This year there was a definite buzz about the club from a few days before, with excitement growing as the interstaters rolled in. With lots of help from the enthusiastic locals, boats were rigged, dropped in the water and berthed on the club pontoon three shakes of a skippers tiller from the club bar. What a magic setting – drinks in the sunset and the promise of a great weekend to come. Bucko, the nation’s most relaxed RO gave us the briefing on Saturday morning, how refreshing to hear some sensible race management outlined. There will be no protests! Sort it out on the water. With breezes between 0-5, the race committee did a fantastic job in achieving three races on the first day. With temps at 22 deg C, a glorious day of sailing was had and a following swell upwind made interesting sailing for those not used to ocean sailing. The first race was won by local legend Dave McKay by 30 sec to Victorian Hugo Ottaway and Stephen Quigley a further 30 seconds behind. The short course format, with works no more than 800 metres, ensured close competition for all.
Final results being:
1. Team CiniO’Bryan Stephen Quigley
2. Pinot Barry Ryan
3. Kaotic Simon Grain
4. StockCar David McKay
5. Bruschetta IV Hugo Ottaway
6. JCF Built Boudicca Bryce Edwards
7. McKay Marine Julie McKay
8. Witches Thimble Robin Townsend
9. Only a Journey Max Sellers
10. ShortFaced Mathew Short
11. Vertigo Clinton Hood
12. Starpac Lia Darby
13. In the Mood Marc Van Dinther
14. Macquart Marine Jared Macquart
15. Jargon Tony Landers
16. Slippery Fish Mick Reynolds
17. Katiki Katanga Chris Merfield
Team Cini O’Bryan’s consistence throughout the series proved solid with a series score of 3, 1, 7, 3, 2, 2, 2 for a total of 13. Simon Grain, sailing Arthur Crother’s Kaotic (with the boss on board) went home with the wheelchair prize. Once again the level of female participation is very encouraging with three female skippers and many women amongst most of the crews. The organizers and competitors would like to thank the sponsors of the event: Macquart Marine, Wet Tech Rigging, Ian Short Sails, Cronulla Marina, The Lapstone Hotel, Loaf Cafe Cronulla, OZ Jet Boating Sydney, PriceLine Cronulla and Secret Scent Aromatherapy. And a big thank you to the volunteers and members of Cronulla SC for making this great regatta possible. Thanks also to Fiona Campbell, Rob Croucher, Clinton Hood and Dave Mackay for hosting the visitors – it makes the trip all the more affordable and strengthens new and old bonds in the Class. Cronulla Sailing Club is looking forward to hosting the event next year, when we will be aiming at 25 J/24s. Please remember to bring the entire range of sails for you’ll never know what the day will bring you. I have to say the same thing I said last year – if you weren’t there, you missed a real goodie and you don’t want to miss that again. (Story by Mick Reynolds and Simon Grain)
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