Rolex Trophy – Sydney’s Summer of Sail

• NEWS
• 25 Nov, 2004 10:52:00 PM

Rolex Trophy – Sydney’s Summer of Sail

World champion sailors and their boats will generate one of the finest offshore regattas ever sailed out of Sydney when the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia conducts the Rolex Trophy in the lead-up to the 60th Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

World champion sailors and their boats will generate one of the finest offshore regattas ever sailed out of Sydney when the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia conducts the Rolex Trophy in the lead-up to the 60th Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

The 2004 Rolex Trophy will be sailed over mostly short windward/leeward courses off Sydney Heads with:

· Three days of one-design racing for the Farr 40, Sydney 38, Sydney 32 and Mumm 30 One Design classes from Saturday to Monday, 11-13 December.  Up to four races are planned for each day.
· Four days of rating class competition for IRC and PHS handicap categories from Thursday to Sunday,  16-19 December.  Two races are planned each day for a total of eight races.

The Notice of Race and an entry form for the Rolex Trophy are now available on the official website – www.rolexsydneyhobart.com and the CYCA's website (www.cyca.com.au) and will be available on Friday, 26 November in hard copy at the CYCA Sailing Office.

While the Rolex Trophy is a prestigious regatta for individual boats, both one-design and rating classes, a major feature this year will be the Rolex Challenge for teams of two IRC rated boats representing a country or state.

Because the team competition is so popular, the CYCA will also conduct a separate teams event for clubs as well as for those representing their country or State.  Once the Notice of Race is published, boats can seek selection to represent Australia through Yachting Australia or their State through their Member Yachting Association. 

Sailed in conjunction with the Rolex Trophy, the Rolex Challenge pointscore will also include the 60th Rolex Sydney Hobart, with this ninth race carrying double points.

Yachts owners from overseas and all Australian States are showing keen interest in the Rolex Challenge, which replaces the Southern Cross Cup teams series conducted by the CYCA in alternative years since 1967.

Many of the IRC and PHS yachts contesting the Rolex Sydney Hobart are expected to contest the Rolex Trophy rating series while a large fleet of Farr 40s and Sydney 38s will be lining up for the One Design racing.  

The Rolex Trophy is of major significance to the Farr 40 OD class as the racing will be on similar courses to the Rolex Farr 40 World Championship from 1-4 March 2005.  In fact, the CYCA expects that several of the Farr 40 owners will elect to continue racing in the IRC rating series as part of their preparations for the Worlds.

Similarly,  with 13 Sydney 38s entered for the Rolex Sydney Hobart, in which they will race under IRC ratings as well as one design,  the club expects a number to contest both the one design and rating sections of the Rolex Trophy.  Some Sydney 38s may also be in teams contesting the Rolex Challenge.