Youth take centre stage at regatta

When the kids are having fun, everything is right, and so was the case last weekend when a large group of young sailors made their presence felt at the club's Annual Regatta. Aside from the four sabots that competed as a junior division, there were also a host of others crewing and  skippering on other boats. Deserved credit to Kylie and Peter Vaiciurgis for their fostering of junior talent, and to those parents who are there to support and or enjoy sailing with their children.

Whilst the conditions were at times testing, both for organisers and competitors, the regatta was nonetheless another success. The 68 boats that competed in the passage race on Saturday enjoyed a moderate southeast breeze which held in for the afternoon, the roughly two hour race  providing enough of a workout for everyone to appreciate the odd ale and fine dining that followed that evening. Sunday was a little tricky, the early morning breeze faltering mid race but then building to at least allow boats to finish and prepare for the second and final race of the day. 

Congratulations to Frank O'Rourke, again dominant in the catamaran division ahead of Michael Cocks (F18) and fellow Arrow sailor Tony Rose. Locals Nathan Stanton and Bryan Linnet had to be separated on a countback in the Wetas with QLD visitor Keith Chidzey not far in arrears. Other club members Jay and Willow Stroud and Wayne Culph topped their respective divisions, but not without some serious challenges from Trevor Wistaff and Andrew Heerey (Div 2) and Tim Brown and Deb Parkin (Div 3). To no one's surprise, Kylie Vaiciurgis completed the series with two wins on the Sunday to take the honours in her division ahead of Adam Ross and Peter Williamson. The Ross boys of Max and Ned reigned supreme in the Sabots, with Joel Vaiciurgis right in the mix and a very gallant Penny Harrigan keeping them all honest. In the Trailable Division, long time visitor Ian Michie made a clean sweep of proceedings leaving Dave Keep and Dave Freedman to share the minor placings, separated on countback. Results are now available from the main menu.