Cup Regatta ‘24 - Wrap Up
The 18th CYAA Cup Regatta concluded on the 3rd November.
Its future is bright.
The fishing smack leads a couple of 70’s yachts to the start line! -Image Emma Phillips
It’s hard to know the best way to asses the success of a Classic Boat Sailing Regatta. There are the empirical numbers like the number of vessels attending (33) or the number of competitors out on the water (about 150) or the people who showed up at the welcome party (160) … but these are just figures, and they just tell a fraction of the story.
Ferdi and Wendy Darley shed, the venue for the welcome party.
How do you quantify the feeling of six 40 plus ft craft, metres apart, storming close hauled through the Port Phillip chop towards a start line?
How do you quantify the atmosphere of a boat shed full of like minded people, sharing stories and knowledge amongst Fife and Alden and Reimers restorations, a glass of wine in hand, and the smell of a cooking sausage mixing in with the aroma of Huon Pine sawdust?
How do you quantify the sight of seven brightly coloured one designed design Tumlarens, rolling downhill, bubble kites flying, flaunting their gorgeous sterns?
The long weekend of sailing kicked off with a day of One Design racing in which Interstate and International teams competed for bragging rights and a small trophey… But this event proved to be so special that we’ll commit to a dedicated article in SWS next week.
The Regatta proper was run, as always on the Saturday and Sunday before the famous horse race. Back in the early 2000s when we conceived the event, the idea was that people would come for the yacht racing and stay for the horse racing. Almost two decades later, we realise that most sailors don’t give a fig about a race they can’t be a physical part of… but the date has stuck and the event despite highs and lows, is currently on what your broker might describe as, “a growth trajectory.”
Hosted by RYCV, the oldest Yacht Club in Victoria (a disputed claim!), the northerly aspect of the Club House across the lawn and Hobson’s bay to the city in the distance, provides the best place in Victoria to consume a post race ale (a claim that can’t be disputed!)
Saturday’s forecast of light northerlies, got the direction right but the strength wrong, as once the sea breeze was well and truely banished, the northerly was consistently over 20 knots gusting 26. But northerlies at this end of Port Phillip mean flat water and the fleet relished the two 1nm windward leeward races. It’s a fine balance with this diverse fleet of keeping the boats close so that we can all enjoy the spectacle, while at the same time keeping them far enough apart so that manoeuvrability issues and speed differentials don’t pose a danger. Race management nailed it!
I viewed the whole affair from the very stable deck of the 1925, 50ft fishing smack STORM BAY, and what a privilege it was! with topsail hoisted in the force six breeze, she lent into the chop, shouldering it aside, on her way to the top mark. I’m not sure how often a 28 tonne fishing boat with full wet well, full sail and full hearts has raced a 1nm leg windward leeward course with hitchmarks and gates, but perhaps perhaps it should be done more often. It’s a sailing memory I shall never forget.
The 1925 Blore designed, Coverdale built fishing smack STORM BAY -Image Emma Phillips
They low light of the day was when the red Tumlaren AVAIN lost her stick on the beat in the second race. It shattered in two places, but thankfully no one was hurt. Efforts are already underway to have a new spruce mast built and rigging fitted and have her back on the water as soon as possible.
AVIAN just before her dismasting -Image Emma Phillips
Over night on Saturday the forecast gale eventuated, with 50 knots recorded at Fawkner Beacon. All the boats were tied up safely and by first light on Sunday the worst had passed. After a short delay to allow the gale warning to be taken down the boats headed out again for what was to be the final race of the event, a big triangle around fixed marks in Hobson’s bay.
With the wind round in the south west, the sea state was building and the longer distances between marks, the bigger boats had chance to stretch their legs. A special mention should go to the boats that travelled from afar. The four Couta boats that came from Sorrento made a huge effort, taking two additional days out of their lives for delivery and return.
The boats that came up from Geelong (and did well!) will hopefully encourage a bigger Corio Bay contingent for next year.
And of course our twenty or so New Zealand friends who have played such a big part in making this a truely international event over the years.
For those interested in the results you can see the full suit HERE
For those more interested in “the vibe of thing” then pencil in the 1st and 2nd November 2025, and spend the next 11 months looking forward to a great weekend!