It is dark, but the sky is clear enough to see the moon bearing true north. The navigator, crusty old salt, informs the skipper they will arrive at the Rip at the flood slack and they can sail straight in. No tide tables were on board. How did the navigator know?

As I write British Classic Week is half way through its program (report to come), and the Aucklanders run a good Racing Weekend, but apart from the Sydney Hobart Veterans Regatta on the Harbour, there is a dearth of genuinely competitive sailing events exclusively for heritage boats in Australia.

It’s very low key event held on the beach at Sorrento to the west of the launching ramp. It's more of a family gathering, based around the extended Wooden Boatshop family. The Phillips boat shed opens onto the beach providing a vantage point and shade to keep the ice boxes cool. The dinghies are rowed or sailed and anchored ready for the rowing and sailing races later in the day.

The Classic Yacht Association of Australia, held its first ever race on 11th October 1997. Twenty Four years later, this Sunday around 20 boats will start race one of the 2021/2022 CYAA Summer Series.