RC of Sailing, Hart Cup
The Hart Cup 2021 – “The Best Yet”.
The Hart Cup (Manly-Mooloolaba Race) was held by Wynnum Manly Sailing Club on Saturday May 1st. 13 boats were entered, 4 boats from MYC: Blew Bayou, Boudicea, Ocean Warrior and Sea Bass. All boats proceeded to Manly on Friday in fairly unpleasant squally conditions with choppy seas and plenty of rain.
On Saturday morning, start conditions from the southern end of Green Island were good with a light southerly breeze, around Lochyer Light on the way to Mud Island seas remained calm with the light southerly backing a little. Under spinnakers the fleet slowly made its way north but passing Mud Island the wind dropped and the fleet mainly ground down to a stop. Ocean Warrior was in the last third of the fleet but being further east in the bay was fortunate to have a persisting light breeze and moved rapidly passed the slowing fleet and was able to pass across the head of the fleet towards M8.
Wind speed started increasing and the fleet was moving well but around 10:25 conditions became very squally with increasing rain and wind speeds. Wind speed picked up quite rapidly reaching 40 knots and sea becoming very choppy with larger waves developing and visibility virtually nothing.
Eventually, M8 was visible and the fleet, somewhat spread-out, continued along the 52 Nm course. The wind and sea conditions persisted strongly throughout the race with winds gusting to between and 25 and 30 knots with swell and waves increasing in size. Especially, turning into the North West Channel around NW4 the wave height and swell were impressive – similar conditions persisted for the rest of the race.
Of the 13 boats entered for the Hart Cup, there was only one non-starter and only one retirement. Congratulations go to all competitors for persisting in the conditions.
This was the fastest I have seen this race completed with Barry Wood and crew taking line-honours with Blew Bayou getting over the line just before 14:54. Very well sailed but unfortunately at the cost of two spinnakers. As Barry said, “you are not really trying unless you blow at least one spinnaker”.
Myself with a very committed, hard-working and tolerant crew on Ocean Warrior were 6th over the line but took 1st place on handicap in the PHS division – well done and thank you to all Ocean Warrior crew.
Jon Cray and crew on Sea Bass sailed very well coming 5th over the line and also on handicap – well done Jon and crew.
Mal Trotter has returned to sailing with MYC with his new boat, Boudicea. Mal and crew were 10th over the line and 11th on handicap. This was the first time out for Mal and the crew and the conditions would have been exceedingly difficult in which to get the best performance. I am looking forward to seeing Boudicea racing regularly.
Thank you to Haydn Rough, Race Director from WMSC, for organising the Hart Cup this year. Well done and I am looking forward to same time next year and, with any luck, even more entries.
Final results online: https://app.sailsys.com.au/club/79/results/series/1080/races/8524?handicap=5
Mark Coghlan, RC Sailing