Please select your home edition
Edition
Henri-Lloyd Dynamic Range

Benidgo Bank Blackwood River Challenge - Spills and thrills

by Jenny Honeybun on 6 Apr 2015
Bendigo Bank Blackwood Challenge winners Louis Proksch, Steve Dickenson, Bendigo Bank Manager Nigel Jenkins, Steve Heywood, AYC Commodore Peter Johnson, Brenton Air, Bruce Quail, Steve Flower, Kate Hunt, Morgan Flower and front: Eoin Lindsay, Finian Demou, Dean Cowan and Rebecca Hunt Joan Embry
Augusta Yacht Club hosted the Bendigo Bank Blackwood Challenge, a popular annual series attracting sailors from Augusta, Dunsborough and Perth.

The big smoke team of GP14 sailors conquered the Dunsborough Bay Yacht Club GP14s in gusting conditions up to 20 knot winds. Unfortunately Perth sailors Linda Harris and Anna Spinks of Mounts Bay Sailing Club had gear breakage at the start of the first race knocking them into spectator seating. The reigning champions Bruce Quail and Steve Heywood in La Rousse were fairly well beaten by Louis Proksch and Steve Dickenson in Cocktail Cherry after gaining ascendancy in the spinnaker duels on the downwind legs. Dunsborough’s Blackadder crew Steve Flower and Dean Cowan got the laughs but, with club compatriots Morgan Flower and crew Finian Demou outperform the leaders from Perth.

Augusta club members held their regular Club handicap races at the same time, and three DBYC Splash dinghies also raced. The vagaries of the land and offshore breezes and gusty conditions provided exciting challenges for the two Hunt sisters, Rebecca and Kate, who had not experienced landlocked sailing conditions before, so there were plenty of thrills and spills – with experienced international Youth Laser sailor Caelin Winchcombe serenely sailing through it all on one of the Splash dinghies.

Saturday saw plenty of spill and thrills but, unfortunately, high winds and rough conditions on Sunday resulted in the cancellation of racing. The two wins for Cocktail Cherry on Saturday gave them the trophy and a Big Smoke win in the Teams’ event yet again.
Barton Marine Pipe GlandsSydney Boat Show 2025 - Apply to ExhibitV-DRY-X

Related Articles

Vaikobi V-DRY-X Team Kit
We speak to Pat Langley and Bart Milczarczyk V-DRY-X is a major launch for the Australian technical clothing brand Vaikobi, launching into the yacht racing team market with high performance outer layer clothing specifically designed to be customised with the branding and colours of that team.
Posted today at 12:59 pm
Admiral's Cup Tom Hicks Thursday Photo Gallery
He is always ready to capture Solent action Tom Hicks is always ready to capture Solent action, and the Admiral's Cup naturally delivered. These shots are from Thursday 24th July 2025.
Posted today at 9:27 am
WASZP Games 2025 Day 4 Photo Gallery
A snapshot of the day by Mark Jardine It was a case of grabbing the wind and sunshine while it lasted on Day 4 of the 2025 WASZP Games, and each of the fleets got a bit of racing in before the rain started to fall and the breeze died away.
Posted today at 6:35 am
Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race Preview
This year's edition is looking to break the light wind pattern and possibly set new records The Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race (NSGCYR) has long been regarded as a cornerstone of any Australian offshore yachtie's calendar.
Posted today at 6:16 am
Admiral's Cup Inshore Racing Day 3
Youth, grit and glory define inshore battle The final day of inshore racing at the 2025 Admiral's Cup delivered high drama, high stakes and no shortage of action, especially at race starts. Three intense races pushed crews to the limit and completed the six-race inshore series.
Posted today at 4:58 am
WASZP Games 2025 Day 4
The Weymouth weather continued to keep the fleet guessing The Weymouth weather continued to keep the fleet guessing, with the northerly breeze hanging in the early forecast before giving way to a westerly build.
Posted today at 4:38 am
Admiral's Cup Paul Wyeth Thursday Photo Gallery
The battle points ahead of the Fastnet race intense The six-race inshore series has now been completed with an unstable northerly, swinging to the west later. The starts were particularly intense as the teams battled for points ahead of the Fastnet, and Paul Wyeth was on hand to capture the action.
Posted today at 4:18 am
Admiral's Cup 2025 | D3 Inshore Racing Videos
More light and tricky conditions on the Solent. Three races? More light and tricky conditions on the Solent. Three races?
Posted today at 1:55 am
Catalyst 45: Project Render delivery voyage
Catalyst 45 proved its versatility, and seaworthiness completing a 1,100nm Pacific Ocean voyage. While better known as an America's Cup tender, the Catalyst 45 proved the versatility, and seaworthiness of the design completing a 1,290nm Pacific Ocean delivery voyage to Fiji. Here's the story...
Posted on 24 Jul
O'pen Skiff World Championship in Japan
Team USA delivers a solid performance Five US sailors traveled to Nishinomiya, Japan for six days of challenging conditions, hot temperatures, and world class sailing. USA sailor Lucas Doran was in third place in the U17 fleet before the final day of racing.
Posted on 24 Jul