Day 1 (13/02/2026) – A test for everyone
The NSW ORC Championship opened the 2026 Pantaenius Australia Pittwater Regatta today – a day of light wind and a sloppy seaway under grey skies that caused race officials at Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (RPAYC) to hoist the AP and then shorten the offshore courses – a difficult day on the water for officials and competitors alike.
Crazy Diamond – bow up and raring to go – Andrea Francolini, RPAYC pic
Division 1’s original 27 nautical mile course was shortened by 10 miles and those that handled the conditions best were John Bacon’s Crazy Diamond, the Melges 32 finishing strongly to beat David Hamilton’s Farr 40, Seeking Alpha by a little over 5 minutes.
Such were the conditions that the top two finished streaks ahead of their contemporaries, including third placed LCE Old School, Mark Griffiths’ DK46, which was 17 minutes behind the winner when the handicaps were applied.
“It was dodgy to start with, we were lucky to get a race in,” said Bacon’s tactician, Darren Jones.
Division 1 yachts with LCE Old School in foreground – Andrea Francolini, RPAYC pic
The AP went up initially, the midday start postponed, because the breeze was shifting south-east to south-west, and then race officials were made aware there was an easterly up the track.
“The call to AP was a good one, they got it right, but we still had 40 degree shifts,” Jones said.
“It was a pretty fair course that started in 7-8 knots and as we got up the course to top half, it dropped to 5-6 knots for the run back in. We were probably doing eight and a half to 11 knots boat speed on the run home, so it was quite pleasant.”
Georgia Lee taking on the big guns – Andrea Francolini, RPAYC pic
Shortening course was a good move, especially as it allowed some of the bigger boats at the back end of both divisions to finish in a reasonable time.
“I’d say it was almost a perfect day for a light displacement skinny boat like us,” Jones said. “We potentially could have taken line honours – only the 50 footer (Daguet 2, the Mylius 50 owned by Rob Aldis and Peter Byford) beat us home (less than 2 minutes separated them). Seeking Alpha finished about a minute behind us.”
Jones admitted, “We had the luxury of the breeze softening at top of the course. We were fast in those conditions compared to the bigger boats. We mowed them down quite quickly downwind – that’s when the boat comes into its own.”
Just the right touch of experience and youth on the rail of Pretty Woman – Andrea Francolini, RPAYC pic
The upwind leg went on for two hours in trying conditions, “John was steering and just kept the boat going. The crew praised him and it made my job as tactician a lot easier,” Jones ended.
Division 2 was originally to sail 21nms, but that course was shortened to 16. Last year’s Division 1 winner, Garry Gudmunson’s ID 35, Organised Chaos, took overall honours by nearly five minutes from Simon Grosser’s Young 88, Young at Heart – a past winner of this event. Third went to Neil Padden’s Beneteau First 40.7, Wailea, with a gap of 11 minutes from the winner.
Same designs – Toybox 2 and XS Moment – Andrea Francolini, RPAYC pic
On day 2, the full contingent of 86 boats will be out racing on various courses in the ORC Championship, Pittwater Cup, incorporating the Performance 40 division for the first time, along with the ten-strong Super 40 division and the Grand Soleil Yachts Cup. And it’s the much anticipated 5-Heads Challenge, a 20nm race that will have the fleet weaving a course through Pittwater and Broken Bay.
Ashore, the party started with a barbecue, pop up bar and a DJ. From all accounts, due to the fun had last year, some of the crews from visiting boats have chosen to stay at Pittwater this time and enjoy the full entertainment experience over the three day event.
Day 2 (14/02/2026) – Crazy conditions – but it worked!
Crazy conditions and another grey day until the sun appeared as the racing came to an end, but at least the rain held off at the 2026 Pantaenius Australia Pittwater Regatta that opened today, as those competitors in the NSW ORC Championship settled into Day 2 of their competition.
Pittwater Cup with a view of the lighthouse – Andrea Francolini, RPAYC pic
Yachts entered in the three-day ORC Championship, supported by Sydney Marine Brokerage, contested two races on inshore courses today and will switch to offshore windward/leeward races on the Palm Beach Circle for tomorrow’s finale, commencing from 11.30am – should the weather gods decree.
ORC Championship
The ORC fleet waited under an AP flag, as light air prevailed inshore and officials at Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (RPAYC) were forced to change the course three times. Patience paid off.
Top three results for Division 1 in Race 2, mirrored those of yesterday’s Race 1, although the corrected times were closer today, with Crazy Diamond (John Bacon) taking the win again from Seeking Alpha (David Hamilton) and LCE Old School Racing (Mark Griffith).
Division 1 get down to work – Andrea Francolini, RPAYC pic
Crazy Diamond and Seeking Alpha topped the scoreboard again in Race 3, while Daguet 2 (Rob Aldis/Peter Byford made their first appearance in the top three with third place. It means Crazy Diamond and Seeking Alpha are at the top of the overall board with a day remaining. They will be hard to topple.
Division 2’s Race 2 replicated two of yesterday’s top three, though in a different order. Justified, Tomas Simpson/Andrew Lygo’s J/111, won after finishing second yesterday, but there was an error at the time, showing Young at Heart in second. Garry Essex’s J/99, Veloce was second and Garry Gudmunson’s Organised Chaos (Race 1 winner) was third.
Justified by name and in being top two in the ORC Championship – Andrea Francolini, RPAYC pic
It swung back Gudmunson’s way in Race 3, giving him the series lead by 6.5 points to Justified. Joe De Kock’s KD4 placed second in Race 3, with third going to last year’s winner, Local Hero (David Davies).
“The morning race was very shifty – 5-10 knots – shifting 5 to 20 degrees. A normal Pittwater crappy easterly,” said local, Gudmunson. “We got on wrong side of some and the right side of others.
“In the second race, we won the start and got the shift we wanted. We played the game and scored the win. The breeze had swung more east and nor’ east by this race at 8-10 knots. It was steadier. Being a Pittwater local, we knew where it was going to come from. My elderly team did a good job, but are all worn out,” Gudmunson declared with a laugh.
In sync on Organised Chaos – Andrea Francolini, RPAYC pic
Super 40 local showdown
On the same course as the ORC fleet, the Supers suffered the same delay. Michael Ritchie won the opener by over 2 minutes with Revolver, the Ritchie 38 designed by his father, Bruce. Last year’s winner, Ross Hennessy’s Ker 40 Mk3, Condor and Gerry Hatton’s MAT 1220, Bushranger filled out the top three.
Ritchie re-loaded and took the second race from Peter Higgins’ Black Sparrow – which was lucky to make the regatta as Higgins was dependent on a part to arrive in time – and third went to Condor. All placegetters are local boats. Racing concludes tomorrow when it will be on for young and old again.
“It was very tricky, an easterly in Pittwater, and it’s never an easy breeze in Pittwater,” Ritchie confessed. “My dad will be pleased to see we won with our little wooden boat against all the others.
Super 40s showdown at the start – Andrea Francolini, RPAYC pic
“The Super 40 fleet coming together like this has been really wonderful and the range of boats is fantastic,” he said of the classy field of nine. “I think the racing everyone had today was great. Even though they were passage races, there were passing lanes,” Ritchie, a proponent of the Super 40s said.
“The configuration of boats has changed at this regatta, that’s for sure. It’s really nice to see the Black Sparrow guys here. They’ve only just put their mast in the boat, had little time to tune it, so obviously they have a lot more in them.”
Pittwater Cup
In unusual circumstances, those taking part in the Pittwater Cup sailed the entire 5 Heads Challenge 20 mile course through Pittwater and Broken Bay under spinnaker. Why? Because the breeze kept shifting,,, and shifting,,, and the pressure was up and down between 8 and 15 knots. It looked as pretty as, with so many coloured kites and a scenic course. Sheer bliss!
Top three were all sailing royalty. Ritchie Allanson, an ex-sailmaking pedigreed Etchells and offshore sailor, took his Newport 9, Ultime to victory from former 18 foot skiff champion, Michael Coxon on his Cole 30, Anitra May. Multiple and current Sydney 38 One-Design NSW titleholder, David Hudson, scored third with Conspiracy.
The Pittwater Cup fleet did the whole race under spinnaker – magic – Andrea Francolini, RPAYC pic
“We had a wonderful day,” Allanson declared. “We decided to bring the boat up from Sydney because it was a good opportunity to do this regatta.”
A good start evolved into a win, but, as Allanson said, “We had to work on keeping our air clear, then manage our way through the two divisions that started ahead of us. It was a lovely day out. I’ve done very little sailing on the Hawkesbury and found it has more current, so more challenges and more opportunities.
“We’re one of the smallest boats in fleet, at 9 metres, so were particularly pleased with how we went against the larger boats. The Cape 31 (David Ross’ Kukukerchu which finished sixth today) is the closest in performance to our boat, being a similar size.”
A quiet moment under kite on Pittwater today – Andrea Francolini, RPAYC pic
For the first time, 86 boats were racing, up on last year’s fleet and taking in the ORC Championship, Pittwater Cup, incorporating the inaugural Performance 40 division, plus Super 40 division and the Grand Soleil Yachts Cup.
Ashore, the party started where it left off last evening, crews again enjoying the nightly prize giving, sponsor giveaways, a barbecue, pop up bar and DJ.
Day 3 (15/02/2026) – New ORC champions and other winners declared at Pantaenius Pittwater Regatta
A third and final overcast day of dealing with unpredictable conditions at the 2026 Pantaenius Australia Pittwater Regatta – it can’t always been sunshine and roses and there was good racing after delays – plus sunshine here and there at Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club’s event.
Leaders taking aim at the top mark – Andrea Francolini, RPAYC pic
Two new NSW ORC champions – Crazy Diamond and Organised Chaos
Today’s finale of the NSW ORC Championship, supported by Sydney Marine Brokerage, comprised of three offshore windward/leewards on the Palm Beach Circle starting late this morning. Despite delays because of shifty and fading winds throughout, officials prevailed and the six race Championship was completed.
John Bacon steered Crazy Diamond, his Melges 32 to five wins to win Division 1 from Seeking Alpha (David Hamilton), the Farr 40 scored one win and sat in second place throughout the competition. LCE Old School Racing (Mark Griffith) placed third and also sailed well throughout.
Crazy Diamond won in conditions tailored to suit – Andrea Francolini, RPAYC pic
Speaking for Bacon, tactician Darren ‘Twirler’ Jones said, “The wind and conditions favoured our boat as a whole, though the Farr 40 was also good in the light air, but we had an edge.
On their fifth place in Race 5 won by Seeking Alpha, Jones explained, “We got smoked. The breeze was 14-16 knots and we can’t get our numbers back in that downwind.”
Crazy Diamond’s crew were happy with the way they sailed throughout. “It’s not easy to get a boat like that around the course and we sailed against a competitive fleet. We were discussing how I’m used to sailing these boats in a one-design fleet, so tactics come into play in a very different way in a mixed fleet like this.
“Fleet management was important, especially as the smallest boat,” ended Jones, who has world and other titles to his name, “I’ve had a blessed career,” he said, when reminded.
ORC start – Andrea Francolini, RPAYC pic
Division 2 went to Garry Gudmunson’s Organised Chaos, the well-sailed ID35 that won Division 1 last year. Three wins and other top places secured the title against second place getter, Young at Heart, Simon Grosser’s Young 88, by 8.5 points. Third went to last year’s winner, Local Hero, Dave Davies’ BH36. The latter two scored a win each today.
“It was a different day offshore. First race was in the south-east 8-10 knots, a bit tricky. Second race came in out of the south at 12-15 knots and third race it died again and we had 6-8 knots.
“A very testing day – we had a couple of issues – but got through them and won. Fantastic. We had a new tactician this weekend, Matty Young, we used to sail together back in the Hooligan days with Marcus Blackmore. We have a good rapport.”
Super 40 win goes to Revolver
Three inshore windward/leewards completed the set of five to decide the winner – Michael Ritchie’s Ritchie 38, designed by his dad, Bruce. Although he didn’t win a race today, after claiming both of yesterday’s, Ritchie’s 2-4-2 results were good enough to give him the overall win.
Last year’s winner, Ross Hennessy’s Ker 40 MK3, Condor, was runner-up, two points behind Revolver after winning Race 4. Third went to Gerry Hatton’s MAT 1220, Bushranger, winner of Race 5. Ed Cox’s Ker 40, Minerva, won the first race of the day.
Super 40s – super exciting – Andrea Francolini, RPAYC pic
Breeze on the Super 40 courses was anywhere from 7 to 16 knots and Ritchie admitted, “A tricky day today, more easterly, then it went east to south, east to south. A hard day’s sailing with lead changes. The amount of close racing we did today was incredible. The fleet really got something out of it,” Ritchie said.
“We did enough to stay in the race to win. The crew we had was put together by Chris Way and me for the Invitational Cup last year at New York Yacht Club. We didn’t do as well as we wanted there, but we did at this regatta.
“Chris unfortunately couldn’t join us this weekend, which is a shame, as he was instrumental in getting the crew together and working. Steve McConaghy took his place this weekend doing tactics and was really good.”
Ritche also praised their course official, Steve Merrington: “Steve was great. He puts a lot into his race management. We were leading Race 3, when he abandoned it, because the breeze went from 8 to 2 knots. We waited another half hour and he re-started us. His race management was exceptional.”
kite’s away on Llama – Andrea Francolini, RPAYC pic
Pittwater Cup
Two inshore races were run by RPAYC Commodore, Rob McClelland, both days. “Yesterday was unbelievable, with spinnakers the whole way round the course,” he said.
“Today, we had the first race in a lovely breeze and managed to get in race to Coasters Retreat and back, it took around two hours. The breeze came up from 6 to 12 knots, so beautiful sail on Pittwater. As they finished, the breeze evaporated.
“We had to wait 1.5 hours till 3pm to get the last race started. A light easterly came in and increased. As we started Division 3, the breeze swung to the south, but we eventually got underway and finished in a nice breeze. A reach, a tight reach and run – it was a challenging day for all.”
A new Teams component to the Cup seduced a large contingent from Newcastle, but in the end it was won by the RPAYC2 team of Conspiracy (David Hudson), Harlequin (Ian Kindred) and Ascalon (Ian Quarrie). It is hoped this will become a popular addition to the regatta and other clubs are able to put teams together.
Harlequin vs Avalon in the Pittwater Cup – Andrea Francolini, RPAYC pic
Heath Walters Melges 32, Rock n Roll took out Division 1 from Shaun James’ Sydney 47, Wot Next. Richie Allanson’s Newport 9, Ultime, which led yesterday, took third place on countback from Michael Coxon’s Cole 30, Anitra Miday. Ultime scored two wins, but 18th in the middle killed Allanson’s chances.
Division 2 went the way of Colin Hills’ Northshore 370 Sports, Gusto, which despite not winning a single race, scored a five point win over Kim Williams’ Summit MD35, Rock n Roll. Filling out the top three was Bombolo, the Beneteau Oceanis 46.1 owned by David Boekemann.
“It was very intense, but very exciting, said Hills who racked up 5-3-4 results compared to Rock n Roll, which scored two wins, but fell down with an 18. The well-worn saying ‘consistency pays’ came into play. “There were lots of boats and the crew did a fantastic job. “Yesterday was exciting sailing the whole course under kite. We did a lot of gybes, which made the foredeck guys work hard. Today in the last race, we were delayed 40 minutes waiting for breeze and then had two General Recalls. We were floating around waiting.”
Heath Walters Rock n Roll keeping pace with the big boys – Andrea Francolini, RPAYC pic
Division 3 was won by Frank Milner’s Jeanneau SO 349, Pinta Bay by seven points from Albert James’ Radford 10.6 Day Dreamin’. Scott Wallace and his Elan 340, Gee Whizz finalised the podium after winning the final race.
Eighty six boats took part in the RPAYCs Pantaenius Pittwater Regatta, incorporating the ORC NSW Championship, Pittwater Cup, including the inaugural teams event, plus the Super 40 division and the Grand Soleil Yachts Cup.
Last night’s spinnaker competition was a treat, as 20 odd crews had to pack, hoist and set a spinnaker on the Club’s front lawn flagpole. The other competition had one person blind folded putting a life jacket on someone else and then inflating it. An absolute hoot of a night.
Commodore McClelland said at the end, “From my perspective, 13 yacht clubs coming to visit and sail here. I think everyone’s had a good time.”
Ashore tonight, the party fired up early as the end of the regatta ended and the final prize giving held to award all winners.
For full results and all information please visit: www.pittwaterregatta.au
By Di Pearson/RPAYC media
