Over the weekend, the Club hosted the 150th Regatta and in conjunction with the VX One and Jubilee’s 2025 State Titles. As part of the JA Linacre Memorial Trophy State titles, the Jubilees also celebrated the 90th anniversary of the launching of “Freydis” J1 at Royal Brighton Yacht Club in May 1935. The fully restored Freydis was on show at the club and drew considerable interest from competing sailors and visitors and many had fond memories and stories from when Jubilees were sailed at RBYC.
This three-day event started off with a welcome night and briefing on Friday evening. You could not have asked for a more wonderful evening at the Club – it was warm, calm and the sunset and cloud formations were more akin to the tropics than Port Phillip. It was standing room only, with members and visiting sailors from Ballarat, Sorrento, Albert Park, NSW, SA and the ACT all enjoying RBYC’s now legendary hospitality while a few energetic souls braved the dance floor.
Despite the weather on Saturday being less than ideal, the keelboat divisions set off on their passage race with winds on the course fluctuating between 10 and 20 knots. The race officials ensured it was going to a busy day – course 34 always is – and despite the overcast conditions, it turned out to be a pleasant days yacht racing. Over on the championship courses, we saw the VX Ones and Jubilees sail four races, the Etchells 3 races while the 2.4ms and Dragons sailed two races. After a visit to Fire Rescue Victoria’s Fireboat 2 it was back to shore where the kids and returning sailors enjoyed a barbequed sausage or two.
On Sunday morning, sailors were greeted with a strong wind warning and 25-30 knot easterly winds. The forecast was for the winds to ease before once again picking up in the late afternoon. The period of lower winds provided race officials with an opportunity to run the OTB races and complete the two State Titles races. Although racing for the Optimists and Quests was postponed to a future date, and Jubilee racing abandoned, the VX Ones and ILCAs enjoyed some spectacular sailing in the strong breezes and relatively flat seas.
I’d like to thank all participants, volunteers and RBYC staff for their commitment to ensure our celebration of 150 years of sailing at RBYC was a success. I’m sure we would have had larger fleets had the forecast been more inviting. Nevertheless, for those who managed to attend enjoyed a wonderful weekend and the Club received very positive feedback with many commenting that they always look forward to coming back to RBYC.
A full wrap of the weekend’s results can be found HERE
Wishing you fair winds and following seas and remember no bananas at sea.
Peter Demura
Commodore
