Pittwater to Coffs Harbour cancelled
The Club Marine Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race, scheduled for this Friday, has been cancelled.
23 March 2021
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The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (RPAYC) has announced that the Club Marine Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race will be cancelled due to the safety concerns related to the New South Wales floods.
The last week as seen over 800-millimetres of rain fall throughout the state with parts of Sydney, Central Coast, Mid-Coast and Northern Rivers declared disaster zones. Currently 18,000 people have evacuated from their homes.
Coffs Harbour has currently seen 182-millimetres of rain this week.
“The decision has not been made lightly. However, extreme weather across NSW has resulted in large amounts of significant debris in the water, potentially creating hazards for yachts along the NSW coastline,” said RPAYC Commodore, Allen Stormon in a statement.
“The Club also recognises that the emergency services in NSW are already stretched at this time and we are conscious of not wanting to add complications to the situation, should an emergency arise.
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“While we will miss our annual race, at this time, our hearts go out to those effected by floods throughout NSW who are doing it particularly tough right now.”
While forecasts for the next few days indicate a ceasing of rain and the racecourse appearing fine along NSW coast, the Race Committee considers the decision to cancel “to be a responsible and appropriate decision”.
“This is a disappointing result for competitors, the RPAYC and Coffs Harbour Yacht Club alike, especially as this year’s race was truly shaping up to be a competitive one,” RPAYC Race Director, Nick Elliott added.
“The timing of our race seemed to be spot on, with close to 50 entries received,” he commented on the fleet, which included a good mix of competitive boats in the 30 to 40-foot range, an emerging short-handed division, plus some very fast multihulls, all of which the Organising Authority is hoping will return for next year’s race.”
Preparations for the next Club Marine Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race, which is currently scheduled to start in the week prior to Easter on Friday 8 April, 2022, are now underway.
Organisers have also announced that in lieu of the race, and despite the prolonged rain in Sydney this week, the RPAYC will provide a free and impromptu Twilight Race on Pittwater for those who had entered this year’s Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race.
RPAYC has also confirmed that the Coffs Crew Party, scheduled for the evening of Thursday 25 March, will still go ahead.
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