Botany Bay Regatta Committee's Navigators' Cup

by Bruce McKay on 26 Jan 2010
Saturday 23rd January saw the 13th running of the Navigators' Cup offshore race commemorating Australia's historical sailing links with Botany Bay – our First Port.

This race celebrates the outstanding achievements of the great navigators, Lieutenant James Cook, Captain Arthur Phillip,and Le Comte Jean-François Galaup de la Perouse, all of whom sailed into Botany Bay and whose navigational feats around the oceans of the world are epic sagas.

This year saw 17 yachts from the Cronulla Sailing Club, Royal Motor Yacht Club, Botany Bay Yacht Club and Middle Harbour converge just inside the entrance to Botany Bay for the start of the race which was sailed in two divisions.

All yachts got away to a clean start and headed out through the heads for the run to Wedding Cake Island off Coogee beach.

As the boats made the turn north some of the most difficult conditions of the summer were had with a convergence of North East and North West winds providing many 'holes' for everyone to have a turn at falling into, some yachts spending more than their fair share in them.

After rounding the island the wind settled somewhat and all boats enjoyed a spinnaker ride back to Botany Bay, around the Captain Cook Buoy and off to Cronulla.

However all skippers and crew knew a 'southerly buster' was due however when it arrived it had much more ferocity than anyone expected. The entire fleet was caught in winds gusting to 57 knots. For most boats and crew this was a record for wind strength.

Full credit to all skippers and crew with the entire fleet making it safely back to the finish line on Bass and Flinders Point.

Short Wave (Matthew Short) achieved line honours followed by Brannew, Shaya Moya II, Colortile and Wasabi.

Handicap Results gave the victory to Brannew (Chris Bran) from Avanti (John Davies) and Centric Shaya Moya (Greg Barter). Division two was won by Psyco (Phil Bates).