Albert SC Regatta - Good racing in ideal winter sailing conditions

by Rod Thomas on 30 Jun 2014 The annual Winter Regatta at Melbourne's Albert Sailing Club saw good close dinghy racing on Albert Park Lake in ideal winter sailing conditions. There were 90 entries across the weekend in a range of monohull dinghy classes. The fleets sailed a series of short course races of up to 30 minutes in five to ten knot nor-nor easterly breezes on the challenging Albert Park Lake.

The largest fleet was in the junior Minnow class, with 21 entrants. The Minnows, with their distinctive blue sails, provided a lot of colour and close racing across the weekend, with many multiboat roundings at course marks and close sailing throughout. The overall winner was Corey Riley, with Liam OBrien second and Anna OBrien third. All three placegetters sail from McCrae Yacht Club on the Mornington Peninsula in the summer months. Michael Parks was the overall winner in the Optimist class, the other significant junior class to participate in the regatta.

In the senior classes the closest racing was in the Laser class where the top three placings were decided by the results in the seventh and final race. Three Albert Park Lake sailors shared the honours, with Jonathon Pulham first overall with narrow wins in four of the seven races. James Catton with two heat wins finished second overall, and Dougall Watt with second placings in five races third overall. The Sabre class had the largest turnout among the senior classes. The experienced Geoff Saliba from the host club showed how to sail the Lake well with first overall, followed by Bruce Abbott from Black Rock, and Anthony Berger from Albert third.

The Victorian State championships for the Mirror class were sailed in conjunction with the Regatta. A mix of the newer Bermuda rigged and the older traditional gaff-rigged Mirrors took to the water for the titles. On day one honours were shared by Prime Time, Bob, and Jabiru with each taking a heat win. On the second day, Andy McIntyre with his young son Angus from Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron, had a clean sweep of the four races to run away with the overall win and the State Champions trophy. Nick Ede and wife Anna from Somers Yacht Club sailed 'Bob' consistently in the top two heat placings to finish second overall. Third overall and first gaff-rigged Mirror was taken out by class and Albert veteran Rod Thomas with junior crew Aaron Caddaye. Lucy Ede and Taylor Poon from Somers showed promise for the future finishing third in the final heat and taking out the Junior skipper/crew trophy.

The Albert Sailing Club winter season continues through till mid September, with visitors in junior and senior dinghy classes always welcome. Albert Park Lake is centrally located in Melbourne, just five kilometres south of the Melbourne CBD.