Article by Warwick Crossman
Commodore Rob McClelland and Vice Commodore Julia Hornsby were present to welcome sailors from RSYS to RPAYC for the fourth
running of the DF65 Masters Club Challenge last Thursday, 25 July.
Halyards was awash with coffee and buzzing with anticipation as sailors from both teams caught up and the friendly banter began.
After a quick briefing from Race Officer Steve “Merro” Merrington sailors were transported by the club’s tender to Rowland Reserve Bayview, where the course had been set in a perfect NNW breeze at about 8 knots and flat water.
For the uninitiated, racing at DF65 regattas can be fast and furious, with most races taking not much more than ten minutes.
The competitors were split into two fleets of ten, five from each club, with the winning team being the one with the lowest total score of all ten sailors, after drops.
Team RPAYC got off to a flying start with Greig Ebeling winning the first two races back to back in the Blue Fleet. In the Yellow Fleet Phil Burgess scored a win in the first race and Warwick Crossman kept the Squadron’s in form sailor, Steve Findlay, at bay during a nail biting match race to win race two.
As anticipated, the Squadron’s sailors rallied in the next three races with Richard Franklin and Grant Loveday each taking a race win, and consistent sailing from Steve Findlay and Kel Burgess keeping their competition alive.
However additional race wins to Phil and Rick Murray, backed up by a string of good results from Greg Thomson and the rest of RPAYC’s team made it impossible for the Squadron to overcome our team’s early lead.
So for the first time in the four iterations of the DF65 Masters Club Challenge the host club managed to retain the coveted trophy with a winning margin this time of RPAYC 173 vs RSYS 214.
Both fleets completed five races before the breeze faded for the morning and Merro called an end to the racing … and the tender to take everyone back to Halyards.
A wonderful spirit of fierce but friendly competition and good natured banter and camaraderie between the two groups of sailors has ensured this event will be a permanent fixture on both club’s calendars well into the future.
Wrapping up this report we have to acknowledge another great job by Steve Merrington and his team of volunteers; Steve Howe, David Brittain, Phil Johnstone and Henry Skolnik who kept the races ticking over. Collectively, our DF65 fleet would also like to thank the club’s management and staff for their support of this event and for making our guests genuinely welcome at Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club.
Footnote:
To cap off a great day where he was the top scoring DF65 sailor, Phil Burgess received the 2024 Clubmanship Award at RPAYC’s AGM last night. Well done Phil.
