A beautiful sunny autumn day made for light airs and some fluky and tricky sailing in the BLiSS regatta at Royal Brighton Yacht Club on Sunday 5 May. Race Officer Lou Hutton managed to get in two races despite the challenging conditions and 15 boats took to the water to race for the silverware. It was great to see the variety of boats competing. Dragons, Sportsboats and larger Keelboats all took part in the regatta this year with a couple of new entrants with all female crews.
On the podium in first place for BLiSS were Monica Jones Salamander III ORC, Robyn Ragauskas Bullet AMS and Emma Prest Presto PHS.
The Revelle Family trophy for the race towards the Port Phillip Women’s Championship Series was presented by Councillor Sonia Castelli. Tatem Mackey on Sunshine was third, Robyn Ragauskas on Bullet was second and Katie Holroyd on Serious Yahoo came in first.
The Associates Cup, was also awarded to Brighton boats by RBYC’s first female commodore Wendy Luck with Niesje Hees on Caledonia in third, Maia Hester on Lyla in second and Emma Prest on Presto first.
Our sponsors this year had a truely special connection. Pommery champagne house developed by the trailblazing Madame Pommery in France back in the1860s was a terrific partner, with the offer of a glass of champagne on arrival at the club warmly welcomed by participants. Gordon Syme from Yachtmaster Sailing took his participation a step further this year, taking out a crew of female students, here’s hoping we see them back for BLiSS next year. And K2 Health’s Krystal Weir took to the water on Presto. The prize packs supplied by Independent Nutrimetics consultant Mandy Jackson were warmly received. We all need to look after our skin when we get off the water. Joyce Cosgrave’s generous donation of scarves for participants were quickly snapped up by participants and volunteers. And we acknowledged the skills we’ve learnt thanks to our major sponsor YRSA who generously supported the BLiSS training prior to the event.
Special thanks to RBYC staff and volunteers who made the day run so smoothly. Also to the men and women who lent their boats and encouraged and supported women to take the helm and step up into other roles.
Cath Hurley and Bronwyn McIlveen, co-chairs of BLiSS
