PRINCE PHILIP CUP SYDNEY 2023

THE 2023 AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP for the International Dragon Class was held on Sydney Harbour in early January. The regatta combines the 3-race series for the Ted Albert Memorial Cup and the 8-race series for the Prince Philip Cup (PPC).

Thirteen yachts attended including the WA/RFBYC entrants of Sandy Anderson Plum Crazy AUS 185, Ian Malley Saphira AUS221, Ray Chatfield Wizzardry AUS201 and Rob Campbell sailing a borrowed Mirage AUS228. The four WA entries were supported by 14 sailors – and every kilo was needed!

Both Ian and Ray made the return journey of 7,600km towing their boats between RFBYC and Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron. They were helped by crew members Leonie Rochford, Graeme Fardon, Geoff Bell and Karen Chatfield. It was smooth driving most of the way except for an early hiccup for Ray who had a faulty tyre valve. And as fate would have it, the local tyre repairer in Coolgardie was the regional Naval Cadet leader and bumped the repair job up to high priority, getting it done in just half an hour for no cost! His help was worth a plug for his business—Oka Kalgoorlie.

Sandy Anderson already had Plum Crazy in Sydney, delivered earlier from Tasmania, and Rob Campbell had borrowed a yacht that was waiting, but not ready, for him at RSYS.

The first task on arrival for each of the crews was to step the masts and Rob’s ‘boys’, Mark Cubitt and Brad Stout, became adept at this task installing their own on Mirage and with that success, efficiently dropped Plum Crazy’s in too. And then they did it a few more times during the week!

The Ted Albert Memorial Cup Series was sailed in classic Sydney sunny north-easterly conditions with 3 races on one day in a windward/leeward format. Nick Rogers from Tasmania on Karabos IX AUS 205 won the cup, David Chapman from New South Wales on Ascalon AUS 209 came second and Damien Daniel from Victoria on Imagination AUD 179 was third. Rob Campbell in Mirage suffered a damaged mast and was unable to complete Races 2 and 3, but it gave ‘the boys’ another opportunity to perfect their mast stepping technique.

Tragically on the first leg of the first race of the first day, Liquidity AUS 216 sailed by Richard Franklin was struck amidships by a large charter yacht. The charter yacht, under power, came from behind and was unseen until it struck. Liquidity was rolled on to its side, took water and sank within seconds of being hit. It is believed the mast broke and the hull split in half. It rests in one of the deepest parts of Sydney Harbour just off Bradley Head. Miraculously Richard and his crew escaped uninjured but not before great concern that they had been trapped in the hull as it turned upside down and sank. Two competing Drag- ons crews, including Ray Chatfield witnessed the accident and stood by, eventually rescuing the three crew who, like a martini, were well shaken.

The Race Committee awarded Wizzardry and Ascalon, the two yachts that stood by and rescued the sailors and therefore unable to complete the first race, redress of equal first place. The fleet were in full agreement with this decision.

Whilst the sinking of a Dragon is not entirely without precedent, it is unusual that the same one should sink twice. During the 2009 Prince Philip Cup also held on Sydney Harbour, Liquidity sailed by Richard Franklin sank after a collision with another competitor. The crew were once again safely recovered and fortunately on that occasion Liquidity was able to be re-floated.

One wonders if her fate was written in her name.

The Prince Philip Cup races were then sailed on Tuesday, 3 January to Saturday, 7 January with a layday on Thursday, 5 January 2023.

Sandy Anderson’s Plum Crazy safely returned to RSYS after breaking the backstay and vang just prior to the first race, but repairs were made and she was back out on the water for the second race of the day. Rob Campbell’s Mirage also suffered some gear issues and retired from Race 1.

As it turned out the lay-day coincided with a major change in the weather with Tuesday and Wednesday enjoying continuing north-easterly breezes of around 15 knots and sunny days before the weather turned to the south and south-east for the balance of the regatta with breezes of 25-30 knots and plenty of rain.

The tougher conditions on Saturday were such that Plum Crazy and Charles Stanton’s Amazing Grace were unable to safely depart the marina in time for the first race. Plum Crazy’s crew were unanimous in sitting out the day and we made our way to Bradley Head to watch the fleet rock and roll its way through the course. Occasional white-outs from the heavy rain made for difficult visibility on water

– quite a significant risk when one is on the permanent look out for Manly Ferries and rogue charter yachts. Lady luck eventually came the way of Mirage, albeit at the misfortune of Ian Malley in Saphira The strong winds and rough chop in Race 6 caused Saphira to roll into a Chinese gybe jettisoning crew Margot Matthews from the foredeck. Before she had time to think about being in the water in the middle of Sydney Harbour, the lack of visibility and plying ferries, ‘the boys’ came from astern in Mirage below, left: RFBYC Women Sailing in PPC. L-R: Sandy Anderson, Caroline Gibson, Susie Parker, Karen Chatfield, Deb Henderson, Leonie Rochford, Margo Matthews below, right: the WA Contingent sailing in PPC. L-R: Ian Malley, Susie Parker, Greg Bell, Kate (host), Graeme Fardon, Sandy Anderson, Brad Stout, Caroline Gibson, Karen Chatfield, Deb Henderson, Mark Cubitt, Leonie Rochford, Rob Campbell, Margo Matthews, Ray Chatfield. below, bottom: Skippers and Crew for the 2023 Prince Philip Cup

Prince Philip Cup

Sydney 2023

and hoisted her from the turbulent waters. All week ‘the boys’ had been complaining about being underweight without Penny Anderson on board, but now they had their extra kilo’s!!

Mirage was rewarded with a first place by the Race Committee for making the mid-race rescue in difficult conditions. However, luck doesn’t last long and in the last race of the series the reign of mast-terror persisted for Rob Campbell as Nick Rogers in Karabos IX misjudged crossing Mirage’s stern and took out her back stay – yet another mast stepping for ‘the boys’!

The heavy breezes made for some exciting racing. David Chapman was heard to comment that he did not realise ‘Dragons could get up and plane’! Other skippers were heard to comment less glowingly about the conditions.

Despite Sydney turning on her charm and her tempest, it was an excellent regatta with plenty of close finishes. The final results of the Prince Philip Cup in which all eight races were sailed and with one ‘drop’ were as follows:

Ascalon AUS 209 | 8 Points | David Chapman (Helm) Crew: Robert Wilmot, Annie Wilmot and Charlotte Griffunder

Trio AUS 130 | 16 Points | Matt Whinall (Helm) Crew: Michael Bartley and Peter Bevis

Karabos IX AUS 205 | 18 Points | Nick Rogers (Helm) Crew: Leigh Brehens and Chris Steilberg

Accordingly, Ascalon AUS 209 with David Chapman and crew won the Prince Philip Cup. Trio AUS