Two primary series are run: the Summer Series, which runs October to late April; and the Winter Series, which runs May to September. Other individual events are also held throughout the year.
Race results are calculated on Performance Handicap (typically called “PHS” or sometimes “EHC” being an Event (specific) Handicap), Australian Measurement System (AMS) and Offshore Racing Congress (ORC), all of which operate by applying a time correction factor against each boat’s elapsed time around the course. The result is a corrected time that determines the results.
Measurement ratings (ORC and AMS) are issued under the direction of Australian Sailing and must be renewed annually, including an annual renewal fee payable to Australian Sailing. Performance handicaps (PHS / EHC) are allocated by the SYC handicapper. There is no recurring charge for a PHS handicap.
Safety categories are as per the Yachting Australia Racing Rules of Sailing (aka the ‘Blue Book’) and the safety category for races is included in the Notice of Race. Sail committee has safety assessors to help with this if required. Please note that as part of SYC’s focus on safety, an annual Man Overboard drill is required along with an associated declaration and crew register. This is required to be lodged in October and remains current for 13 months. Failure to lodge this declaration may result in your result not being scored.
SYC runs a ‘skipper mentoring programme’ should any skippers like some guidance or support in building their racing skills, including boat handling, crew work, tactics, etc.
The program of individual races is published in:
- The applicable Notice of Race for each event/Series
- The SYC Calendar available through the SYC Web Site; and
- The Members season handbook published annually.
The Notice of Race, along with any Notices to Competitors for each series, is published on the SYC website at On Water > Keelboat Racing > Race Documents or alternatively you can contact the Boating Department. These race documents are the authoritative source of information about the racing.
Series entry or casual entry is available online through the SYC website at On Water > Keelboat Racing > Online Entry and results are published to the SYC website at On Water > Keelboat Racing > Results and a copy placed on the notice board in the Members’ Bar.
The following sections provide some guidance about the series’ offered, however you should always refer to the Notice of Race, Notice to Competitors and/or Sailing Instructions for the specific information for each race/series.
1. Winter Aggregate Series
Typically operates May to September on a fortnightly basis.
Starts can be held from the SYC Tower, although are now more commonly run as boat-starts.
Participants are allocated into two divisions (A and B) based on their PHS handicap. Each division will typically sail a different course, with Div B sailing a shorter course.
Spinnakers are permitted in this Series.
Courses are sailed around fixed marks as indicated in the SYC Sailing Instructions. Where a boat-start is used, it is common to insert a laid mark or gate as the first leg of the course and then proceed to the Fixed Marks course described in the Sailing Instructions. The course for each race day is indicated on the SYC Tower or race committee start boat and may be broadcast on the VHF race frequency.
Most heats have a first start at 13:30, however there are two race days that have a 12:00 start, and these events are run on a longer, fixed marks course. As well as counting towards the Winter Series, the combined Performance Handicap (PHS) winner of these two longer-race events is awarded the Alan Shiels Memorial Trophy.
The afternoon races have a typical race duration of 2-2.5 hours, and the longer race days are typically 3-4 hour duration.
The Notice of Race, along with any Notices to Competitors for this series, is published on the SYC Web Site under On Water > Keelboat > Race Documents or alternatively contact the Boating Department.
2. Saturday Summer Series
Typically operates from October to the end of April on a Saturday.
There are a number of events that operate within the Summer Series including:
- SYC Club Aggregate (which determines the “Club Champion”); and
- other specific Trophy events
2.1 SYC Club Aggregate
An aggregate of multiple (typically 10-15) races across the summer season offering a variety of race formats. The Series winner is determined across the events, with an allowance to drop 25% of the worst race scores as described in the Notice of Race.
Starts are mass or fleet starts by division and are typically boat-starts, often with laid marks.
Participants are usually divided into three divisions (Div 1, 2, 3) based on their Performance Handicap (PHS). Division 1 typically contains the larger/faster boats in the fleet, and Division 3 is for the smaller boats. Scoring is based on PHS, ORC and AMS systems, thus determining a Club Champion across each rating/handicap system and also across each division.
Spinnakers are permitted.
Each heat of the Club Aggregate typically also has a trophy (or >1 trophy) assigned to it.
Series entry or casual entry is available online through the SYC website at On Water > Keelboat Racing > Online Entry and results are published to the SYC website and a copy placed on the notice board in the Members’ Bar.
2.2 SYC TROPHY EVENTS
The following trophies/events are typically included in the Club Aggregate:
Wyvern, Gogs Manning, Sun Trophies
Start time is usually midday and is a longer, fixed marks course, usually of an average 4 hour duration
Typically a boat-start in the vicinity of SYC #4 or Green Point and finish at the SYC or RBYC Tower.
Run in conjunction with RBYC to form heat 1 of a 2-heat sub-series for the Peter Taylor Trophy (awarded on AMS results).
Division 1 winners under AMS, ORC and PHS are awarded the Wyvern Trophy. Division 2 winners under AMS, ORC and PHS are awarded the Gogs Manning Trophy. Division 3 winners under AMS, ORC and PHS are awarded the Sun Trophy.
Commodore’s, Vice Commodore’s and Rear Commodore’s Trophies
Start time is usually in the afternoon (e.g 14:00) and is a boat-start, laid marks course, usually of an average 2-2.5 hour duration
Courses are selected from the SYC Sailing Instructions.
Division 1 winners under AMS, ORC and PHS are awarded the Commodore’s Trophy.
Division 2 winners under AMS, ORC and PHS are awarded the Vice Commodore’s Trophy.
Division 3 winners under AMS, ORC and PHS are awarded the Rear Commodore’s Trophy.
Katoura Salver
Start time is usually in the afternoon and is a boat-start, laid marks course, usually of an average 2-2.5 hour duration
Courses are selected from the SYC Sailing Instructions.
Divisional winners under AMS, ORC and PHS are all awarded the Katoura Salver Trophy.
OPTIONAL EVENTs: JJ Jarold Trophy OR JISUMA/TAM O’SHANTER LONG DAY/NIGHT RACE
This heat of the Club Aggregate allows participants to choose their best result from two separate events:
- JJ Jarold Trophy: Starting at midday, this event usually consists of multiple short-courses on a single Saturday. Races are boat-starts with courses around laid marks, typically in a windward/leeward format. The aim is to have three races conducted with winners determined by their combined score across all races on the day. Divisional winners on AMS, ORC and PHS are awarded the JJ Jarold Trophy.
- Jisuma & Tam O’Shanter Trophies. A long distance day/night race, this event is either a boat-start or Tower-start, fixed marks event with a course that will have the fleet participate in racing at night. The course length will vary depending on conditions, but is designed to run into the late evening and finish at SYC Tower to provide some experience racing at night. Divisional winners on ORC are awarded the Tam O’Shanter trophy and divisional winners on AMS and PHS are awarded the Jisuma trophy.
The heat of the Club Aggregate is awarded based on a participant’s best placing in either a) or b) above.
AD McKenzie Trophy, AD McKenzie Bell & Southport Trophy.
Start time is usually at midday (as per the Notice of Race) and is a longer, fixed marks course, usually of an average 4 hour duration
Typically a boat-start in the vicinity of SYC #4 or Green Point and may finish at the SYC or RBYC Tower.
Usually run in conjunction with RBYC to form heat 2 of a 2-heat sub-series for the Peter Taylor Trophy (awarded on AMS results).
Courses can be selected from the SYC Sailing Instructions, the RBYC Sailing Instructions or via a Notice to Competitors.
Divisional winners under ORC are awarded the AD McKenzie Trophy. Divisional winners under AMS are awarded the Southport Trophy. Divisional winners under PHS are awarded the AD McKenzie Bell.
Ken King Trophy
Start time is in the afternoon and is a boat-start, laid marks course, usually of an average 2-2.5 hour duration
Courses are selected from the SYC Sailing Instructions.
Divisional winners under PHS are awarded the Ken King Trophy, however scores for AMS and ORC are also counted towards the Club Aggregate scoring.
First Division, Dorothy and Anonyma Trophies
Start time is in the afternoon and is a boat-start, laid marks course, usually of an average 2-2.5 hour duration
Courses are selected from the SYC Sailing Instructions.
Division 1 winners under AMS, ORC and PHS are awarded the First Division Trophy.
Division 2 winners under AMS, ORC and PHS are awarded the Dorothy Trophy.
Division 3 winners under AMS, ORC and PHS are awarded the Anonyma Trophy.
Commodore-in-Chief and Port Phillip Trophies
These events are usually held on the same day which is designed as a multiple, short-course racing event.
Start time of the first event of the day is in the morning and each subsequent race is started immediately after the completion of the previous race.
Racing is boat-start, laid mark courses selected from SYC Sailing Instructions, usually on a windward/leeward course configuration. Typically, the duration of each race is targeted at approximately 60-90 minutes but varies depending on the conditions.
The aim is to complete three-four individual races on the day, with the combined score of race 1 and 2 being counted as the one aggregate heat result and the Commodore-in-Chief Trophy; and the third (and possibly forth depending on the conditions) race being counted as another aggregate heat and the Port Phillip Trophy.
Divisional winners in AMS, ORC and PHS are awarded these trophies.
SYC Cup (RANGE SERIES)
The Club Aggregate may also incorporate racing in the inter-Club Range Series. The SYC-hosted event within the Range Series is designated as the SYC Cup event. Start time is in the afternoon and is a boat-start, laid marks course, usually of an average 2-2.5 hour duration. Depending on conditions, the event may be a single race or two short races with the result being the combined score from each race. All boats competing in this event are eligible to win the SYC Cup, however only SYC-registered boats are scored within the Club Aggregate.
Courses are selected from the Range Series Sailing Instructions.
Roy Hoffert Trophy
Start time is in the afternoon and is a boat-start, laid marks course, usually of an average 2-2.5 hour duration
Courses are selected from the SYC Sailing Instructions.
Divisional winners under AMS, ORC and PHS are awarded the Roy Hoffert Trophy.
2.3 Other Specific Trophy Events
In addition to the Club Aggregate a number of other “unique” events are also offered as stand-alone trophy events including:
Benito’s Treasure
Historically has been a passage-race from SYC to Queenscliff, Blairgowrie or another destination as described in the Notice of Race or Notice to Competitors, however has recently been amended to be a course more local to SYC, but consists of longer legs for a more cruiser/racer format. Starts are usually from the SYC Tower.
Spinnakers are permitted.
Depending on the fleet, scoring is based on AMS, ORC and PHS and may be run as combined divisions, with all participants starting together and being scored together. If run as a destination race, the race may also be run as a pursuit start (which it was originally) to encourage boats to finish together at the destination.
Kingston Trophy Slalom Race
This is usually a special course designed in a slalom-style with multiple marks to round downwind providing a challenge to crew work and boat handling.
Start time is usually in the afternoon from either a boat-start or the SYC Tower depending on conditions.
Depending on the fleet, participants are usually divided into three divisions (Div 1, 2, 3) based on their Performance Handicap (PHS), using the same divisional split as for the Club Aggregate.
Spinnakers are permitted.
Scoring is usually based on AMS, ORC and PHS, but may depend on fleet size and composition.
Captain Kuiken Teams Trophy
This is a teams race where participants form teams of two and their combined score in PHS is used to determine the overall winner.
Start time is in the afternoon from the SYC Tower, with fixed mark courses selected from the SYC Sailing Instructions.
Spinnakers are permitted.
Scoring for the trophy is based on PHS only, although individual scoring for ORC and AMS can also be done.
Le Cascadeur Trophy
A short-handed sailing event where participants must be only crewed by two people.
Spinnakers are permitted.
Start time is in the afternoon, often from the SYC Tower, with fixed mark courses selected from the SYC Sailing Instructions.
Scoring is based on AMS, ORC and PHS. Typically this event can be run as combined divisions, with all participants starting together and being scored together.