Compass Regatta Report
2013
What a great weekend to share with friends we rarely meet but are so glad to see. Before going too far I think I need to thank those who have supported us and encourage you to support them.
Beta Diesel Australia provided cash prizes for Line Honours, Compass 28 Handicap and Compass 29 Handicap.
Yacht Domain Brokerages provided the excellent perspex Compass 28 Handicap and Compass 29 Handicap trophies
Tish of the Jim Brown Foundation for the bottled wine prizes for all competitors.
Hutton Winches for the first Lucky Door prize of a Credit Note on a winch purchase won by Affinity
Raymarine for the second Lucky Door prize of a large wheeled Musto Gear bag.
Captain Coffee and Captain Chocolate for their many prize winning bags of chocolate coated coffee beans and freeze dried strawberries.
Shaun & Ali Raebel for the brass Regatta Shields for each entrant
The Meet & Greet got off to a good start at 5.30 when David of D29 Lea Rig arrived off the ferry. Numbers gradually grew until we had just over 40 had come along. The name tags were so popular that I have ben cleaned out – holders and all! The Skylarks and Spindrifts each had a story of meeting the previous owners who in both cases were happy to see their old boat in good hands.
The sun set gently over the Harbour Bridge as the previous party of 5.5 sailors departed to prepare for another race on the Saturday and we began cooking our dinners. With a brief welcome from Geoff we got on with the drawing of the Lucky Door Prizes, which made a lot a people happy. First out was Steve of C28 Affinity, who suddenly thought "New Winches!"
Over coffee we enjoyed some of Captain Chocolate's Adelaide Show Medal delights, thanks Colin.
Lynne and Geoff Raebel with David of D29 Lea Rig spent the night in the VYC Clubhouse while Steve and Eric in C28 Affinity moored offshore. Sadly Maeling has a blown head gasket and Dave's boat was at Brooklyn.
The Race- After a heavy breakfast of eggs, bacon and sausages, we prepared for the start. Tony our starter laid the line and with Geoff working the flags he sounded the five minute horn. At four minutes, the "I" flag went up, then at one minute, the preparatory flag came down. It was a pretty scattered fleet, Hellangone was windward of the line, fixing a problem. Other boats seemed caught by the fact the start was in fact at two minutes to eleven due to Geoff running two minutes fast. The start horn blasted.
N28 Anna was a leisurely first over the line with others soon snapping at her heels.
Third last boat over the line was C28 Emma IV with Bruce a 70 something sailing solo and with a mis-adjusted sheet block causing rising turns on his winch. I heard Affinity had done a 360 around one buoy which must have cost them!
Off Neilsen Park, Geoff was in Emma IV's dinghy waiting for the Fleet with a camera. Then it was a long paddle to the finish line. The Nor'Easter had piped in as the first boats reached for Chowder South. It was a great sight to see them coming across on a tight work, then willing some boats to fall away for the line. First across was Moerlina with a thumbs-up from the dinghy. It was tight with the next three C28s Anna, Hellangone and Miro. C28s Secrets and Affinity had a tussle with Secrets 45 seconds ahead. Then came in the first C29, Kalina. Last over the line was Bruce in Emma IV, a great solo effort and a testimony to how easy C28s are to sail, not taking away from a lifetime of seamanship – congratulations Bruce and good on you for wearing the lifejacket-sensible.
The Presentation – there was a surprise in the clubhouse as we were met by Tish who had been on C28 Pumpkin for our first Regatta 12 years ago. Geoff had to beat the rest ashore to work out the handicap results while Bruce provided the entertainment mooring stern-first by his propeller. That disguised the fact that we were alone in the clubhouse until Dave Dee arrived in a commandeered runabout. "Where's the ruddy tender service?"
Oops the tender is out on a mooring. Adrian rowed out and nabbed the tender and brought everyone ashore. At last the presentation could start, a mere half hour before the 5.5s were due back to get their moorings!
Moerlina took out the Beta Diesel Australia Line Honours cash prize
Anna took out the Beta Diesel Australia Compass 28 Handicap cash prize and the Yacht Domain Trophy
Kalina took out the Beta Diesel Australia Compass 29 Handicap cash prize and the Yacht Domain Trophy
All the competitors then received two bottles of wine to share with the crew
It was a fantastic weekend and I am sure speaking for everyone, we had a great time of camaraderie and sailing. Special thanks to the Vaucluse Yacht Club, President "Tinker" Bell, Rear Commodore Doug Cameron and not forgetting Zena Bell and Lynne Raebel, without whom these events wouldn't be half as much fun.
Thanks All for your support in all ways.
PS I forgot to mention the Register prize, this year we selected 10 random member numbers to offer the prize to the first one we can contact. Sadly C28 Tinkara, C29 Innifree, C28 Charis, C29 Arion, C28 Niama, D29 Carpe Diem, C29 JV754N are not up to date, C28 Affinity was present and disqualified. The $60 waterproof backpack is currently on offer to N28 Sea Witch with C29 Kalia as the last reserve. Keep your details up to date, there will be another Register Prize next year.