Crazy Diamond and Organised Chaos Crowned NSW ORC Champions at Pittwater Regatta (AUS)

16 February 2026 - RPAYC, Australia - The NSW ORC Championship reached an exciting conclusion on Sunday, February 15, at the Pantaenius Pittwater Regatta, where shifting and fading breezes tested crews across a full six-race series sailed on the Palm Beach Circle.

In Division 1, John Bacon’s Crazy Diamond (Melges 32) delivered an outstanding performance with five race wins to secure the title ahead of Seeking Alpha (Farr 40), while LCE Old School Racing completed the podium after a consistently strong regatta.

Speaking for Bacon, tactician Darren 'Twirler' Jones said, "The wind and conditions favoured our boat as a whole, though the Farr 40 was also good in the light air, but we had an edge.

On their fifth place in Race 5 won by Seeking Alpha, Jones explained, "We got smoked. The breeze was 14-16 knots and we can't get our numbers back in that downwind."

Crazy Diamond's crew were happy with the way they sailed throughout. "It's not easy to get a boat like that around the course and we sailed against a competitive fleet. We were discussing how I'm used to sailing these boats in a one-design fleet, so tactics come into play in a very different way in a mixed fleet like this.

"Fleet management was important, especially as the smallest boat," ended Jones, who has world and other titles to his name, "I've had a blessed career," he said, when reminded.

Division 2 went to Garry Gudmunson’s Organised Chaos, the well-sailed ID35 that won Division 1 last year. Three wins and other top places secured the title against second place getter, Young at Heart, Simon Grosser’s Young 88, by 8.5 points. Third went to last year’s winner, Local Hero, Dave Davies’ BH36. The latter two scored a win each today.

“It was a different day offshore. First race was in the south-east 8-10 knots, a bit tricky. Second race came in out of the south at 12-15 knots and third race it died again and we had 6-8 knots.

“A very testing day – we had a couple of issues – but got through them and won. Fantastic. We had a new tactician this weekend, Matty Young, we used to sail together back in the Hooligan days with Marcus Blackmore. We have a good rapport.”

A challenging mix of light and moderate offshore conditions made for a true championship test—rewarding consistency, teamwork, and smart fleet management across both divisions.

Eighty-six boats took part in the RPAYCs Pantaenius Pittwater Regatta, incorporating the ORC NSW Championship, Pittwater Cup, including the inaugural teams event, plus the Super 40 division and the Grand Soleil Yachts Cup.

ORC Division 1

1st – Crazy Diamond (Melges 32) – John Bacon

2nd – Seeking Alpha (Farr 40) – David Hamilton

3rd – LCE Old School Racing (DK 46) – Mark Griffith

ORC Division 2

1st – Organised Chaos (ID35) – Garry Gudmunson

2nd – Young at Heart (Young 88) – Simon Grosser

3rd – Local Hero (BH36) – Dave Davies

Full results 

Event details -  rpayc.com.au/sailing/pittwater-regatta/