THE 2022 CUP REGATTA - A CLASSIC COMMUNITY

The Cup Regatta is the premier classic yacht event sailed annually on Port Phillip. Let’s not take the bait laid last week by the SWS editor in BUILDING A COMMUNITY WITH PLYWOOD. He suggested;

The Royal Yacht Clubs could learn a thing or two from their neighbours in South Gippsland about how to create a flourishing event.

CYAA classic events. Photo Jane Williamson

This flourishing event was down on previous years as once competitive skippers age and dirty boats and rusty crews emerge after Covid. Our New Zealand classic compatriots usually fly over in good numbers to sail on local boats and compete for the Trans-Tasman Trophy. They were absent. We are Classic Republicans before Royals and only “take a knee” for our Race Director and handicapper Peter Costolloe. He has the mammoth task of negotiating for months to pull off the Cup Regatta. There are four Port Phillip yacht clubs each with different race day requirements and the Port of Melbourne to coordinate. Then there’s handicaps to review and allocate, sailing instructions and courses to get right to suit a Folkboat and the Sydney Hobart heavyweights, along with design and printing of publications and pennants. He’s “on station” in the start boat all weekend selecting courses and getting results posted online before we reach our home moorings and pens. By Sunday he was only thinking about one decision - chicken or seafood for the post-race paella?

It’s difficult to write a story about a regatta you sailed in. While charting my own course, I have surely missed boats in other divisions - sail selections, starting action, tacking battles and shifts picked. I’ve been rescued by other skippers sharing their notes.

REGATTA RACE SHAPE

The classics usually sail a shortish race every fortnight in Winter and Summer. A regatta is a chance to stretch out and get boats and crew organised. The fleet was split into three divisions with two races each on Saturday and Sunday with no drops. To avoid big fleets, the start line was prudently moved from the digital start lights at RMYS to a boat off Kerferd Road pier. The flat triangular courses were designed by the Race Director to produce a similar finishing time between divisions with few lunch stragglers. Windward starting and finishing legs with shorter RBYC southern marks for Division 3 sorted this well.

Division 1 had the 1970’s Sydney Hobart yachts KINGURRA, MERCEDES III and BOAMBILLEE challenged by local speed machines ACROSPIRE III and the 30sq skerry cruiser PASTIME II with the strong handicap performer WANITA. Seven Tumlaren made up Division 2 challenged by the interloper CYAN the S&S 40 sloop. Division 3 was dominated by three well matched boats. Arthur Robb’s 37’ AKALA, BARANNE a 31’ J. Francis Jones sloop from Geelong and MARTINI the S&S 30 with BUNGOONA and Folkboat SEABIRD both rock-steady handicappers, better suited to heavier conditions.

PASTIME II with lee gunwale down. Photo Mark Chew

SATURDAY

Race 1 is always a bit of a shake down with new and rusty crew. Light SE winds were forecast with a southerly filling-in by lunchtime. Course 2 was set with Division 1 away first. The fleet was suffering trying to hold a line towards Point Ormond while hoping for an inshore lift. The big sloops need 10+ knots to get going while ACROSPIRE III can sail her own race and started to ease away. She enjoys clear and different air with her gaff topsail rig. As the wind shifted south, the making leg was thrown to the opposite tack, Tumlaren that stood out to sea found the predicted shift first and were rewarded with a starboard line to RBYC 5. MERCERDES III reports;

Whilst the “big five” boats chased the lift off the shore, Wanita went west and had a making tack followed by the Tums. She beat Mercedes lll to the windward mark and opened up the lead downwind. Should have placed higher on handicap.

Boambillee had a good result, calling to us “Thanks for the No 1, a great sail”. She was carrying an ex Mercedes sail deemed surplus to our suite. The crew didn’t talk to me for a while.

ACROSPIRE III going over MERCEDES III. Photo Jane Williamson

Tumlare ZEPHYR finishing Day 1. Photo Jane Williamson

The Brighton foreshore is another world for top of the bay sailors. Looking for unfamiliar RBYC marks proved problematic for the Williamstown and St Kilda yachts. David McNeice on AKALA reports;

We were going well on the first beat to RBYC 4 until a creeping awareness that we couldn’t find the mark changed the mood. We had overlaid by some margin and were behind BARANNE and MARTINI when preparing for the kite run back to RMYS G. That was a good run for us although we dropped the kite too soon, confusing a laid mark for G. We did enough to barely squeeze in first over the line but on corrected came equal with MARTINI.

AKALA’s crew kindly sent us a photo of them studying course descriptions mid race. SIROCCO similarly reported agitated crew watching the skipper helming while loading course marks in Navionics. “Steer the ****** boat, that’s a job for Friday evening”.

AKALA. Where’s that RBYC 4 mark? Photo Damian Syrigos

The Race Director’s lunch plans were well laid. Division 1 started 5 minutes before the Tumlaren fleet with another 5 minutes to Division 3. A quick look at the finishing times in Race 1 show AKALA first over the line with BARANNE just 6 seconds behind on a 6.2NM course. ACROSPIRE III sailed the 9.2NM course finishing only 48 seconds behind AKALA followed by Tumlare SIROCCO, 58 seconds later on the 7.8NM course.

3 Divisions converge on RMYS G. KINGURRA, BARANNE & DINGO. Photo Jane Williamson

LUNCH

Off-the-beach sailors think these classic royal barges are breaking out the charcuterie longboard and chilled Chablis. Some do but most stick to race rations from dinghy days. A simple sandwich with optional Jalapeno and an energy bar is washed down with a fizzy drink, ready for the AP drop. The skipper of MERCEDES III reports;

The lunch break was an opportunity for the crew to make some tough decisions after a poor showing in Race 1. First, which Pinot to match with the platter. The next wasn’t too hard, ditch the helmsman (me) and put Bowie on the wheel. Finally, let’s go west!

With the wind lifting and continuing to go south Course 4 was good. Most boats had changed their headsails predicting the fresh breeze would come through mid-race. Martin Ryan reports on Division 1 start manoeuvres;

Given the light conditions, we couldn’t ignore ACROSPIRE III and her idiosyncrasies vs the rest of the fleet. In two of the three starts, ACK reached down to the favoured boat end. Col Anderson quickly accelerated to 5 knots to squeeze the best position between MERCEDES III and the crowding buoy - calls of “keep it up Col” went in vain as she slipped through and away.

Gimble the drinks! MERCEDES III makes a clear start in Race 2. Photo Peter Costolloe

ACROSPIRE III controls the boat end start Race 2. Photo Jane WIlliamson

The scariest moment for a Tumlare sailor is sorting the start with a determined big boat. Several Tum canoes shied away from engaging in a barging duel and left CYAN to “greet” the start boat.

Once again boats that stood out west towards the channel were getting the first lifts. With the breeze filling in, times in all divisions became tighter. KINGURRA was keeping pace with ACROSPIRE III and Division 3 became a battle between AKALA and BARANNE.  The challenge this time was not the windward marks but the shy spinnaker run back uptown via RMYS E at the St Kilda rock wall to RMYS G. Sailing deep was not an option as RMYS A was kept to starboard. Classic broad shoulder balloons were struggling while slightly flatter kites could be held. AKALA again;

We expected a lift in the breeze for race 2 and during the lunch break and changed down to #2 headsail and patched a tear in our spinnaker. Again, close racing with BARANNE and MARTINI. Our foredeck hand suffered a knock in the face, enough to draw blood, when dropping the shy kite at the end of the run from E to G as the pole sprang back when the tack was released. 

Tumlaren ETTRICK and SNOW GOOSE. Photo Henrik Vedeler

AKALA crew. Photo Damian Syrigos

Even with their allocated handicaps adjusting against the previous race, ACROSPIRE III, SIROCCO and BARANNE hung on to win their divisions.

At Sunday’s trophy presentation, Matt Solly the RMYS GM made special mention of Race 2. The sight of five Tumlaren rounding RMYS E in close company stopped the RMYS Olympic Bar. He said the effect of the occasion was significant as the Squadron was celebrating the race of the day named in honour of long time Tum sailor and RMYS historian Bert Ferris and the yachts importance to the club.

ACROSPIRE III fully powered under MERCEDES III. Photo Damian Syrigos on AKALA

SUNDAY

No wind on Sunday morning was an Autumn omen. Tumlaren were towed to the race track by KINGURRA and MERCEDES III from their Williamstown pens.

Sail choice, sail choice - Martin Ryan reports;

End of Day 1 meeting on MERCEDES lll discussed Dave Allen’s recent assessment that our No 1 was ***t. We dragged out our 10 year old No 1 from the locker, unused for 5 years - a Col Anderson Straits which Dave rated significantly better. The Sunday results validated the decision.

Tumlare SIROCCO under paddle power and STEVE IRWIN. Photo Kath Solly

Overnight the race director had manually adjusted the TopYacht handicaps to get things better aligned after Saturday performances. Drift conditions for the Race 3 pursuit on a short 5NM course swallowed the advantage for the early starters at 10am.  The breeze began to fill in by 10.30 giving the back markers in Division 1 a terrific race. The handicapper’s homework was proved by finishing times and handicap order. ACROSPIRE III pipped PASTIME II by just 30 seconds and 2 minutes later BOAMBILLEE pipped MERCEDES III by 9 seconds. MERCEDES III noted;

The stand out performance of Division 1 racing over the Regatta was Pastime in the Race 3 pursuit. She cleared out upwind, held her place downwind and was only run down by ACK on the beat to the finish. A big gap to the rest.

Social distancing please. CYAN greets the start boat in Race 3. Photo Peter Costolloe

The clear air of a stern chaser allowed BARANNE and SIROCCO to produce bullets, leaving elapsed time gaps of 7 and 8 minutes to the following boats in their divisions. AKALA reports from Divison 3;

Race 3 was tough on the first groups. SEABIRD had made very little forward progress by the time the fast boats were starting just as some breeze was arriving. It was slow working to windward, searching for better wind, but to little avail. Possibly still feeling the effects of a knock on the head on Saturday, our foredeck hand hoisted the kite sideways at the top mark. The light breeze allowed us to correct it without dropping and resetting. By now BARANNE has scooted away.

Spinnaker chase from MERCEDES III with BOAMBILLEE and SIROCCO. Photo Jane Williamson

BOAMBILLEE sliding inside MERCEDES III. Photo Jane Williamson

KINGURRA holding her shy spinnaker. Photo Jane Williamson

BARANNE in Sunday’s light wind. Photo Jane Williamson

the COMMITTEE BOAT VIEW

By Race 4 the wind was finally lifting to 15 knots and holding a steady direction. We had our sea legs and settled crews. MERCEDES III’s Saturday evening decisions were followed. They flopped over to “go west” on port tack immediately after the start and held to the layline before tacking back and setting up a good position. However it was the Division 1 start line manoeuvres for this last race that show how to set up a great position. Peter Costolloe, with his unique view and knowledge reports from the Race Committee Boat;

Two classic yachts with priors concerning making the Race Committee aware they are racing will always be watched when crowding marks with lines attached to the committee boat are deployed. Col Anderson held ACROSPIRE III back, then pinched a “poofteenth” to get a higher course to the start line than MERCEDES III. At 5 metres out, with her nose higher than MIII, it was a “hold your course” call for the MIII helm. Too late, with clean air, ACK accelerated to lift over and start her overlap. MIII could close the start line door on ACK as they maintained a loose hold on the crowding mark line.

MERCEDES III won the line battle but it was the sight of the 1923 50ft tops'l rigged ACROSPIRE III being thrown about like a dinghy that held the Race Committee's attention. The MIII skipper with his peripheral vision on full alert, held off till the very last moment before being overlapped and conceding the start line by a very small drop off angle to ACK.

We had box seat viewing of many Cup Regatta finish line battles, but the Race 4 start line crossing by MERCEDES III and ACROSPIRE III was deemed by the RYCV Race Director Andy Warner as the signature on-water moment of the Cup Regatta. No words were passed between boats as the two skippers showed determination to not give an inch until foremark room rules spoke louder than words. A classic yachting stouch.

MERCEDES III took out Race 4 on handicap.

Tumlaren kept their big headsails despite a strong change predicted in the afternoon. The breeze made racing much tighter with ETTRICK, DINGO, ZEPHYR and SIROCCO tacking, covering and dipping all the way to the windward mark. With a south westerly shift SIROCCO got a starboard making leg to RMYS B and managed to slide under ETTRICK at the rounding. Tumlare SNOW GOOSE appeared at the starting line with a crew of four looking like they were on a Sunday picnic but hung on to take handicap honours in Race 4. AKALA reports from Division 3;

In race 4, we were crossing MARTINI closely on opposite tacks to windward while BARANNE had moved well ahead. An override in a headsail sheet came at an inconvenient time on the final approach to the windward mark and MARTINI slipped ahead. However, our run to G was relatively good and we recovered 2nd position on the water and held on. 

We had a full boat with 6 on board on Saturday and 7 on Sunday. Our lack of race practice with spinnakers held us back a little but not too much. AKALA and MARTINI are always closely matched. BARANNE performed particularly well and seemed to get better with each race. Conditions were not helpful for SEABIRD and BUNGOONA was not out on Sunday.

Tumlare SNOW GOOSE kept way-on in the light breeze. Photo Jane Williamson

SAYONARA

On Sunday the classic fleet was joined by an observer and previous regatta winner. The 57’ Fife topsail gaff cutter SAYONARA turned out with the crew from Couta boat LUCY C31 to make up the numbers. Dress code orders of “whites and plimsolls” was issued for the Voiles de Beaconsfield Parade.

SAYONARA crossing KINGURRA on Sunday. Photo Jane Williamson

 THERE IS A WINNER

The standout regatta performer was BARANNE in Division 3. Pete Jerabek sailed this little 1965 Sydney Hobart boat to his club on Corio Bay from Kettering Tasmania in 2017. Pete’s an ex YW Diamond sailor so used the lockdowns to restore her and learn to manage and sail a small offshore boat. He sailed up from Geelong on the Friday for the regatta.

BARANNE off St Kilda. Photo Jane Williamson

Pete called on the experience of his Diamond and offshore mates to make up a regatta crew with Duncan Rae, Ben van den Akker and Steve Standen and reports;

After a shaky start in Race 1 (not enough coffee), we eventually worked out that “leaving RMYS A to Port” didn’t mean rounding it. The only consolation was that we were travelling pretty fast but in the wrong direction. We rallied together and by holding a very shy spinnaker from the top mark, we managed to just get beaten across the line by AKALA by a few seconds. A great come back. During Race 2 we settled in and made most of a few good wind shifts that put us in the lead over the much faster and bigger yacht AKALA. For Race 3 (pursuit) our esteemed handicapper made some changes and let AKALA head off a minute earlier, however due to the very light (non-existent breeze) start times didn’t matter for anyone. My experienced crew really came alive changing sheets and tackle, forever searching for that light breeze on the water, even if it sent us in the wrong direction.  Again, a welcome finish in front of AKALA. By Race 4 where the breeze filled in, BARANNE and crew were pretty honed, and managed to keep good speed through-out the race with no mistakes.

BARANNE proved slippery and managed four wins on a shortening handicap. She won the Col Bandy trophy for “Best Performing Yacht” in the CYAA 2021/22 Cup Regatta. The weekend reprised the 1965 Sydney Hobart race when AKALA and BARANNE both competed.

I’m really pleased for Pete as he’s my usual crew on Tumlare SIROCCO.

CLASSIC COMMUNITY

The Cup Regatta weekend hosted by one club but supported by three others answers all of Mark Chew’s observations in BUILDING A COMMUNITY WITH PLYWOOD.

This was a weekend to celebrate wooden boats and the traditional shipwrights and owners who maintain them. The willingness to wear hooped outfits, share information and put out for each other is the classic way. We like to sail well, but winning races has minor interest. Although, unlike most silverware, the classic trophies ain’t that bad. The Tony Blake is a beautiful painting of racing topsail gaff riggers and the Col Bandy is a pewter goblet embedded in a block of acrylic.

Kath and Ben Solly sailed their 40’ WHITE ONYX from Sandringham for a Williamstown weekend. These very accomplished off and inshore sailors are always welcome crew on ZEPHYR and SIROCCO. Ben’s father Albert once owned DINGO and Kath’s father Doug Jenkin had YOEMAN (SNOW GOOSE) in the 1980’s, then restored ETTRICK in 2012 and skippered her well into his 80’s.

The Kiwis couldn’t join us but our NSW rep Philip Brown showed classic commitment, driving from Sydney to handle the jib sheet on MERCEDES lll. Philip is a strong CYAA supporter, joining our initiatives at Cowes and CYANZ regattas twice and our Cup Regatta in Melbourne four times.

George Fisscher skipper of BOAMBILLEE is a master of varnish. He has spent months driving across town to re-furbish the brightwork on his sailing rival MERCEDES III. George’s efforts were rewarded when BOAMBILLEE took out the Tony Blake trophy for best performing boat in the combined Winter/Summer series.

See you all next year.

Pete Jerabek skipper of BARANNE with the CYAA Race Director

CYAN crew post regatta. Photo Jane WIlliamson

MERCEDES III. CYAA President Martin Ryan reflecting on his brightwork. Photo Jane Williamson

RESULTS

TopYacht results for the Cup Regatta are linked HERE.

CREDITS

Martin Ryan CYAA President & MERCEDES III, Peter Costolloe CYAA Race Director, David McNeice AKALA and Pete Jerabek BARANNE kindly shared their notes.

Jane Williamson crewing on MERCEDES III and Damian Syrigos on AKALA found time to take the terrific photos.