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J/70s Break the Ice

Tim Ryan, skipper of Vamos writes, 'After the inclement weather we've experienced recently in Sydney, it was a pleasant surprise to enjoy two sunny days on Sydney Harbour for the RSYS J/70 Ice Breaker Regatta. By the end of the day, some of the crews were even seen in shorts and t-shirts, soaking up the unseasonably warm weather.

The race officer Rob Ridley, was keen to maximize the racing opportunities, and the fleet of six boats competed in three races on both Saturday and Sunday morning. The conditions featured a light and fading westerly breeze, but the wind held just long enough each day to complete the races. The racing proved to be quite challenging, with crews battling shifty winds and the typical tidal influences of Sydney Harbour.

The competition was fierce, with three different boats claiming victories in the six races: Matador, Vamos and The Jackal each shared the honours.

The weekend's overall prize went to David Doherty and his crew on Matador, who secured an unassailable lead on Saturday with three consecutive wins. Despite tough competition, they held on for a win on countback. The Matador crew, new to the J/70 class, are already showing impressive results. Tim Ryan’s Vamos with crew Adrian Kiely, Xavier McLachlan and Charlie Gundy, staged a comeback on Sunday with two wins, ultimately tying with Matador at nine points. Kim Ketelbey’s Anemology with crew Max Brennan, Nick Drummond and Chelsea Williams, secured the final podium position.

Having shaken off the cobwebs, the Sydney J/70 fleet is now gearing up for the RSYS Mini Series, which starts on 14 September.'

See the full results