Middle Harbour Yacht Club’s (MHYC) popular Inshore Sprint Series starts again this spring and the Club is expecting a good roll-up when the first two Sydney Harbour races are sailed on Saturday 24 September. 

The series is open to mixed keelboat divisions for boats from J/24s to DK46s, along with One-Design racing for Farr 40s and Adams 10 and others. All boats with a current Cat 7 rating and insurance are welcome to come and take part in the fun short races of approximately 40-50 minutes. Racing starts from 1pm each day.

Courses usually comprise two-lap windward-leewards with a gate. Run by an experienced race management team, racing will take place on The Sound or south of Sow and Pigs Reef, depending on conditions.

A regular participant is Tracy Richardson, who brings her Adams 10, Artemis, from Mosman Bay to race in the summer and winter sprints. She also takes part in other MHYC events, including the Sydney Harbour Regatta in March, where she sailed Artemis to second place in the Adams 10 division. This after leading Brian Lees’ Contentious on countback coming into the final day. 

Tracy Richardson and crew on 2Xtreme at the AWKR in Melbourne - Andrea Francolini pic - AWKR

In May, Richardson became the inaugural recipient of the Jules Trophy (dedicated to Julie Hodder, a past  Commodore of the Club). The trophy is to be awarded to the MHYC Yachtswoman of the Year at the end of each sailing season and Richardson received it for her standout performances  during 2021-2022.  

Commenting on the Inshore Sprint Series, Richardson said, “We love the close competitiveness of it. It’s exciting and fast paced with quick manoeuvres. I love the tactics of it too. I love racing against similar boats; it prepares us for our states and nationals and other Adams 10 events.

“We will be doing the upcoming series with my regular Artemis crew,” added Richardson, who won Division 1 of the Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta in June on a borrowed Adams 10, 2Xtreme.

Tracy Richardson at the helm of Artemis - Marg Fraser-Martin pic

For winning Australia’s premier women’s keelboat regatta, the Sydney sailor received the privilege of being the first to have her name engraved on the inaugural Gail Clough Memorial Trophy. Clough, who founded and regularly sailed in the regatta, passed away in 2020.

“We invite our own club members and those from clubs all over NSW to come and take part. It’s a great series for honing skills on tight courses,” MHYC Commodore, Rob Aldis said.

Inshore Spring Series program:
Races 1 and 2 - Saturday 24 September 2022
Races 3 and 4 - Saturday 29 October
Races 5 and 6 - Saturday 19 November 
Races 7 and 8 – Saturday 21 January 2023
Races 9 and 10 – Saturday 1 April 

To enter, please go to: https://app.sailsys.com.au/club/5/entry/series/1800/pricing

To download Sailing Instructions and view other race documents, please go to: https://mhyc.com.au/sailing/keelboat-division/keelboat-noticeboard 

By Di Pearson/MHYC media