Sydney Harbour will sparkle when a fleet of classic yachts compete in the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s (CYCA) Great Veterans Race on Saturday 9 May. All boats entered must have been launched before 1996 and competed in a Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.
If your boat fits the bill, enter now — it’s a rare chance to sail among the yachts that form the very DNA of the Sydney Hobart. The Great Veterans Race is a long-established regatta that waned in fleet size for a while before before its popularity grew over the last five years. The non-spinnaker race which features a pursuit start, will take the fleet from Clark Island through Sydney Harbour to the vicinity of Sow and Pigs Reef, completing several laps. Among the 29 entrants so far is Cadence, a Carmen designed keelboat owned by Andrew Purnell and now with the Gosford Sailing Club. The Overall winner of the 1966 Sydney Hobart, Cadence is a first-time entry. Sixty years after her Sydney Hobart victory, the 30-footer built by Ron Swanson will be on display in the CYCA Pond on Friday 8 and Saturday 9 May.
Cadence‘s navigator report following its 1966 Sydney Hobart race win. Solveig, a Halvorsen 36 Masthead Cutter, is another classic yacht with an outstanding Sydney Hobart record. The yacht will head to the start line on 9 May with owners John Whitfield and Annie Lawrence at the helm. When sailed by owners and boat builders Trygve and Magnus Halvorsen, Solveig became the first yacht to claim Line Honours and the Overall win in separate years of the race — Line Honours in 1953, followed by the Overall win in 1954. Captain Stan Darling DSC** VRD RANR was at the helm of Solveig in 1954. According to Peter Shipway of the CYCA’s Classic Yacht Committee, Captain Darling was a “significant figure” in the history of the Sydney Hobart. Captain Darling won the Sydney Hobart five times on corrected time on board Solveig (1954), Anitra V (1957), Freya (1963 and 1964) and Pacha (1971).
Also competing in the 2026 Great Veterans Race is Anitra V. Anitra V is a Halvorsen 38 also owned and built by Trygve and Magnus Halvorsen. The yacht placed second Overall in the Sydney Hobart in 1956, 1958 and 1959, and claimed the Overall win in 1957. Captain Darling was the Anitra V navigator for the 1956, 1957 and 1959 races.
“In four years, she had a win and three seconds,” said Shipway. “Within those two boats [Solveig and Anitra V] there’s significant statistics.” Shipway, who will be on board the S&S 47 Love & War, said he can’t wait to see the Halvorsen yachts and the rest of an impressive fleet, all of which made a huge contribution to the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.
“What I most enjoy about this race is seeing all the other veteran Sydney Hobart boats out on the water in great condition,” Shipway said. “I also love sailing with people who have a passion for older boats and the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.” To honour the massive contributions to the Club by the late Gordon Ingate and Bill Ratcliff, competitors in the Great Veterans Race will have the opportunity to fly Black Ribbons from their rigging. Ribbons will be available from the Reception prior to racing.
For more information on the Halvorsen brothers and their incredible boatbuilding and offshore legacy, see here: https://cyca.com.au/news-archive/end-of-an-ere-magnus-halvorsen-3/
