Last week, the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club’s Cruising Division once again set sail for one of the most anticipated events of the year — our annual cruise to Darling Harbour, held in conjunction with Sydney’s spectacular Vivid Festival of Light.
Fifteen boats made the journey down the coast to berth at Cockle Bay Marina, right in the heart of the action. With Sydney lit up in colour, the atmosphere was nothing short of magical — and so was the camaraderie.
The cruise, coordinated by Rear Commodore Cruising with the support of his ever-reliable crew Peter Crawford and Leon Wilson, struck the perfect balance between structured events and spontaneous fun. From group dinners to solo adventures, everyone had the freedom to do as much — or as little — as they pleased.
Highlights included a convivial dinner at the Grand Hotel on Hunter Street and another fabulous evening at a waterfront Italian restaurant in Cockle Bay. Of course, no cruise week would be complete without the now-famous Tuesday night dinner at Nine Dragons — a feast of wonderful Chinese cuisine shared in great company and full of laughter.
Some members hopped aboard the Parramatta River ferry for a lunch outing, while others explored cultural gems like the State Library, the Archibald Prize at the NSW Art Gallery, and of course, countless ferry rides around the harbour to soak in the lights of Vivid.
A special thank you goes to Greg, Leon, and Peter for organising such a smooth and memorable week — and to Craig at the marina, who was simply outstanding. As Davis Boekman noted, “For Lou and I, it was the perfect initiation into the Cruising Division, and thanks to all for the very warm welcome.”
Whether you were catching ferries, meeting new friends, or just relaxing onboard in the glow of the festival, this year’s Vivid Cruise had something for everyone.
We’ll see you back at the clubhouse — or perhaps at the next First Friday upstairs, now that we’ve entered the winter phase. It’s a great chance to catch up, share stories, and give a warm send-off to Matt and Jo.
Here’s to many more cruising adventures.
