Yacht Racing

Yacht races are run on every Sunday of the sailing season (September - April) and once a month during winter (March - August), plus the Australia Day Regatta in Pittwater.

The five distinct series allow yachts to race from one to every Sunday a month depending on the series entered.

The Race courses are, for the most part, inside the protected area known as Pittwater with the Blue Water Shield venturing out towards Box Head and off Whale Beach and the Quartet Bowl heading up the Hawksbury River to Juno Point.

Our races are hotly contested but very friendly and do not normally create stress for either the crew or the boat. All yachts are required to have a Category 7 Safety Certificate, with those completing in the Blue Water Shield required to have Cat 5.

Since the fleet comprises a wide variety of yachts all races are on a PHS handicap system using SailSys, so the choice of spinnaker or non spinnaker is yours and will be taken into account in the handicap. This makes racing enjoyable and winnable for all competitors.

The club runs a bar and canteen for members and there is a free tender service on race days for yachts moored in the immediate vicinity of the clubhouse.

Our program has three unique elements:-

You can choose to race in only one series (typically six races), with one heat per month
You can race on a different style of course each Sunday of the month
Typically scheduled for the last Sunday of each month you can participate in the Avalon Series. It is a fixed course, family friendly time, handicap start and a BBQ on the club deck post race.

Opening Day Trophy: Raced in conjunction with Heat 1 of the Avalon Race Series.

Blue Water Shield: A handicap series raced with PBYC on a fixed course that starts & finishes in Pittwater around two offshore marks. Up to six races, with one drop. A Cat 5 event. Scratch start. Races are hosted by PBYC and sailed under PBYC’s Sailing Instructions with a self timed finish.

Quartet Bowl: A handicap series raced on a set course that starts and finishes off ASC around Juno Point and back. Up to six heats, with one drop (Handicap start).

Retriever Trophy and the Diane Cup: A handicap series raced on courses within Pittwater with course decided on the day depending on wind direction. Up to six races, with one drop. All yachts, including Couta Boats race in Division 1. Scratch start. The Diane Cup awarded to the highest placed Couta Boat on handicap and the Retriever Trophy awarded to the overall handicap winner.

Avalon Series (Force 8 Cup Trophy): A handicap series raced on a set course within Pittwater. Six heats, with five to count (Handicap start). BYO food BBQ follows on the Club deck.

Two Island Series: Up to 3 races, with one drop. An earlier 12:00pm start in the area of Rocky Point. Roundings of Lion Island and Scotland Island as specificed in the sailing instructions. Self timed finish near Rocky Point.

Shaz II Trophy: A trophy for the fastest yacht in the Club. The winner is the yacht with minimum points from all races in the major trophy series (AS - BWS/KT - RT - QB) when calculated on the basis of scratch results.

Commodore's Trophy: A trophy for the fastest yacht in the Club. The winner is the yacht with minimum points from all races in the major trophy series (AS - BWS/KT - RT - QB) when calculated on corrected times.

Van Den Bosch Trophy: “For perseverance in fair weather and foul”, is awarded to the yacht competing in most events during the year, providing it has not been a prize winner in any series (an “event” is a summer series trophy race).

Winter Series (Old Deck Trophy): A handicap series raced on a short set course within Pittwater over the cooler months.