Although threatened with heat wave conditions and possible strong winds a fleet of 6 boats entered the 2024 Australia Day Regatta, as part of the 188th Australia Day Regatta, with a range of other clubs also holding races today. It’s the oldest continual sailing regatta in the world, having been conducted since 1837. (www.australiadayregatta.com)
Graham and Maz Radford very kindly acted as sailing committee on the day and Warwick and Joe supported them, laying the marks and providing safety support in Charlies Chariot.
The first race started at 10.00am and saw Sophie and Clare in Dolly Wallis slip away, ahead of Jeremy and Ken in Vin and Michael and Ros in Black Swan. They were followed closely by Jonathon and Skye in Ralph Newman, John and Kerry in Eli D and Denis and Nola in Woody.
The racing was very close, with only 11 seconds separating first and second and another 30 seconds to third place. In fact, the entire fleet was very competitive, with the last boat finishing only 1 minute and 30 seconds behind the first placed boat.
This suggested some fierce and competitive racing to come in the next two races, however it was not to be, as the predicted stronger winds arrived, and it was felt prudent to abandon any further racing, to avoid gear failure or personal injuries.
So, the positions of the first race were accepted as the final results. Second and third place getters were awarded a 2024 Australia Day Regatta medal, and the winners, Sophie and Clare a box of chocolates each. They will however be invited to Sydney Town Hall in the near future to be presented with a trophy by a senior politician, possibly the mayor herself!
After the race Wilma and Joe provided us with BBQ sausage sandwiches, fruit and nibblies to enjoy, while the presentations were made. Despite the heat and the cancelled races everyone had a good time, and most importantly, enjoyed the comradery of the Manly Sailability fraternity.
Our thanks again go to Maz and Graham and Warwick and Joe for setting up and managing the course and the racing itself, and to Wilma and Joe for looking after us once we were off the water.
