Latest News

Beren Beowulf, Gary Wogas, Jennifer Fox, Nicky Jackson, David Harley

Having won the Australia Day Regatta Division 3 race last year, the crew on Outfoxed (Hanse 315) were keen to defend our title. Sailing around Sydney Harbour on Australia Day in amongst the Tall ships, ferries in Fancy Dress with Roulettes flying in formation, what could be more fun?

The forecast hinted at a southerly change mid-afternoon but we hoped to be finished by then. Onboard I had a very experienced crew, Gary Wogas, who guides me with trim and tactics every Tuesday, was on main along with Beren Beowulf, David Harley and Nicky Jackson.

We lined up at Point Piper for our 2:05 start in a 20-knot westerly breeze with our main already reefed. The first leg was a quick reach across the harbour to Taylors Bay.

Our initial concern was how we would manage getting up to the Taylors Bay mark and out again under the shadow of Bradleys. As we approached, we realised we had a much bigger problem, most of the Australia Day pleasure craft on the harbour it seemed had already sought shelter and anchored there. We found the mark and could see a narrow approach in through the moored boats, as we came closer it was apparent many boats also had swimmers in the water quite near the mark, understandable as it was 38 degrees, but it further reduced our options.

As we prepared to gybe around the mark the breeze really picked up and swung 90 degrees. The southerly had arrived early! On rounding the mark there was a quick change of plan. We spotted a small gap out between boats and swimmers, so I went for it, within two boat lengths we were doing over 8.5 knots.

With the southerly building we had a very fast and bumpy reach across to Sow & Pigs, the boat speed often hitting well over 9 knots, helped by the outgoing tide. Fortunately, my wind speed indicator was not working so only later did we learn we were in a 30 knot breeze. The crew were absolutely amazing, accurately calling gust after gust, knowing just when to ease the gear and supporting me in every way.

Rounding Sow & Pigs we were on a serious work heading back to Shark Island, into the tide and blustery wind and waves. Tacking into Rose Bay all we could see was a wall of white caps ahead. I would discover later it was 31 knots gusting to 36 knots. I noticed several boats around us from other divisions had dropped their sails and retired. A quick chat with the crew, did we want to retire before we had any damage? “Hell no, we are through the worst of it” was the consensus.

Once around Shark Island everything calmed down, we headed back to Taylors Bay protected by a wind shadow from Point Piper that took us most of the way. By this time the moored boats had left so we had a much safer rounding. The crew then spotted one other boat in Division 3 rounding behind us, so we had to keep up the pace. One more lap around Shark Island then back to Point Piper.

What a relief to see Gitana and the finish line were still there!

The very experienced Race Committee reported it as possibly the most difficult day in memory as anchoring was almost impossible. A huge thank you to Race Officer David Ross along with Peter Lawson, Trish Stanley, David Ritchard and Joanna Love.

The day definitely took its toll. Twenty-five boats retired. Ross Littlewood from As You Do reported jib furler issues after experiencing 38 knots gusts. Julie Clarke from Arcturus 3 retired to avoid any damage. Both observed similar issues to us with large boats anchored very near the Neilsen Park mark.

Only twenty boats finished across eight divisions. Notably the two Classic divisions fared much better than others. I wonder if that was because the Classic boats handled the conditions better or was it the experience of the people who sail them? Probably both.