Regatta Report 2016

Annual Report

Well it is almost the eve of the Regatta and it is a year since some of us last met and for others in far flung areas we may just continue to be Internet friends.

The Register now stands at about 370 Compass yachts of all types though less than half of the owners contribute to the Forum. The Website developed by Colin Hunter (C29 Spindrift) is great, and easy to use with a lot of our old content surviving now, two site transfers.

At this point I must start to offer some thanks to sponsors and members. Our main sponsor is Beta Diesel Australia who generously support our sailing Prizes.

Jotun anti fouling paints who donate a 5 litre tin of paint as a lucky door prize.

Vacuwash Australia who have donated a $500 SAILWASH for a Compass Main and Jib

Captain Chocolate & Captain Coffee who donate specialty chocolates as door prizes

Alan Hutton of Hutton Arco Winches who offers a $250 discount voucher as a door prize

Tish Ennis who puts up the Jim Brown Bequest which mostly pays for our present three trophies

Others who deserve honourable mentions are:

Colin Hunter (Spindrift) who gives me much support with our site and technical problems.

Colin Green who automatically pays for our URL and who as “Captain Chocolate” has provided several lucky Door Prizes to share.

For cash donations: Dave Robson, Bruce Handmer Stargazer, Barry Elliott Dreamtime, Greg McAdam Sea Dragon, Michael Ball Pisces, Alan Haddow, Scott Bickford Arthur’s Spirit, Arthur Mann Wenikory IV, Joe Barillari Lunaris,

Our biggest expense is wine prizes. This year I chose Laira Wines based solely on Bruce Handmer’s recommendation, the Sailing ship label and the fact that I bought it for half price. I have written to them to obtain some sort of sponsorship. It is not surprising that I have had no reply – I’ll pick up the phone.

At the BBQ, the Lucky Door Prizes, went out, Colin (Spindrift II) won the 5lt pail of Jotun antifouling, Joe (Lunaris) won the $100 Hutton winch discount voucher, Martin and Sawjin won the Vacuwash, sail wash prize for their main and jib. Various people won the smaller packets of Captain Chocolate goodies. Our Sponsors are hard to find, I encourage members to support them and maintain the link and tell them how you found them.

50^th Compass Yachts Anniversary Regatta Report

Well it was a good excuse for a sail. Lynne and I went aboard at 17.30 Thursday and went to a local buoy to get ready for sea, then an early night. The alarm went off at 01.30, the tide was just beginning to ebb and we rocketed out of the Port at a good 6 knots. With sails up off Bass and Flinders Point, the sea was calm and so was the wind. It was a long motorsail all the way up, beautiful in the dark. Off Bondi Head the sky started to lighten in the East as two planets rose and the day started. It was good to hook up in Watsons Bay and get some sleep. Guy The Black Pearl arrived about lunchtime also from Port Hacking.

The BBQ dinner was great with many boats represented, Don Lees had come down from Southport for the occasion and Phil and Di from C28 Matira had opted to train down from Coffs Harbour rather than bash into southerlies. VYC is such a fantastic club and it was beautiful to watch the sunset over the Bridge and the different colours in the sky.

By 10.30 Saturday, activity at the Club was getting frenetic as boats arrived and registered for the race. The start was a bit confused with most of our members out for their yearly run. The starter was white faced when he returned, so many near misses of the Start Boat! On Maeling with my usual crew (Roger Djaraluda and Colin Spindrift II) supplemented by Don Lees who had flown down from Southport were getting into gear. Roger was 40 seconds early and had to run the line to leeward before turning as the start horn blasted. We had a good start in the 12-15 knot nor’ easter but obviously missed C30 Stargazer whose stern we crossed and who was pointing 10° higher, we watched dejectedly as C29 Kalina also pointing that 10° higher passed well to the east. In the long beat to Manly the fleet became widely spaced and with Maeling in third place on the run back to Neilsen Park, we could at last take stock. The Black Pearl E30 was snapping at our heels, there was Sunrock C28 approaching Manly West closely followed by Secrets C28 with their main split from luff to leach but not giving in. Soliquoy C28, Neireid C29, Goose C28, Arthur’s Spirit C28, Red Compass C29 and Reverie C29 completed the fleet.

We held our position to Neilsen Park opening a slight lead on the The Black Pearl. On the reach from Chowder to the finish, we had the opportunity to view the fleet running down to Neilsen Park and others reaching across to Chowder.

Our final challenge at the finish line was a flock of Sabots across our course.

What a great day!

Lessons learned, those who found a confusion between the Sailing Instructions and the map, well the evidence has been destroyed. The other is identifying finishing yachts – Next year we will issue entrants with a number to display to the Finish Boat. Next year we will try to recruit a non-racing member to volunteer as a finish boat.

The Awards: This year’s Jim Brown trophy went to C28 Matira, Phil and Di who put in a Nautical Mile trip to Fiji

E30 Stargazer got the $100 Beta Diesel Line Honours prize.

C29 Kalina – First place and the $100 Beta Diesel C29 Handicap prize

C29 Red Compass – Second place and the $75 Beta Diesel C29 Handicap prize

C29 Neireid – Third place and the $25 Beta Diesel C29 Handicap prize

C28 Sunrock – First place and the $100 Beta Diesel C28 Handicap prize

C28 Secrets – Second place and the $75 Beta Diesel C28 Handicap prize

C28 Goose – Third place and the $25Beta Diesel C28 Handicap prize

E30 The Black Pearl – First E30 Handicap - A bottle of bubbly

Every Entrant got two bottles of excellent Laira Wine. (Let me know if you missed out)

My thanks to all the members and friends who participated, to our friends atVaucluse Yacht Club who suffer us and especially Xena for the tender service. Special thanks to Marion & Bob, Roger, Colin, Doug, Bruce and Lynne for lightening the load.

Don Lees was very impressed with our efforts and gave a short talk on how we came to have the yachts we have to this day. I thank him for his personal effort in joining us and his roving eye over Maeling “Just tighten up those for’ard lowers”.

Link to Geoff's photos

Link to some photos taken by Daniel Givney

Link to some photos taken by Peter Stenning

Link to some photos taken by Andrew Caveney