Flagstaff Marine’s Beneteau Cup goes Dancing with the Wind

by John Curnow on 16 May 2016 Northern Sydney’s Pittwater once again provided a great Beneteau Cup for the brand’s passionate owners. It kind of sums up the whole Beneteau experience.

Warm, pleasant, picturesque, secluded, dramatic, enchanting and with a plethora of anchorages to choose from, it is always able to offer up options and the chance to find something new. When you have done all that you can then go out into the big blue and seek even more entertainment. Sensational.

Now then in another, yet totally congruent way, last Saturday’s Beneteau Cup was encapsulated, right there and then by the newest of the 20-boat fleet. She is an Oceanis 38 called, Dancing with the Wind, and in virtually all of the 16 years that this particular Beneteau Cup has been run, this is exactly what the fleet has had to do before returning ashore to the much anticipated festivities.

It is not a rave party, flared out disco gala or grunge festival. Rather, it is far more akin to the Tango. So grab the rose, put it in you mouth, carefully, so as to avoid those thorns and construct your intimate and engaging simile and courtship.

So the wind might have been here. It was more than likely there, especially so for some of the craft. The breeze could have been the faintest of zephyrs, much like a pressing a cheek. For a few craft it may have even a more earnest strut across the floor, which it was for some as they firstly approached, and then subsequently departed from the rounding mark at the top of the course, which went by the name of Lion Island.



The breeze had been both fairly ominous and also completely honest during the morning as the crews arrived, and the conviviality of the clan and also the host club, Royal Prince Alfred, set the tone for a great day of friendship and fun. The briefing was fairly simple, you’ll be heading North to the big rock via one of a few course options on the laminated sheet handed to all the Skippers, and you even get your own start line to keep it all nice.

Out on the track ahead of the 1205hrs start for the Non-spinnaker Division it was looking faint at best. The appearance of the Answering Pennant (which is nautical parlance for postponement) from the Committee Boat was pretty much a certainty. They decided to move further up from abeam Scotland Island to more like the vicinity of Longnose Point, which would also allow for a longer start line to be constructed.

As it turned out, that wasn’t too helpful in the end, for the boat end was favoured by nearly all, as they looked to hook right into the breeze on the right, or Eastern shore. With many a heavy craft in the first start, and nary but a breath of wind after the gun went, many found themselves languishing behind the line. The overall situation was compounded when the next armada went into their sequence immediately thereafter.

The result was that many got pushed down to the pin end. Alas, this was a boon for many as the Western shore ‘lit up’ with some great puffs to push the prudent along and well past their counterparts out to the East. When the two fleets met again there were some from the later start who had blitzed. By and large the left was favoured and if you were early you even got carried out into Broken Bay and Lion Island as if you were doing ballroom and as light on your fleet as Astaire and Rogers. Funnily enough, there were indeed some that just like Ms Rogers, had to do it all backwards, but we digress…



Around the top the colourful kites came out and they quickly scooted off to the shortened course finish line abeam Mackerel Point, and thence onto the clubhouse. With the early dancers off the track, not only did the floor clear out somewhat, but it looked like the breeze took the opportunity to sit in the grandstands and watch the goings on.

It did seem unfair, but full credit to all for not only their perseverance, but also their can-do attitude that allowed all vessels to finish. Cheer ruled the day, especially at the finish line and the celebratory puff from the iron topsail appeared almost simultaneously with the raised arms and cries from the crews.

Any event like this would be lost without its sponsors. Whether they were principal event sponsors like J.L. Lennard and Sydney City Marine, or the terrific gaggle of partners, they were all on board on the day to firstly enjoy it all and then see their prizes go to new homes. Virtually all of the boats got rewarded via either their efforts on the day and subsequent results, or from the multitude of door prizes. Hull polishing, sail cleaning, café vouchers, kayaking trips, apparel form Gill and the inflatable Stand Up Paddleboard from Lejen Marine were keenly snapped up.

Cassie Starr from Newport’s 100% Gluten Free Café (one of Sydney’s first) was part of that second group and she commented, “Being so close to all the local marinas and looking after all of them when they come in it just seemed like the next step was to sponsor an event and here we are at my first. Up until a short while ago I had not been sailing, so the whole experience has just been marvellous and when Graham (Raspass) from Beneteau came into the café one day, I enquired about it all.”

However, apart from the Beneteau brand itself, there are always two winners - one from each of the divisions. Showing the cleanest set of heels on the day and eclipsing smaller and far lighter vessels in the process was the First 40, Alibi. They certainly did not need one for any of their efforts, which were entirely first class all the way, as the stayed ahead of the First 40.7 Bombolo, and then also the First 44.7 Galileo for the entire journey, to take out the Spinnaker Division.

Alibi’s Skipper, Barry Jackson, said after the win, “It is really great to go back to back, following on from our win in the Performance Handicap Division at Sail Port Stephens. We had a terrible start, coming in at the wrong end of the line, where there was no wind, but we managed to pick our way along the Western shore and passed a lot of boats.”

“We had some great crew work and the boat is amazing. The First 40 has won a lot of events here in Australia and around the world. We had a terrific day out there and there was a fantastic spirit amongst our fellow competitors too. A well-organised event indeed!”

Now Alibi’s crew average 65 years of age, which they hate to admit. “Yes, there is one number that is bigger thankfully, and that is our 140% headsail that we get to use in these sort of non-IRC events. Other First 40s have subsequently purchased one too. In the light breeze and with flat water you can really power the boat up. With the shrouds a little inboard on these boats you can still get a good sheeting angle (with barberhauler) and the extra power is really great.”

“It has been referred to by others as their ‘Barry sail’, so maybe shrewd old age can have one over youth and exuberance. We’ll have to go to the Sydney Harbour regatta and see how we go there”, said Jackson of the triple crown.

Now when you buy a boat you no doubt have a lot of expectations. When you took delivery of it only a few hours before hand and it is your Maiden sail, winning may not have been top of your list. Getting around safely and without damage would have been much clearer in your mind. Yet this would be the way it worked out for Kim Bangle’s Oceanis 38, Dancing with the Wind, which collected the non-Spinnaker prize ahead of the Oceanis 45 L’oiseau, and then the First 42S7, Trecento.

Commenting afterwards, Bangle said of the win, “Thank you. It is just amazing and a little strange, even unbelievable. I
started sailing two to three years ago, loved it, and went on to do a leg of the Clipper Race after that. On returning I thought that might have been to big a step to begin with, so got my Skipper’s ticket and sailed J24s for while.”

“Last year I went to a Beneteau regatta and learned about the SailTime ownership experience, which made sense to me, for I cannot use the boat the whole time. It is a lot like property and rentals, which I understand, so in combination with my desire to practice my skills and have fun I found myself the owner of this wonderful boat.”

“As for the name, well I love my Rock n’ Roll dancing, so the boat just had to have some reference to that and here we are. Well definitely be having a good time dancing tonight after such a great day and beginning to my first Skipper experience. We don’t have to prove anything anymore, but we’ll certainly be out there having fun, which is our priority. Thank you to my crew and for making it all happen”, said Bangle.

So in wrapping up, Flagstaff Marine’s Graham Raspass said, “Today’s regatta was marked by the number of new boats and new competitors, along with all the wonderful owners and crews that have been participating for years. Some of the Skippers are on their second or third boat now, but today we had so many of the past and present range of First and Oceanis craft all competing and enjoying the day.”

“Additionally, it meant that whilst we ranged from 31 to 50 feet today, we had multiple 35s, 38s, 40s and 45s all able to benchmark themselves against their direct opposition. That was just great and they really loved that.”

“For anyone wanting to see the range of Beneteau boats first hand, we’ll have nine boats on display at the Sydney International Boat Show (July 28 to August 1, 2016). Two powerboats will be joined by seven sailboats, including the brand new Oceanis 41.1 and the first Australian viewing of the Oceanis 60, which is quite awesome and a truly luxurious vessel.”
Raspass finished by saying, “Please also remember our 25th Anniversary of the Sydney Harbour Beneteau Cup, which is on Friday November 25, 2016. Love to see you all there!”

If a pas de deux is way to serious for you, but a great time out on the floor is something you see yourself doing, then see the team at www.flagstaffmarine.com.au. You can find them at either d’Albora Marina in Rushcutters Bay or in Newport at Rowell Marine. Whether it is Latin or Ballroom you seek a partner for, the team can show you a motor or sail yacht from Beneteau that will meet your needs, as well as a great range of vessels that have had a few dances already. Call 02 9327 2088