OWNERS RALLY - Fifty boats for fifth Pittwater Rally

The fifth Pittwater Hanse Owners Rally organised by Team Windcraft on March 26 attracted a record number of participants, more than 50 boats.

All brands from the HanseGroup were represented — 45 Hanse yachts, five Moody yachts, one Dehler yacht and one Dragonfly— and a number of owners came from Melbourne to join the party.

Around half of the Pittwater Rally entries were non-racers, but Team Windcraft supplied its experts to jump onboard and help its 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,” Team Windcraft said.

The first race up Pittwater to Hungry Beach was downwind, the southerly varying from 10 to 20kts 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. The fleet then anchored for lunch off Hungry Beach.

The southerly picked up to 15 to 25kts in the afternoon and made for exhilarating racing in the trophy race. A staggered start, with the small yachts starting first, kept the fleet tightly packed together.

John and Sarah Ball on Ballistic were the overall winners of the Hanse Owners Rally for the second year running. The Balls always race two-up — the way Hanse yachts were designed to be sailed — and John at the helm made it look incredibly easy.

“With 230 attending the after-Rally dinner, the Royal Motor Yacht Club (Newport) was bursting at the seams. The atmosphere was relaxed and it was great to see new friendships form after a wonderful day out on the water,” Team Windcraft said.

After dinner, Team Windcraft introduced their support for a charity called Bear Cottage — based in Manly, it 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 spoke about the incredible help Bear Cottage (visit www.bearcottage.chw.edu.au) provided for their son Harry, who has a life-limiting condition and for their whole family.

Peter Hrones, managing director of Windcraft, then announced a new initiative for 2011, the raffling of a brand-new Hanse 355 to raise money for Bear Cottage. There are just 5000 tickets for sale at $100 each and go on sale on March 29. To buy a ticket, click on www.windcraft.com.au The winning ticket will be drawn at the Sydney International Boat Show (July 28 to August 1).

For further information, phone (02) 9979 1709, email: boats@windcraft.com.au or visit www.windcraft.com.au

2011 Pittwater Hanse Owners Rally
Trophy Race Winners

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

Photos: Hanses underway in the Fifth Pittwater Hanse Owners Rally; John and Sarah Ball on Ballistic were the overall winners of the Hanse Owners Rally for the second year running; Teamwork on Bear Away.