"We can't control the wind, but we have the power to adjust the sails!"
"HARD CORE" is a Holland 30, the production version of the "Silver Shamrock" Ron Holland Half-ton design which won the World Championship in Trieste, Italy in 1976. She was built by Doug Sharpins's Yacht World in Frankston Victoria, and launched in 1980.
As far as the current owners are aware the yacht was raced out of Middle Harbour Yacht Club in the mid-late 1990's before being moved around to the Drummoyne area. In 2002 she was sold again and moved north to Lake Macquarie, where she also sailed with some success.
In 2004 she was purchased by her current owners and returned to Sydney and Middle Harbour where they are based.
On November 4 2004 "Hard Core" sailed her first competitive race for her new owners in Race One of the 2004-2005 MHYC Twilight Series. After leading at the first mark to windward, she finally finished 5th of 12 starters, a pretty good result for the first time skipper & crew.
Latest News - Watch this space for further updates.
September 13 2008 - Following an abandonment due to gale conditions last week, we were back on the water today in Race 2 of the 2008-09 Season. We had an excellent start & led for much of the race but an incident with a commercial ship saw us lose a little time & subsequently finish third. The new rig seems to be functioning well and although short-handed for this race we were very competitive. A great start to the new season.
April 12 2008 - Another MHYC pointscore season draws to a close and another second place for Hard Core, this time behind fellow Holland 30 Pinta. Pinta were the form boat of the series and had it wrapped up with one race to go. Hard Core took Scratch and Line honors in the final race of the season to firm up second spot, so it was a great way to end an excellent series.
Hard Core is off for a new rig in the off season, it's current set-up which is probably original seems to be beyond it's usable life. Our spinnaker work really improved during this season and it now goes up & down without incident more often than not. Again thanks to our crew, partiularly the regulars Mick, & our "new girls" Shaan & Kelly. Also to Richard who joined us during the summer season and did very well also for a "veteran novice". Justin, Craig & Dave also filled in plenty as did our four "newly weds" Brian, Lucy, Claire & Paul.
April 15 2007 - The final race of the MHYC Summer series yesterday and a third place for Hard Core was not enough to take the annual pointscore. We needed to win and other results to go our way for this to happen. The result in this race secured second place on handicap in the Summer Series (Congratulations to The Hoood who finished 1st) and also second place off Scratch (Congratulations to Westerley who finished 1st) these results. These results also saw us finish second place on handicap in the MHYC Annual Pointscore (Congratulations to One Life who finished 1st), and Second also off Scratch (Again, congratulations to Westerley who finished 1st). Acouple of notable gear failures late in the season, notable a main halyard just prior to the start in Race 9, and a main sheet prior to the start in Race 7 proving costly in the end. Regardless, of the result the crew are sailing the boat well, we're flying the spinnaker with a small, but improving degree of proficiency, and we're having a lot of fun. Thanks to all of the regular crew - Dave, Mick, Paul , Claire and our many guests, Colin, Craig, Justin and others.
We're going to have a little break & will be back, hoping to go one better when the MHYC Pointscore Seies kicks off again in September.
March 4 2007 - Hard Core participated in her first regatta this weekend, competing in PHS Division 4 in the 2007 Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta. The four race format over two days sees all of the Sydney based sailing clubs combining for the biggest sailing event on the Harbour since the 2000 Olympics with over 200 yachts competing across 23 divisions. PHS Division 4 includes all of our competitors from MHYC as well as many others for a fleet numbering 18 which makes for an exciting start line! Saturday Race 1saw Hard Core finish 6th on the water in a blustery 15-18 knots for a 13th place on handicap. The wind continued to freshen to around 20 knots by Race 2 which was a little too much for our borrowed spinnaker pole which snapped in half on the first downwind leg just after hoisting! (Apologies to Heath Walters from Northshore Yachts!) Needless to say we didn't have a spare so were a little disadvantaged speed wise downwind. Hard Core finished 5th on the water for an 8th place on handicap, despite our breakage. We headed out on a beauiful Sydney day on the Sunday armed with our brand new spinnaker pole, but unfortunately there was little or no wind. Race 3 began in very light, conditions which deteriorated immediately. many yachts couldn't even get to the start line, we managed to start the race and were one of only 4 boats to round the first mark in third place but unfortunately the time limit elapsed and no boat had completed the course. Race 4 was abandoned entirely leaving all a little disappointed, but still thirsty! The event was a great experience for all the crew & we're looking forward to next march when we'll compete again.
January 20 2007 - The first race of the MHYC Summer Series today was Hard Core's 50th Race for the current owners. On a beautiful Sydney summers day and with 20 knots blowing in from the NNE, the crew sailed a great race (except for two minor mistakes from the skipper!) to take the win. A great way to celebrate this milestone.
December 9 2006 - The final race of the MHYC Spring Series today and Hard Core finished the series with a win (our second in a row) to finish second on both handicap and off scratch, congratulations to One Life (1st on handicap) and Westerley (1st on Scratch). The Hard Core crew learned a valuable lesson about keeping the bottom clean and will be wiser going forward. Our mid-season clean & anti-foul adding much boatspeed since.
September 2 2006 - Following a few months off we're back into it, the MHYC Annual Pointscore kicked off with
Race 1 of the Spring Series today and Hard Core sailed well in a light breeze to take second in both scratch and handicap. A small incident involving a passing "stink-boat"s wake on the second spinnaker leg marred an otherwise great sail by the crew.
June 6, 2006 - "Hard Core" has been having a little time off following the MHYC Summer Series and the arrival of our newest 'crew member". She's had a little bit of a facelift as the stripe & name graphics were applied recently and the new sail cover replaces the old "red terror" - see the new photo above. We'll be back racing in the Spring/Summer series and may even do the smaller 'tune-up" series prior to that. Between now & then we'll try to get out for a few training runs.
September 3, 2005 - "Hard Core" has gone in for a bit of an overhaul. The hull is being taken back to the Gel Coat, removing many years of built up antifoul & grime. She'll be resealed in epoxy and also have the topsides done. Follow the work in progress via the Photo Album.
July 23, 2005 - After finishing first in the previous race "Hard Core" went in to the final race of the MHYC Winter Series less than a point behind the leading boat "Westerly". In very light conditions which do not suit her "Hard Core" managed to stage a huge run to the line on the last leg to finish second, well in front of the leading boat and clinch the series. A great effort in their second ever series to take the pointscore.
Thanks to all of our regular crew - Brian, Dave, Claire & Paul - as well as some of the guests who helped us out through the series - Onwards & Upwards! See a photo of our Series trophy in the photo album.
May 28, 2005 - In a SW wind of about 10-12 knots "Hard Core" had her first win in Saturday racing at MHYC. The crew felt that they had sailed well in conditions which definitely suit the yacht and on corrected time they had won by just over three minutes from the second placed yacht.
May 7, 2005 - "Hard Core" competed in the first race of the 2005 MHYC Winter Series. Competing in the Non-spinnaker division the crew didn't sail their best, but managed to finish second on handicap in their first Saturday race.
March 24, 2005 - "Hard Core" competed in the final race of the 2004-2005 MHYC Twilight Series. She had a great race in with a gallant second place clinched equal 4th place in the series. The crew were delighted with their maiden season - a win, a second and two thirds exceeded their pre-season goals.
December 2, 2004 - In only her 4th competitive outing for her new owners "Hard Core" scored her maiden win in Race 5 of the Middle Harbour Yacht Club 2004-5 Twilight Series. In addition to winning her own division "Hard Core" led the whole fleet home to take the first gun of the night. Needless to say the crew celebrated well into the evening.
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To view "Hard Core" Racing Results Click Here
To view "Hard Core" Photo Album Click Here
To view MHYC Spring/Summer Series Results Click Here
To view MHYC Twilight Series Official Results Click Here
To view MHYC Winter Series Official Results Click Here
