2012 Access World Sailing Championship at Middle Harbour

Well that was a week. It’s been 12 months in the making for Commodore Julie Hodder and her team at Middle Harbour Yacht Club organising and then running the 2012 Access Sailing World Championships. With over 120 competitors and over 200 volunteers to help out both on and off the water it was a huge event for the club.

As MHYC Principal race Officer I was out on the water each day with the exception of Tuesday assisting International Race Official Mark Pryke in the on water running of the event. With 5 different divisions, it was quite an effort to run smoothly and yes I did make mistakes! One occasion forgetting to show the course board correctly resulting in the Answering Pennant [Postponement flag] being hoisted to rectify the situation.

For the sailors, I hope they enjoyed the experience, with winds up to 30 knots on Tuesday to the glass out Friday morning, there was the full range on Sydney’s Middle Harbour.

From a spectator point, it was great viewing with extremely close racing in all divisions. It may have not seemed close in the final results, but the leaders were pushed through out the entire event.