I promise not to lay the nostalgia on as heavily as last week, but it is tempting. The Queenscliff race has so many stories worth telling. I remember the race when Ken Woods put his boat up on the beach at Queenscliff and how the harbour has changed from a rustic fishing port to a flashy marina with showers and fluffy towels supplied. Thankfully Queenscliff hasn’t changed too much, the fisherman’s cottages are always a joy to walk past on your way to post race refreshments. The bar on the top of the tower at the Vue Grand is also a tradition, although the stairs can be a cardiovascular challenge on the way up and for some, a coordination challenge on the way down later in the evening.
I think we all knew what to expect on a Saturday morning in mid-February. That’s right, grey skies, rain and 15 – 20 knots of wind. It has really been a strange summer. A fleet of 15 boats gathered on the start line for the annual Queenscliff destination race (AKA Queensland race). Javelin was off to a quick lead in the Keelboat division and Himalayen Women lead the trailables to the East Cardinal mark. There was an early retirement from Magic Pudding . Once at the East Cardinal mark boats were met with a broad reach in vigorous winds that took the fleet towards the West Channel and then things started to get interesting. Hamalayen Women blew apart their rudder box and returned to Mornington, contemplating what could have been. Meanwhile a fresh wind and a favourable tide was pushing the fleet quickly towards the Pope’s Eye marker. The competitive spirits in the keel boat fleet must have been running high as skippers pushed their boats outside the channel and eventually onto the sand. First it was TRIM and then Seduction. Fortunately, TRIM was able to raise their keel and continue, however Seduction was stuck hard in the sand and was a late arrival into Queenscliff. Well done to Javelin leading the fleet to the finish line. Those boats that returned home had a quick trip back to Mornington. Those that headed into Queenscliff shared some great company and tall stories. The trip back on Sunday is a report in itself, maybe another day.
Thanks again to the Tower Team ably led by Steve Bardsley and special mention to Brodie Goozee’s for his magnificent radio work.
Line Honours
Division 1
Javelin – Mark Nicholson
Division 2
YT2 – Stuart Gooley
Division 3
Tub Thumper – G.Heard & A.Creed
AMS Results
Division 1
- Windsong – Jim Watson
Division 2
- YT2 – Stuart Gooley
CBH Results
- Tub Thumper – G.Heard & A.Creed
- Moonshadow – Scott Robinson
- Mixed Nuts – Tim & Lisa O’Grady
Handicap Results
Division 1
- Windsong – Jim Watson
- Javelin – Mark Nicholson
- Belligerant – Dianne Lynch
Division 2
- YT2 – Stuart Gooley
- Tonic – Ray Harvey
- One-4-One – Alan Clark
Division 3
- Tub Thumper – G.Heard & A.Creed
- Mixed Nuts – Tim & Lisa O’Grady
- Moonshadow – Scott Robinson
Div 3- Class Captain