The club has recently purchased a 8.5m Cougar Cat as a replacement for the mark laying boat Redeemer which is now in retirement. It is the ideal race management boat and had its first test during Sail melbourne as the start boat for the foiling course. She was so well liked that the Black rock team wanted to take her back to their club. With a secure and protected cockpit, a open and spacious working area all under cover it is a very comfortable and protected platform for our race management team. We know it will make a great addition to the race management fleet both as a course boat and a start boat for the OTB fleet racing.
This boat will be renamed “Redeemer” at a ceremony to be held at a suitable time in the future. There is considerable history here.
In 1944 Ern Petherbridge and other sailing enthusiasts, having experienced
16 Ft Skiff sailing in Sydney, purchased the Skiff “Redeemer” and brought it to RBYC. During 1945 other Skiffs arrived and the Victorian 16 Ft Skiff Association was formed. A patrol/rescue boat “Redeemer II” was purchased in 1950, but sank in 1953. It was replaced by Sally Anne which served the fleet until it was severely damaged after 1958. The Victorian Association after having participated in seven Australian Championships over 14 years, including two at RBYC in 1950 and ’54, gradually gave way to other classes and was finally disbanded and liquidated. The considerable assets were donated to RBYC for a patrol/rescue boat to be named “Redeemer”. Two subsequent patrol/rescue boats have been named “Redeeemer”.