Dufus, Derek and Alabaster

by Rob Kothe on 22 Aug 2006 Dufus the duck, and the Adams 13 Alabaster are sailing the northern regatta circuit for the second year in a row in Cruising Division and the crew of New South Wales central coast sailors re having a great time.

Kerry Nicholson and Ian Westlake are co-owners of Alabaster and most of their crew is from the Gosford Sailing Club. Their mascot is Dufus the duck. This year Derek the duckling has joined their crew.

Kerry Nicholson explained the Alabaster team were having a much faster northern series this year. ‘Last year on the way up, when we left Pearl Bay just on dusk and we hit an unmarked bommie, a hard smack with the centreboard and we know at least some of it broke off during the night. Our friendly boat builder pulled out all stops to build us a new one.'

Ian added, ‘We sailed well back in the fleet with no centreboard, I had to find new ways to steer, but we had our new one for the final race of last year's Airlie Beach Race Week series and Alabaster came home fast and scored second place, and we were in the top quarter of the fleet at Hamilton Island.

‘We're not sure, but it could be that Dufus and the duckling Derek are helping us more this year. At Airlie Beach, we managed to come second overall in Cruising Division and now we are sixth after the first two days here at Hahn Premium Hamilton Island Race Week.’

‘More than anything else’ Ian continued ‘we come to these northern regattas for the sunshine, warmth and sparkling water.’

Kerrie Nicholson; ‘It’s so friendly, lots of friendly faces on the other yachts, good lucking and waving. It’s just a great atmosphere.’