CYCA to consider including multihull racing in their program

Posted: 25th Oct 2011.
By Roger McMillan – Editor My Sailing and Australian Sailing and Yachting Magazine.

The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, the organiser of the Rolex Sydney Hobart race and Australia’s most influential ocean racing organisation, has agreed to investigate whether it should include multihull racing on its program. In its Offshore e-newsletter to members, the club included the following from Commodore Garry Linacre:

There has been a lot of talk around the club about Multihull racing and its possible place at the CYCA. This subject has been widely discussed at Board level. Recent focus has been precipitated following an approach by a member to form a multihull division to race in our Grant Thornton Short Ocean Point score series.

Following the usual process of our sailing committee bringing information to the board, it was unanimously resolved to proceed in a manner which involves a process of investigation and gaining of knowledge. The broad detail is covered by the following points:

  • The matter is referred to the Sailing Committee and the Audit Planning and Risk Committee for investigation.
  • The investigation will be conducted having regard to the experience of ISAF affiliated clubs and associations with current multihull involvement.
  • The Sailing Committee will report back to the Board with recommendations in a timely manner.
  • If the recommendations as approved by Audit Planning and Risk are in the affirmative regarding Multihull Racing, consultation will occur by way of a meeting with a view to ascertaining the wishes of the members concerning the involvement of the Club in multihull racing.
  • The Board of Directors, mindful of the members wishes, will determine what if any involvement the CYCA has in Multihull racing.

The term “Multihull Racing” covers a very wide scope. I see it as vitally important on a number of fronts that the committee structures, officers and sailing staff have a strong knowledge regarding all that is occurring in the sailing world and general directions of other clubs both domestically and internationally.

This is especially so with those clubs that we have had a strong historical bond. I am confident the process detailed above will put us in a strong and well researched position to ensure future decisions are made in the right vein and are beneficial to our great Club.

Garry Linacre – Commodore

While the cynical could argue that this is club-speak for “we’ll hold an enquiry and hope the issue goes away”, at least the subject is not being dismissed out-of-hand, as it was when Kiwi yachtsman Simon Hull approached the CYCA about entering his Orma 60 TeamVodafoneSailing in the Sydney-Hobart last year. (Just last weekend, Hull broke the Coastal Classic offshore race record from Auckland to the Bay of Islands and he has twice crossed the Tasman Sea in the boat.)

With 105ft trimarans setting Jules Verne Trophy (fastest around the world non-stop) records, the America’s Cup about to be raced in 72ft catamarans, the AC45 World Series and Extreme 40 catamaran events attracting record crowds and the cream of Australia’s sailing talent looking at A Class cats and other multihull divisions to improve their employment prospects, this enquiry by the CYCA is welcomed.

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