The weekend incorporates the Dolphin Race and Gordon Craig Ocean
Race and forms part of the Farrawa Cup Series, an annual event which is popular
on the WA Offshore racing calendar. Yachts will start outside Fremantle Harbour
on Saturday and race to the sheltered waters of Rockingham where they will be
moored for the evening. Sailors and race officials will enjoy an evening of
hospitality and entertainment put on by The Cruising Yacht Club of WA. TCYC is
keen to use this event as a tester for their upcoming 57th Cockburn Sound
Regatta and is promising a fantastic time ashore.

Sunday morning will begin with windward/leeward racing in the
waters of Cockburn Sound, followed by the start of the Gordon Craig Ocean Race
back to Fremantle.

Amongst the big boats racing the event will be the GP42’s Black Betty and Dirty Deeds who both performed well in the Geraldton Return Ocean
Classic and the impressive TP52 Calm.

A regular entrant in the event, the Sydney 36 from RFBYC, This Way Up will be racing with a
completely new crew. Skipper Bryan Thurstan says “This will be our first
offshore race in 6 months, we have been training up a new team who are all keen
to give sailing outside the river a go.” This past Sydney to Hobart finisher
performed well in last year’s Rockingham Race Weekend with a win on the way
down and a win during the windward/leeward series in the bay.

Following the racing on the water this weekend will be CEO
of Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club, Paul Bayliss. He comments, “Rockingham Race
Weekend is a fun event both on and off the water. I always enjoy accompanying
the yachts to the fine waters of Cockburn Sound and Mangles Bay. On arrival,
TCYC always match the great sailing with fantastic hospitality.”

The Farrawa Cup Series will conclude with the 67th
Bunbury Return Race starting on 17 January 2015.

To follow the event, visit the
Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club website, rfbyc.asn.au