Hardy Cup 2010: Magnificent Sydney Harbour to again host Hardy Cup

Australia's Nicky Souter chases Kiwi Adrian Short in the 2009 Hardy Cup finals. Image copyright Aline Van Haren.

by Peter Campbell

More women competitors are expected to contest the Hardy Cup 2010, the Under 25 ISAF Grade 3 Match Racing Regatta in Sydney as a result of the Elliott 6 sports boat being chosen as the yacht for the women’s match racing at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Boosting women’s interest will be the level of international racing achieved by Australian women such as Nicky Souter and Katie Spithill, with Souter and her crew last year becoming the first women’s team to reach the final of the Hardy Cup. Souter lost to a hard-fought final to New Zealand’s Adrian Short, but since then she has won the ISAF Women’s World Match Racing Championship and, for the sixth time, the Australian Championship.


The RNZYS' Adrian Short leads Nicky Souter in the 2009 Hardy Cup finals. Image copyright Aline Van Haren.

Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, currently enjoying its 148th sailing season, will host the Hardy Cup from 7-11 February 2010, immediately following the 2010 Warren Jones Regatta, also an ISAF Grade 3 event, to be sailed in Perth from 31 January to 4 February 2010.

The invitation regatta again will be sailed in the Squadron’s fleet of Elliott 6s, with the applications for an invitation closing with the Squadron Sailing Office before Friday, 6 November 2009.

The Hardy Cup Selection Committee will announce the twelve selected teams on 13 November, comprising a mix of teams from Australian and overseas yacht clubs. The Hardy Cup 2009 attracted international entries from Finland, Japan and New Zealand.


Nicole Souter (AUS) and Adrian Short (NZL) in the 2009 finals. Image copyright Aline Van Haren.

Eminent Australian yachtsman Sir James Hardy donated the Cup and since being first hosted by the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron in 2001 has been won by some outstanding up-and-coming match racing sailors from Australia, Great Britain and New Zealand.

RSYS member Michael Dunstan won the Hardy Cup three times before reaching the upper age limit, Evan Walker from the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia won it in 2008, while New Zealand winners have been Laurie Jury, Adam Minoprio and, this year, Adrian Short. Great Britain’s Mark Campbell-James won in 2001.

Hardy Cup