With the largest fleet in over six years, this year’s Vintage Yacht Regatta, hosted by the Queensland Cruising Yacht Club, promised to be a memorable event and that is exactly what the weekend turned out to be.
Saturday morning greeted the fleet with glorious sunshine, light winds and a chilly 10⁰C. However by the first race, the mercury had risen nicely and a perfect winters day sailing was on the cards. The forecast was 10-15 knots SW but as often happens on Moreton Bay in winter, the sea was like glass making the start a very sedate affair with many of the smaller yachts taking upto twenty minutes to just cross the start line!
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The course for the day was a large triangular course for the larger, faster yachts with a small triangle inside it for the smaller boats. The windward mark was placed close to the Shorncliffe pier in order that spectators lining the cliffs at the headland just south of the creek would be treated a lovely scene. Although the wind did fill in a little as the afternoon progressed, the decision was eventually taken to shorten the course to just two laps which the fastest yachts completed in just less than two hours.
First to finish on the long course was Club boat Sassy closely followed by the 1958 timber built Cherana belonging to Euan MacDonald from Australiawide Boat Sales, a sponsor of the race. On the short course three boats battled it out for Line Honours with Vegemite skippered by Peter Holm eventually beating the Bruce Kirby designed Presto by just over 30 seconds and Therapy crossing the line a minute or two later.
As the faster boats started to make their way back to the Club, the wind filled in a little and all of a sudden the yachts were finishing thick and fast obviously keen not to miss out on the evening’s proceedings!
On handicap, Nomad, a 1950’s Arthur Robb design won the larger yacht division. In the Gaffer division, Fourwinds took the honours whilst Vegemite took the small boat class and Merry Mac, a Clansman design, took out division four.
Once back in the marina, the serious job of judging the boats for the various best presented categories was
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undertaken by local expert, Brian Hutchison whilst the crews adjusted their rigs and discussed tactics for the next day.
That evening the Club hosted a barbeque and live music and despite the chilly evening, there were the usual yarns around the bar, no doubt lubricated with the help of beer tasting put on by sponsor Pure Blonde.
The following day saw a sullen sky and the promise of a rising southerly wind. Race two, in stark contrast to the previous day, provided a tight start with the majority of the fleet battling for supremacy. With a good wind and slightly shorter course the yachts were tightly bunched around the marks provided a spectacular spectacle, especially with the spinnakers flying on the downwind legs.
Marie, a couta boat skippered by Andrew Hartley, proved the fastest of the Gaffers whilst Nomad squeaked home in front o f the rest of the Vintage Yachts with the whole division separated by just six minutes. In the fibreglass division Sassy once again proved unbeatable whilst a tight rivalry between Vegemite and Firebrand was the feature of the small boats division and one that was to continue for the rest of the day.
After a short break it was back to the start line for the last race of the day. With a good breeze and building swell, the fleet once again took to the course and, as in the previous race, close racing ensued. Marie continued her good form in the Gaffers division whilst Club boat Tequila, in her first race in thirty five years, rose to the top of the Vintage Yachts Class.
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Back on shore, it was time for the presentation and celebrations. The winners on handicap from each division were presented with enough antifoul for their next service courtesy of Hempel Yacht Paint. The dominant
Fourwinds took first place in the Gaffers whilst, in contrast, the Vintage Yachts points tally was a close affair between
Tequila, Nomad and the winner,
Merry Mac . In the fibreglass division, Club boat
Blue Peter helmed by Gary Head lead the tight fleet home whilst the consistent results on the second day resulted in
Firebrand taking the prize for the small boats in front of the 1930’s Club boat
Tahua.
The racing results complete, to wrap up the weekend, it was time to announce the results of the judging. Each winning a gift pack from Gill Australia the category winners were Marcus Pye with Indian Summer, Robert Virtue on Vanity, Steve Lugge with Archenar II. The overall prize for Best Presented Yacht Overall went to proud owner John Richardson with Balamara who rounded off the event perfectly by reminding us all why we care for these vintage beauties with his emotional speech.
Photos from Saturday can be view HERE and HERE