Clean Sweep has won the Port Stephens Yacht Club’s autumn long course series at the hands of owner-skipper Steve Liney, on his debut.
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The Corlette man is no stranger to the water having been a commercial master for much of his working life.
He even put a 5O5 Nationals title to his name 20 years ago.
But few could have expected that Liney would win in a “new” boat he bought late last year, in a series he had only dabbled in previously.
“I joined the club two years ago and had only crewed for a few people casually before I bought Clean Sweep,” he said.
“I guess I might have upset a few of the favourites.”
The Elliott 780 is a 7.8 metre, New Zealand-designed, trailer sailor, albeit 20-plus years old.
An early class of sports boat, it’s a yacht that helped start a new trend in class racing.
Liney said it took some work to ready for the season but he’s pleased with its progress.
“There’s a little bit of scope for development with a boat like this but it still comes down to the sailor’s ability and knack,” he said.
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Throughout the season of non-spinnaker racing he had the help of up to four crew members including his 16-year-old daughter, Audrey, who was forward hand.
With the distinctive Baylife Services logo on its sail Clean Sweep lead the series coming into the 13th and final round on just three points.
His nearest competitor, She’s the One, lead the final race and might have won the series if it hadn’t timed out in low wind.
“I can sympathise with them,” Liney said.
“I had actually crewed with She’s the One a few times prior to this season.”
Liney said the Wednesday race calendar was the perfect introduction to sailing should anyone be interested.
“It’s a matter of getting the word out there so that we can call on these people who want to come sailing every now and then,” he said.
“Given the geography of this areas, very few people sail.”
Liney was introduced to sailing as a 9-year-old on a holiday to Auckland. He later left school to become a boat builder and after that, became a commercial master charting ferries.
He won the 1996-97 5O5 Nationals while the boats were under consideration for use in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
