Yacht sinks at Skandia Geelong Week

by SGW Media on 28 Jan 2007 In the news of the day, John Carle’s Zilzie Express, a Sonata 8 currently placed third overall in the Trailable class at Skandia Geelong Week, sank on Corio Bay this morning in unusually high gusting winds of around 20 to 30 knots.

The yacht was racing under spinnaker and lost control, the crew laying the boat on its ear, the whole crew of five going overboard. A media boat picked up two people, while a fishing boat picked up the remaining three crew members. Although shaken and cold, all onboard are fine.

Prior to being picked up, some of the crew stood on the centreboard to try and right the boat, but the boat flipped, and with hull and spinnaker full of water, the boat sank in a matter of seconds, water bottles and other floating belongings the only reminder of the yacht.

Skandia Geelong Week’s Chairman of Sailing, Andrew Neilson, said a marker has been laid in the spot where the boat went down on the west side of Corio Bay in the shipping lane, but believes there is no danger to anyone boating in the area.

Three time winner in the Sonata 26 class and winner of the Sonata Victorian title in 2002, Carle is here representing the Albury Wodonga Yacht Club. In excessive winds that reached 30 knots at times yesterday, Carle and crew sailed the yacht to a fifth place for third overall in the series, whilst others in various classes suffered damage, many retiring.

Today it was Carle’s turn, his chances of taking home the Four Points by Sheraton trophy gone after his boat sank.

All their gear aboard the sunken yacht, including mobile phones and wallets, local diver Craig Elstone was deployed to try and rescue the crews’ belongings. Tomorrow a group of divers will try to retrieve the yacht.

This being the last day of the regatta, Darryn Dyer’s Whatever crew from Lake Wellington Yacht Club in Victoria have lifted the trophy from fellow club members on Chau-Rua, skippered by Simon Walsh in the 14 boat fleet.

Dyer’s three bullets in the four race series pretty much sealed his fate, helped by Walsh’s sixth place in Race 2 after winning Race 1. Phil Clements’ Rum Runner, from the same club as the sinking Zilzie Express, rounded out the top three.