Celestial through the years

Few yachts are more recognisable on Sydney Harbour than those carrying the Celestial name. Over more than a decade, past CYCA Commodore Dr Sam Haynes has built one of Australia’s most successful owner-driver racing programs, competing across offshore and one-design classes while collecting some of the sport’s biggest prizes along the way.

From a Cavalier 35 to TP52s, a Volvo 70, J/70s and now a Cape 31, each chapter of the Celestial story has built on the last. Here’s a look back at the evolution of the program.

The Beginning

Dr. Haynes’ offshore journey began with the original Celestial, a Cavalier 35. After years of family cruising, he was looking for a new challenge and entered the offshore racing scene, competing in events such as the Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race. He later continued racing Australia’s east coast aboard his Sydney 39CR, also named Celestial.

“My first taste of offshore sailing came with the original Celestial, a Cavalier 35. I’d done plenty of cruising with my family, but I wanted to get out on the ocean, build my skills and learn from people with more experience. That really started the journey.”

Raising the Bar (Early 2010s)

The next step came with a Rogers 46, marking the beginning of what would become a long-term offshore campaign. More than simply racing the boat, Haynes found himself immersed in developing the yacht, refining its performance and building a team around it.

“I never set out expecting to be ultra-competitive. I just wanted to sail more and keep learning. But once we stepped into the Rogers 46, the competitive side took over. Developing the boat, building the team and figuring out how to get the best out of it became just as rewarding as the racing itself.”

The Rogers 46 quickly established itself as a consistent performer on the offshore circuit, contesting the Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore and the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. Highlights included third overall in the 2013 Rolex Sydney Hobart and victory in the 2014 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race.

“Winning the 2014 Sydney Gold Coast on the Rogers 46 was my first real taste of success offshore. I’d always had a lot of respect for that race because it’s so tactical—you’ve got currents, coastal weather and some very competitive boats. To come away with the win was a huge moment for the program.”

Chasing the Tattersall Cup (Late 2010s – 2023)

The move into the TP52 class took the Celestial program to another level. Haynes first campaigned the original J/V TP52 before upgrading to a newer generation boat, with both yachts undergoing significant modifications to improve their offshore performance under IRC.

Years of refinement culminated in 2022 when Celestial claimed Overall honours in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, lifting the coveted Tattersall Cup.

“The TP52s were all about chasing that next step. We made plenty of modifications with offshore racing and IRC in mind, including the upgrade to the second J/V TP52, because we wanted to win a Hobart. When we finally did, it was the result of years of learning, refining the boats and building a great team around them.”

2024-now

In 2024, Haynes added another chapter to the story, campaigning the Volvo 70 Celestial V70 – also known as Willow. The campaign delivered immediate success, with Haynes securing a second Tattersall Cup victory in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. The result also saw him become just the second CYCA Commodore to win the Tattersall Cup while serving in the role.

Closer to shore, Haynes also has also been an active on-design racer. His J/70 campaign has produced strong results internationally while helping develop younger sailors, including graduates of the CYCA Youth Sailing Academy.

More recently, Haynes has embraced the growing Cape 31 class, adding another Celestial to Australia’s expanding one-design fleet.

“Every boat has taught me something different. The J/70 is incredibly close and tactical, while the Cape 31 sits somewhere between that and the TP52 as a true grand prix yacht. It’s a true team boat – everyone has a defined role, everyone has to be in sync – and it’s made it much easier to spend more time racing and enjoying the sport.”

Across every campaign, the Celestial program has evolved alongside Haynes, with each new yacht building on the lessons learned from the last. Reflecting on his time racing while serving as CYCA Commodore, one memory stands above the results:

“One of the real privileges has been racing while serving as Commodore of the CYCA. It’s given me the opportunity to visit yacht clubs around the world, represent the Club and share what makes our Sydney sailing community so special. I’ve always felt incredibly well supported by the Board and the members, and that’s made the experience all the more rewarding.”

Today, Haynes’ focus is on the J/70 and Cape 31 classes, with plans to contest the J/70 Corinthian World Championship and continue racing Australia’s growing one-design circuit. As for another offshore campaign?

“Never say never.”