| Sydney to Mooloolaba Yacht Race 1980 | |
|---|---|
  MHYC The Log Apr/May 1980  MHYC The Log Apr/May 1981 Atart of the 1980 Ampol Sydney to Mooloolaba Yacht Race. | |
| Location | Sydney to Mooloolaba |
| State | NSW |
| Country | Australia |
| Club | Middle Harbour Yacht Club |
Sydney to Mooloolaba Yacht Race 1980
RECORD FLEET FOR AMPOL SYDNEY to MOOLOOLABA RACE
When entries closed on 3rd March, a record 41 yachts had entered for the Ampol Sydney to Mooloolaba race and we know of at least one other entry - our old friend Ray Canniffe from Q.C.Y.C. whose entry is in the mail. The fleet this year is particularly strong and there will undoubtedly be strong competition for handicap honours with Middle Harbour yachts.
Last year, Keith Le Compte in White Pointer was looking over his shoulder at sister ship Pryority (John Pryor) all the way up the coast and these two yachts were second and third respectively to Streaker which is not racing this year. They will have keen competition from Alan Sweeney in Diamond Cutter who won in 1978 with his previous boat of the same name. Numerous other regular Middle Harbour yachts have an excellent chance and it must not be forgotten that Sid Fischer's Ragamuffin and Sweet Caroline, owned by Marshall Phillips, are both on our register.
The line honours duel is likely to be between Tony Fisher's new Helsal Il and Jack Rooklyn's veteran Apollo.
It is certain that navigation will play a big part in the race as yachts seek to avoid the southerly set. It is equally certain that there will be great celebrations at Moolooliaba after the race finishes.
The Ampol Tasman Sea Trophy is in a most interesting position with Patsy, skippered by Sid Yaffe, leading but fifteen yachts in contention. Results will not be known until after the Gladstone Race starting on Good Friday and the presentation is proposed to be at the No. 1 Offshore Divisional Dinner.
Members should note that this year's Mooloolaba Race starts at 11 a.m. and not 3 p.m. as in the past. Ferries will be available for spectators and during the race, charts in the Club' will show progress. Phone calls should be made to 9692564 where the positions will be updated twice daily after the skeds.
One interesting prize in the Ampol Sydney to Mooloolaba Race is the Vic English Trophy, named after a former publicity officer at M.H.Y.C. The trophy is given to the navigator who, in his compulsory radio call from Cape Moreton, 27 miles from the finish, most accurately predicts his finishing time. In the two years since its introduction it has been won by predictions within two minutes of the actual time.
Entries
Reports | Trifector to Diamond Cutter Trifecta to Diamond Cutter Trifecta to Diamond Cutter - Ampol Tasman Sea Trophy This year's Ampol Sydney to Mooloolaba Race was a great triumph for Middle Harbour yachts which filled four of the first five places. Alan Sweeney must be particularly congratulated for his second win in three years and also for winning the Brisbane to Gladstone Race which followed. It is believed to be the first time that the same yacht has won these two major events. Diamond Cutter then went on to win the Gladstone to Bundaberg Race completing a remarkable treble on her trip north. Fanny Adams (Jim Allan and Barry Bloomfield) won line the Brisbane to Gladstone Race and the Ampol line honours trophy will grace our cabinets for the first time since Ron Swanson won it in Sundowner in 1969. Syd Yaffe in Patsy sailed consistently well, and his second place was a just reward for his efforts. This combined with excellent results in the Montagu and Solitary races enabled him to win the Ampol Tasman Sea Trophy without entering the final event, the Gladstone Race. Satin Sheets, skippered by Andrew Strachan from Lake Macquarie was second in the Ampol Tasman Sea Trophy with Peter Gray in Hobo from Port Hacking third. Incidentally the navigator of Hobo in the Mooloolaba and Gladstone races was Middle Harbour life member Frank Likely, the only yatchsman to have competed in every Sydney to Brisbane or Mooloolaba race. The Ampol Tasman Sea Trophy plus second and third prizes will be presented at the No. 1 Offshore Division dinner on Wednesday 21st May. Ken White in Salamanda II and Keith Tierney in Kintama also sailed remarkably well in the Ampol Sydney to Mooloolaba race and no one could begrudge them their trophies. Perhaps the most deserving skipper not to gain a prize was Marshall Phillips who owns Sweet Caroline. Sweet Caroline broke her mast a week or two before the race and when Marshall could not get a replacement he hartered Sagittarius (the former Diamond Cutter with Allan Sweeney won the 1978 race), ransferred the safety equipment from Sweet Caroline and had the rating certificate revalidated in the forty eight hours before the race. Marshall, a Middle Harbour Yacht Club member gained fourth place in No. 2 Division and was sixth overall. Ragamuffin, skippered by Syd Fischer turned in his usual fine performance to be second in Division one and we should not forget that Syd is a Middle Harbour member of long standing. A particularly gratifying feature of the race was the praise given by prominent skippers from other Clubs for the conduct of the radio skeds. To our thanks to Peter Zeins we add our gratitude to Dick McElhinney, skipper of Sea Gatta, Derek Barnard of Penta Base, Ansett Airlines and other donors and particularly to Mooloolaba Yacht Club and Ampol Petroleum Ltd., whose sponsorship of the Ampol Tasman Sea Trophy makes the event |