Report from the front lines – Stonehaven Cup 2024 – Day 1
2024 got started with the entire east coast of Australia getting thoroughly drenched, and for a while, it looked like the southeast corner was going to be spared. Well, that was until last night!! A weather front brought thunderstorms and heavy rain to most of Victoria resulting in minor flooding in many suburbs and a few hundred people losing power. Sitting at home watching this had us contemplating what was to come for the first day of racing in this, the 94th edition of the Stonehaven Cup regatta for youth sailors, and the 12Ft Cadet Dinghy Open Centenary Championships. Grey skies, passing showers, and the promise of thunderstorms and lightning this afternoon.
Crews from all around the country descended on the rigging lawn of RBYC including a huge contingent from the Australian Navy Cadets, King Island Boat Club, Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron and Lake Ginninderra Sea Scouts – over 70 young sailors and all their support crews.
Apart from the rain, the race officer has had to figure out what to do with all these kids when there is not enough breeze to race!
Quick chat with the BOM and the storm is to pass to our North. Prepare the crews…
A start was set in a very light easterly breeze – course 2, triangle, sausage, sausage, sausage, but the wind wasn’t playing to the script, so flag ‘S’ was flown and a couple of whistle-type noises and the race was finished at the top mark.
The wind continued to be a bit cantankerous and shifted to the south, sort of, so the course was reset to the new wind direction and another course 2 run. Close start for both fleets and once again, the breeze dropped out and the finish set at the top mark. A good day of sailing with the most experienced crews at the head of each fleet as expected.
Well done race team and well-done crews.
Ray Smith