Gem who has competed in recently competed in the 2018 Solo Tasman Yacht Races.

Southport Yacht Club are hoping to build the Australian entry numbers with positive press coverage in the lead up to the 2022 event. Southport Yacht Club encourage Sailors to commit well before the event, ensuring systems and preparation on their vessels are set up to sail solo in comfortable time.

The Solo Tasman Race currently 1280nm Race will become a 1225nm Race to Southport Yacht Club.

With the securing of this Race it has prompting an idea for Southport Yacht Club to launch a Twin Reefs Race, running 2 yearly, 1 year prior to the Solo Tasman Race in 2021; giving Southport Yacht Club an opportunity for a fully crewed division and a short-handed division – a great test run for intending solo entrants for 2022. A 660nm Event that Starts at Southport Yacht Club to Middleton Reef, South to Elizabeth Reef and back to Southport for its conclusion. Ideally becoming Southport Yacht Club’s signature Cat 1 660nm ocean race.

Securing the Solo Tasman Race also opens up the opportunity for Southport Yacht Club to set up a feeder race (solo or 2 handed) for the Australian boats heading to New Plymouth for the race start in 2022.

Southport Yacht Club was chosen as the finishing point for the Solo Tasman Yacht Race, on the advice of New Plymouth Yacht Club (NPYC) because it has easy access/sheltering breakwaters.

An exciting time for the Club and promoting the sport of sailing to our younger generation here on the Gold Coast.

For further information please contact Southport Yacht Club Marketing Manager, Virginia Riddle-Cross via marketing.manager@southportyachtclub.com.au or +61 7 5591 3500.

BELCHER and RYAN CLAIM 470 EUROPEAN GOLD

After a tough few months, Australia’s Mat Belcher and Will Ryan worked their way back the more familiar top of the podium in Sanremo, Italy, at the 470 Open European Championship.

With pressure on going into the medal race in light winds, the Australians finished second to the Kiwis in the doublepoint single race, giving them a 15 point break to the Swedish team in the open division.

On hitting the dock a grinning Will Ryan said: “I haven’t seen this flag (country flag) for quite a while; it’s nice to get it back.”

Skipper Mat Belcher spoke to Australian Sailing’s high performance director Iain Murray: ‘That’s the satisfying thing, to work in the lighter stuff. It’s been good to put it together; it gives us confidence going into the pressured moments. It’s been a busy and difficult couple of months and it’s nice to start the season this way, and keep working towards next year.”

Coach Victor Kovalenko proudly embraced the winning pair, saying “Welcome back! I think it’s a great comeback to the podium in the right position. A very impressive medal race, they showed their domination in heavy winds but now they did well in light winds. Congratulations and enjoy the winning place!”

Fremantle Sailing Club’s Nia Jerwood and Monique de Vries couldn’t have pushed any harder, an OCS in the medal race ending their chance of bettering ninth overall but encouraged by making it into their first open medal contest.

Two afternoon medal races sailed in perfect Mediterranean condition wrapped up the 470 Europeans organised by local Yacht Club Sanremo and Marina degli Aregai with the cooperation of the national and international 470 class.

Iain Murray concluded: “It’s been a very positive week for the Australian Sailing Team in Sanremo, the women into their first medal race and the men putting on a clinical performance with scores of ones and twos. Now it’s on to Marseille for the World Cup Final then the test event in Tokyo.”

470 Men’s (70 boats) 1st Mat Belcher and Will Ryan 1, 1, 1, 2, 1, (7), 2 = 8 points 31st Chris Charlwood and Josh Dawson 11, 18, 11, 17, (29), 25 = 82 points

470 Women’s (40 boats) 9th Nia Jerwood and Monique de Vries, 16, 18, 3, 20, 1, 5, OCS = 65 points

FULL Article: Australia Sailing Team https://www.australiansailingteam.com.au/news/belcherand-ryan-claim-470-european-open-gold