Ten yachts competing in division three boosted the fleet to nineteen across the three divisions competing for the Diggers’ Cup held annually at HYC on Anzac Day. Fresh from the North Beach commemoration service to honour the fallen, Keel Captain Tim Tucker led a minute silence at the pre-race briefing before crews leapt from jetties to boats to take on a different kind of challenge.

A very brisk easterly gusting to between 15 and 20 knots propelled the yachts towards the reef and the first mark with some setting the spinnaker for the downwind run. A beat back to Sorrento was the second leg of the course followed by short legs alternating between down/off wind and beating into the wind. Often overpowered in the gusts there were costly round-ups if the mainsail trimmer was catching up on sleep.

Amongst the fleet of ten in division three, Deckchairs Overboard (Neil and Wendy Harrison) found space to be first over the start line however Whispering Jack (Bruce Bradford) quickly surged to the front also finding clear air by gybing away from the fleet. Whispering Jack went on to record fastest time by ten minutes but it wasn’t enough to be on the podium. A very creditable third across the line for Vaya Con Dios (Chris Blackney) secured a 14 second win from Tosca (Stuart Marks) with Resolute (Damian and Kerry Martin) in third place. Lamotrek (John Akers) had a great upwind battle to the finish line with Vaya Con Dios, Lamotrek getting there by a boat length.

Setting the kite on the start line paid off for Show Me (Tim Tucker) going on to win the race on handicap in division two by just 22 seconds from Helga (Mark Taylor) with Pinta (Ray Murphy) in third place. Volant (Emille Janssen, John Ball, Frank Hagemann and Kevin Meta) was right in the mix with Helga and Show Me, the three of them finishing within a minute of each other. Blue Chip (Keith and Deborah Fisk) worked the wind shifts and only poled the jib downwind but was still fastest around the course by a couple of minutes.

In division one Sophia’s (Bruce Utting) day started well with a first over the start line whilst Perle, starting close to the groyne set the spinnaker keeping away from Sophia, Mulberry (Mark Pitt) and Circa (Martin Eyer). Sophia set their spinnaker too and all four yachts converged on Little together rounding one after the other. Trouble struck for Sophia when in pulling out the jib, the tack tape parted and that was the end of the day for them apart from some sightseeing as the race unfolded. Perle chased Circa but she was too quick and finished first and fastest, Perle second over the line and second on handicap with Mulberry third.

Martin Eyer (Circa) celebrated the win with the personal donation of a new computer which will be used to process keel racing results with new software to be trialled in the winter. Thank you for your generosity, Martin.

A big thank you to the start team for the terrific job they have done this season in managing the starts and finishes, both from the tower and out on the water on Alibi for the North Coast Series. We should also acknowledge the good work of the handicapper, Peter Hibberd; the Keel Captain Tim Tucker who has kept us educated and entertained throughout the season at briefings and pressos and the rest of the Committee who contribute behind the scenes.


Lest We Forget

John Bird