Serious sailors ready for serious fun at the Cockburn Sound Regatta

by Laurie Flynne on 20 Nov 2012 Western Australia’s longest-running regatta, the Cockburn Sound Regatta, is back for its 55th edition, bigger and better than ever. Hosted by Rockingham’s Cruising Yacht Club of WA and in its usual timeslot of the Christmas-New Year week, the regatta has undergone some fine-tuning to further improve the fun factor for competitors.

The regatta organisers have strengthened the race management team by appointing the experienced Trevor Milton as Principal Race Officer. Trevor will bring the nucleus of the offshore race management team, including Cherry Callcott, Kerry Coleman and Sue Milton. The off-water team will also ensure that results are produced promptly in time for daily presentations.

Bernie Kaaks, the doyen of WA sailing journalists, will be there with media RIB, camera and laptop, keeping the world informed of the competitors’ on-water deeds, and capturing many special images for later purchase by proud crews.

With rum sponsor Canefire presenting its range of products and mixing cocktails, the basic off-water needs of competitors will be well covered, with the Club kitchen pumping out delicious breakfasts, lunches and dinners. The sharp catering pencil has been brought out, with the full cooked smorgasbord breakfast now priced at $14.50, including coffee and juice, and the themed evening buffets now priced between $22.50 and $28.50 for the special seafood smorgasbord on the Saturday night.

As usual, the trophy cabinet is bulging, with a multitude of sponsors contributing. Regular regatta partner City of Rockingham continues to support the Cockburn Sound Regatta, and has been joined for the first time by the Kwinana Industries Council. The nightly free raffle draws will continue, and prizes for placegetters have been enhanced. No one leaves the Cockburn Sound Regatta empty handed.

What hasn’t changed is the warm hospitality, jovial atmosphere and range of sailing options on the world-class waters of Cockburn Sound. For the first time, a Classic Yacht division for vintage timber yachts has been added, along with the usual IRC, performance handicap, jib-and-main, multihull, dinghy and beach-cat classes.

As an incentive to early birds, all entries finalised by 30 November 2012 go into a draw to win a fantastic DhuWest 2.7m Atlas Series inflatable tender. The Notice of Race, Online Entry Form, list of entries and all the details for the 55th Cockburn Sound Regatta can be found on the regatta website.