Wilparina’s Golden Jubilee — Craftsmanship, Responsibility, and Two MYC Members in the Story

This month two MYC members, Gavin Jones and Peter Green, joined friends and family to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Wilparina, the 1976 timber keelboat built by S & J Boatbuilders for her original owner, Stuart Campbell. Although Wilparina is not an MYC boat, her story is closely tied to people who helped shape our club’s culture and the local marine trades.

At the centre is Gavin, whose natural skill with timber, precision joinery, and calm, methodical approach defined the quality of every S & J boat. Many members know Gavin today for those same standards — the kind that don’t need explaining because the workmanship speaks for itself.

His co‑builder, Mike Sutton, brought deep practical knowledge and later passed those values on through teaching. And while not present at the event, their former apprentice Mal Hart — now one of Australia’s most respected boatbuilders and an MYC member — remains part of that legacy.

My own link goes back to the beginning: I made Wilparina’s original sails in 1976 and have replaced some over the years. Seeing her still sailing half a century later is a quiet point of pride.

A highlight of the celebration was the remarkable colour film shown by Beris, capturing the boat’s construction and the spirit of the era. And yes — the mention of the old S & J shed, now repurposed as a brothel, earned a round of laughter and applause.

Craftsmanship and the Culture of Sailing
What stood out, watching that film and listening to the stories, was how closely the values of good boatbuilding mirror the values of good sailing — and good clubs.

Responsibility. Care. Preparation. Respect for the boat, the people around you, and the conditions you’re stepping into.

These are the same qualities that keep a wooden keelboat alive for 50 years.

They’re also the qualities that keep a sailing club healthy.

In many ways, Wilparina’s Jubilee wasn’t just a celebration of a boat — it was a reminder of the standards that have quietly shaped MYC for generations. The steady hands, the thoughtful decisions, the willingness to do things properly even when no one is watching.

Fifty years on, Wilparina reminds us that true craftsmanship is really about responsibility — and legacy. Sailing teaches the same lesson every time we leave the beach.

​The 2026 Victorian 29er State Championships were held over the long weekend 7–9 March at Sandringham Yacht Club, delivering a fantastic regatta with a wide range of conditions that tested every crew.
The fleet of 10 was made up mostly of Victorian teams, with Josh Bacon and Zac Oakley representing Mornington yacht club.

Day 1 brought a strong southerly breeze (gusting 22 knots) and tall Port Phillip waves, making for a very challenging start to the regatta. The conditions pushed sailors and equipment hard, with nearly half the fleet retiring during the day, but those who stayed out battled through three tough races.
Race one after a slow start and a swim, the MYC boys battled it out with close racing between six and seventh place to get pipped across the line and coming home in 7th.
Race two of the day saw the boys retire just after the start due to equipment failure. After a quick pit stop and repairs back on the beach, they returned back to the start line with only minutes to spare for the start of race three.
Great resilience from the boys as a number of other competitors decided to call it a day as the wind and waves strengthened, later in the afternoon.
Race three they had another slow start and a capsize, which put them behind the eight ball from the get go. To their credit they didn't give in and battled away, being well overpowered in the strong breeze capsizing a number of times throughout the race before being timed out, after completing approximately two thirds of the course.

Day 2 was again windy. Slightly stronger than the previous day but with more east in the breeze. This flattened the sea state but created a sharp, awkward chop and the wind proved shifty with strong gusts throughout the racing. Crews were kept on their toes across another three races.
The improvement in Josh and Zac's boat handling in stronger winds was evident across the first two races, of the second day.
This resulted in two strong 6th place finishes in the first and second race. With some missed opportunity's and small mistakes, (which will improve with time and experience) the boys could have easily found themselves battling it out for a top 5 finish.
With the wind and seas picking up again in the afternoon and after 4 solid races over the first two days of the regatta, the MYC boys decided to retire from racing for the day and rest up and recover for what the weather was going to bring, on the final third day.
 
Day 3 light winds greeted sailors who were initially held ashore under AP while waiting for the breeze to fill in. Eventually a northerly front arrived, much stronger than expected, leaving everyone wondering what conditions they would face.
In what started off in perfect conditions for our boys, with around 15knots from the north, they nailed their start and with a great windward and return leg found themselves comfortably sitting in 5 position and on the heels of the leading pack.
Unfortunately the wind didn’t hold — a large 45deg wind shift caught the boys and the majority of the leading pack out, which saw the final half of the race sailed in very light to no wind resulting in another 7th place for the team.
With little sign of the breeze rebuilding, the one race on day three completed the regatta.

A big congratulations to Henri and Miles Levenspiel on taking out the Victorian state title.
Also a big thankyou to both these guys for the support and assistance they have given both Josh and Zac in their first year of 29R sailing. 
Their skills and results really gives our MYC boys something to aspire too.

All and all a fantastic first regatta for both Josh and Zac in the 29r, in challenging conditions.
The boys results and improvements over the regatta are a credit to the to the coaches we have at MYC thank you.

Podium Results
1st Goro Tomishima & Orland Sadlik (NSW)
2nd Miles & Henri Levenspiel (VIC)
3rd Hamish Skelton & Christian Spencer (NSW)
7th Josh Bacon and Zac Oakley (MYC)
The Perpetual Trophy for Best Performing Victorian Crew was awarded to Miles & Henri Levenspiel.

A big thank you to Sandringham Yacht Club, the race management team, volunteers and families who helped make the event such a success.

At these states a couple of weeks ago we had a mixture of sailors both male and female battling it out at the front of the fleet, across all ages, from 14 to 40 
With an exciting up and coming 12 months planned for the 29r class here in Victoria
The 29r Nationals are to be held at Sandringham in January 2027.  This regatta is part of the world selection event , which promises to draw a big fleet.
In the lead up to the nationals here in Victoria, the Vic 29r association will be focusing's on accommodating and developing new to intermediate sailors to the class. 
We are looking for individual sailors and or teams who may be interested in joining the class.

Please send an email to bret@wallislevenspiel.com.au or krisoakleymarine@hotmail.com, showing your interest and we will be in contact regarding future regattas, come and try days, boat for sale etc. 



Report By Bret Levenspiel and Kris Oakley 

Organizing authority: Safety Beach Sailing Club, Inc.
​
Date: Sunday, 29th March 2026

Start Time: 10:00h (first warning signal at 09:55h)

Registration: https://app.sailsys.com.au/club/108/profile?tab=entry
www.sbsc.net/au go to: On Water/Keelboats/Results & Start Sheets

Registration fee: Free Entry for members of BYS, MYC and SBSC

Simply colour in your design, fill in details below and hand in or email to admin@morningtonyc.net.au before 31st March for your chance to win. Competition is open to children aged 2 to 12 years. Winners will be announced on 1st Aril 2026

Cape Raoul with the “Hole in the Wall” distant - the gap between Tasman Is. and Tasman Peninsula  CanoeBay in behind the wreck

With a spirited Westerly at up to 30 knots, many set sail further north to Prosser Bay and then Wineglass Bay where the first of many BBQ’s ashore was enjoyed.

Shelly Beach at Prosser Bay - Orford was an easy stop picking up one of the many MAST visitor moorings provided at many locations around Tasmania. MAST provide great services and guides for just about every anchorage, and a chartlet for the Marion Sands - the north entry/exit for the Dennison Canal. Interestingly, the chartlet says “NOT FOR NAVIGATION” which kind of defeats the purpose of providing the chartlet don’t you think?

Wineglass was, as always brilliant - one of the best beaches in the world. It was great to actually catch up new and old friends.​

Wingara III had an “all girl crew” - Lee Renfree from QCYC the founder of the KISS program, and Patti Hunt from Southport YC who has sailed with my brother and me extensively.