Stage 1 of the Dustbuster series was held last on Sunday 6 June. Sailors were greeted with a 12-knot westerly and a compact windward leeward course set up by RO Rob McClelland for a 0815hrs warning series.

The Dustbuster is a format that sees One Design and Sports Boat classes get out once a month during Winter to compete in short Windward Leeward races, with racing starting early, and generally concluding by 1045hrs, utilising the typical morning winter westerly winds.

Division 1 included the clubs Elliott fleet and assorted sports boats. Looking a clear step above the competition in the Elliott 7 fleet was Team Roger Perrett, who finished the day with a picket fence score card. Stuart Innes in the Shaw650 “Tickety Boo”, showed the boats potential downwind, taking very little time to complete the downwind legs “It was pretty much, get it up (the spinnaker), then get it down” laughed an exhausted Innes.

Division 2 saw the Etchells and the Int 5.5 class do battle.

Since the recent Int 5.5M worlds held in Pittwater, the class has continued to have a resurgence at the RPAYC. Recently all 10 RPAYC based 5.5s at the club competed in the Australian Championships, and a further two more boats have been purchased, and are planning to use the Dustbuster as a chance to learn the boats.

A great battle between the famous “Kings Cross” and “Rhapsody” saw these ageless beauties finish neck and neck in 2 out of the four races. “I was really happy with how the boat and team went today.” commented a relieved Scotty O’Connor (Skipper and team CEO). Kings Cross took boat of the day spoils, with David Taylor in the Etchells “2107” dominating his respective fleet.

The next stage of the Dustbuster is coming up at the end of the month on 27 June.
There are still 5 Elliott7’s available to charter for the remaining three events, as well as space for more One Design boats to join.

Report by Tom Spithill

For full results: Click HERE

Pictures from the last Dustbuster Event – credit Dinghy Fever Photography.