Botany Port Hacking volunteers on safety watch for Navigators' Cup

by Ken McManus on 16 Jan 2015 Volunteers from Marine Rescue Botany Port Hacking will provide a safety watch for yachts competing in the 17th Annual Navigators’ Cup race on Saturday from Botany Bay to Coogee or Botany Bay to Bondi then back to Port Hacking.

The race commemorates the three famous 18th century European navigators associated with Botany Bay: Captain James Cook, Captain, later Governor Arthur Phillip and the great French navigator Jean-François de Galaup La Pérouse, who arrived at Botany Bay just two days after Phillip had moved to Port Jackson.

There are two courses for the event. For Division One yachts, the northerly turning point is Bondi. For Division two yachts the turning point is Wedding Cake Island off Coogee.

The race is sponsored by the Cronulla Yacht Club and is the first of a number of events in the Australia Day series.

Up to 18 competing yachts will gather in Botany Bay for the start at 12:30pm.

Marine Rescue Botany Port Hacking volunteers will stand by at the start of the Race and then shadow the fleet out of the Bay and along the coast.

With fine weather forecast for Saturday the race will provide a splendid sight for observers on shore or on the fleet of spectator vessels.

Marine Rescue NSW reminds all boaters of the importance of safety on the water. When you get on a boat, put on a lifejacket and when you set out on a boating trip, Log On and Log Off with your local Marine Rescue radio base.