of lhe Northcote Cup in 1908 has allowed intense competition bet ween L11e Australinn Suues since its ioceprion and now it iscleardiat the AmAus Cup will continue IO promoce wonhy compe1i1ion between lhe grea1 yachting nations .
THE Pl1TWA TER TO COFFS HAR BOUR YACHT RACE AND THE EL ADMIRAL ' S CUP
The association between the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club and theCoffs Harbour Yueh ! Club began before 1981 but it was in lhat year lhc two clubs established 1he Pinwacer to Coffs llarbour Yacb1
Race and lhc El Admiral ' s Cup Series .
Coffs Harbour is the cenire of a major banana growing area . Whal better place for the establishment ofa Banana Republic ? Tourism is important 10 lhe communicy and 1he idea of crcming a Republic to attrac1 10uri > 1s 10 the area bad been in 1he minds of lhe mwn fathers for some time . In 1979 there was much
promotional razza-ma-tazz wilh boundaries of the Republic declared and visas issued . A president was created . plus courts , a prince and dignitaries . Amongst these were the defence chiefs nnd ambas · sadors . Naturally n senior service was required . 111e Coffs Harbour Yacht Club became the principality ' s navy wilh Rear-Commodore Ken Wates promoted 10 lhe Fin ; I Lord of Admiralty in command oflhc AeCL
IL was a lot of fun . alt1 ' 3Cted much ancntion . many touriscs and raised con > idcrable money for charily . ln August 198 1 a prominent yachtsman and boa1builder . Max TwibriJge , sailed inm Coffs Har · bour . He had been in Brisbane with his yacht Beach Jrupector and was on his way bock to Sydney . MaJt Tunbridge , Rear-Commodote Keo Wans and Paul McKeon . publicity manager for the Banana Republic promocion , me1 in the Pier Hotel , Coffs Harbour ,
10 discuss the possibility of a yacht race from Sydney 10 Coffs Harbour and iL ~ associacion with u1e Banuna Republic promotion . h was decided that it was well wonh • try . Then ou1 of lhe blue came a most fortunate 1elepbone call from Sydney . 11 was Bill Porter . Uic skipper of lhe Sydney yacht Grasshopper . phoning to say thal he was contemplating a voyage to Coffs llarbourand suggesting lhul perhaps one or two local yachts could sail down 10 Sydney and 1hen race him back 10 Coffs Harbour . 111is provided the nucleus for the roce and the encouragemem required for the neJtl step . the sending ou1 of an invi1a1ion 10 race to all
~ ised yacht clubs . From these invicauons 14 entries were received . The race was from lhe Piuwa · 1cr 10 Coffs Harbour in 1hree divisions . tn addicion , 1hcrc was 10 be a race for 1he El Admi . rol ' s Cup around the Coffs Harbour course which gcnerully encompassed Pelican Beach and the Solitary Islands . The lis1 of yachts entered and lhe official results of 1ba1 inaugural race are as fo11ows :
1981 lnaugurnl 2MC Pittwater to ColTs Harbour Yacht Race
Yach ! |
Elapwd Time Hr Min Sec |
Corrected Time lir Min Sec |
Position Overall |
W / iiu Poi111tr |
47-31-21.9 |
Pryoriry |
47-44-11.3 |
Too Farr 0111 |
50-52-15.0 |
Koci JI |
59-14-59.0 |
Warr / |
60-20-06.6 |
Clra11ct |
61-17-37.6 |
Defia11ce |
61-28-19.9 |
Canon |
63-19-I0.4 |
Lady Grau |
63-4 ~. 3 |
Yalroo |
66-43-13.4 |
£ vugrce11 |
66-50-27.0 |
Ca1111ck |
66-59-36.0 |
Rival |
67-08--00.8 |
OraJshopper |
Retired |
36-23-51.6 36-33-40.9
39-47 ~. s
42- 35-41.2 45-02-46.4
44-2 ~ 32.5
42-14-59.3 45-49-26.6 43-20-51.7 46-12-37.8 44-11-42.5 46-02-40 . 1 48-10-54.2
2 3 5 9 8
4 10
6 12 7 11 13
Division Winners El Admiral ' s Cup Winner
Division A Division B Division C
\ Vhite Poimer Koe / JI Defiance
Middle Humour Yach1 Club Team
White Poimer Pryority Defia11c .
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