Saturday marked the opening of Ocean Racing WA’s season, the George Law Foundation Race hosted by Fremantle Sailing Club.
The day started for SoPYC yacht King Canute at 6am, when it left our club in the dark to make its regular pilgrimage down the river and under the bridges to the start line.
Whilst Ocean Racing is currently mainly the domain of the bigger Division 1 and 2 yachts, King Canute a Spacesailer 27, was very pleased to see a Viking 30, Helga from HYC, on the entrant list.
During 9 hours of very close racing, the two smaller yachts traded places a dozen times finishing within a minute of each other. Ocean racing doesn’t just have to be the realm of bigger yachts.
The race started in gusty 15 knot easterly conditions, with gusts reaching 20 knots during the day, before petering out to nothing around the back of Rottnest. Ocean Racing has all the challenges of river racing, but with added importance given to navigation and swell. Unfortunately, King Canute sailed into a wind hole and watched its competition sail past from at least 500 metres behind and off into the distance, and it took the rest of the race trying to hunt them down. Whilst Ocean Racing is currently mainly the domain of the bigger Division 1 and 2 yachts, King Canute a Spacesailer 27, was very pleased to see a Viking 30, Helga from HYC, on the entrant list. During 9 hours of very close racing, the two smaller yachts traded places a dozen times finishing within a minute of each other. Ocean racing doesn’t just have to be the realm of bigger yachts.
King Canute finished in a creditable 3rd position on handicap and 4th on IRC in Division 2, and finally returned to its pen at 10pm, 16 hours after leaving.
Our section would love to see more SoPYC yachts and crew joining in on the ORWA events, and whilst only having one SoPYC yacht in the race this year, its members can be found crewing on or owning many yachts throughout both ORWA divisions.
The Ocean Racing Section at South of Perth is indebted to its section sponsors, Wilson Marine and Nail Brewing, so please support Chris Pearson’s Chandlery, or choose a Quokka or Nail beer from John’s range next time you are at the bar. Both these guys have supported many events at our club, not just our Ocean Racing members.
Full results of the race can be found by clicking on the link below
https://www.topyacht.net.au/results/fsc/2025/kb25/successcup/series.htm?ty=15418
