Fifty boats for Fifth Team Windcraft Pittwater Rally – Largest Ever

The Fifth Pittwater Hanse Owners Rally organised by Team Windcraft on 26th March 2011 attracted a record number of participants.

Team Windcraft were delighted to welcome over 50 boats (45 Hanse yachts, 5 Moody yachts, one Dehler yacht and one Dragonfly)… so all the Hanse group brands were represented. A number of owners came up from Melbourne to join the party.

The Pittwater Rally is a race… but the emphasis is on fun. Around half of the entries were non-racers. Team Windcraft experts jumped on board to help our less experienced owners. Our owners loved the chance to have a go at something new, compare notes with other Hanse group owners, make new friends and just enjoy being part of the Hanse family.

The first race up Pittwater to Hungry Beach was downwind – the Southerly varied from 10-20 knots throughout the morning. This made for a wonderful extras race with some gorgeous spinnakers filling a largely grey Pittwater with colour.

Rob Salteri on the Hanse 54 “One O Nine” was first across the line in the extras race.  And John Ball on the Hanse 53 “Ballistic” took line honours in the non-extras morning race.
Lunch anchored off Hungry Beach was a very relaxed affair. Seeing 45 Hanses anchored up in a bay together was quite a sight.

The Southerly picked up to 15-25 knots in the afternoon which made for exhilarating racing in the trophy race. A staggered start with the small yachts starting first kept the fleet tightly packed together.

The trophy race winners were

32 foot Adrian Barnes on Liquid Leisure
35 foot Ken Wallace on Kemara
37 foot Jeff Rice on Hansky
40 foot Charles Smith on Bling
43 foot Arthur Psaltis on Into the Mystic
54 foot John Ball on Ballistic

John and Sarah Ball on Ballistic were the overall winners of the Hanse Owners Rally for the second year running. John and Sarah always race 2 up – the way Hanse yachts were designed to be sailed. And when you see John at the helm he makes it all look incredibly easy.

With 230 attending the after Rally dinner, the Royal Motor Yacht Club was bursting at the seams. The atmosphere was very relaxed… it was great to see new friendships form after a wonderful day out on the water.

After dinner Team Windcraft introduced their support for a charity called Bear Cottage. Bear Cottage in Manly is NSW’s only children’s hospice.  The facility offers respite and palliative care to children with life limiting illnesses and respite for their families.

Jo and Lyle Townsend are parents to Harry, a very special boy with a life limiting condition. The audience were clearly moved when Jo and Lyle spoke about the incredible help Bear Cottage provide for their whole family.

Peter Hrones, Managing Director of Windcraft then announced a huge initiative for 2011. He explained how Team Windcraft is raffling a brand new Hanse 355 to raise money for Bear Cottage.

There are just 5000 tickets for sale at $100 each. Tickets go on sale on 29th March – head to www.windcraft.com.au to buy your ticket.

The winning ticket will be drawn at the Sydney International Boat Show.

http://www.bearcottage.chw.edu.au/

Team Windcraft is the importer of Hanse Yachts to Australia and New Zealand