2024 Regatta Report

Port Cygnet Sailing Club  - 2024 Regatta Report
By Glenn Sanders

What a weekend! This year’s annual Cygnet Regatta began on Friday 8 March, with two races, one from Hobart to Kettering, the other from Cygnet to Kettering. Then on Saturday 9 March the combined fleets raced from Kettering to Cygnet. Following a convivial evening with good food, the
odd drink, and nice music at the club, the main Cygnet Regatta was a closely fought contest on Sunday 10 March. Some participants have been coming to this regatta for over forty years.

All results are handicap unless specifically stated.

Race one, from Hobart to Kettering, saw seven boats in two divisions head off. Sundowner (Alice Grubb) took line honours and first on handicap in division one, from Redback and Satisfaction. In division two, Ripper (Tony Lagden) was chased home by Bandit and Cirrus.

Coming from the other direction, eight boats headed off from Cygnet. Flying Scud (Lenny Holland) was first on scratch and handicap in division one, ahead of Disgratziato and Tilting at Windmills. In the second division, Snafu Too (Stephen Walter) was first, from Dinkum and King Billy.

The next morning, well stoked by a pleasant evening at Kettering, 33 boats crossed the start line and headed down the channel with a strong tailwind. All crews reported fabulous spinnaker runs, and the leaders arrived at Cygnet well ahead of the predicted finishing times.

Flyin’ Scud (Adam Goode) (no relation to the smaller Flying Scud) took line honours, but on handicap, Sundowner again triumphed in division one, from Tilting at Windmills and Close Encounters. In division two, Ripper was followed by King Billy and Bess. 

The final race on Sunday brought the weekend to a close, with 28 boats heading off in two divisions.

The forecast proved correct, with a ten knot nor-wester at the start, followed mid race by a southerly change which strengthened to 15 to 20 knots. Unfortunately for some, there was a short period of calm between the changes, which saw several boats struggling to round the first mark at
Deep Bay in dead calm, while the faster boats disappeared in the direction of Beaupré Point. Yachts which stayed close to the mark suffered badly, while those staying well south of the mark picked up the incoming southerly much sooner. Tactics are always important, not just sailing skills.
Once the southerly kicked in the fleets spread out, enjoying the brisk conditions, with most boats finishing less than a minute apart. Joint Custody (Ian Stewart) claimed line honours. On handicap, in division one Sundowner capped a successful weekend, with local speedster Flying Scud second and
Joint Custody third. In division two, Saona (Ben Marris) was first, Ripper second, and Couta Boat My Girls third.

The overall point scores saw Sundowner (Alice Grubb) a clear and consistent winner in division one, followed by locals Tilting at Windmills and Flying Scud, while in division two, Ripper (Tony Lagden) took the prize, followed by local boats King Billy and Bess.

So ended yet another run of Australia’s oldest regatta, great sailing, backed up by a multitude of volunteers doing wonderful food and drinks, efficient race control, ample accommodation ashore and afloat, a world class water taxi service, and all the other myriad tasks behind the scenes – typical
Huon Valley hospitality all round.

SEE OUR REGATTA PHOTO GALLERY HERE 

SEE THE REGATTA RESULTS HERE