Sticks and Stinks – They do mix!
by John Curnow, Editor, Sail-World AUS 5 May 2019 15:00 PDT
FarEast 28R © Crosbie Lorimer
Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show looms, and whilst it is predominantly a powerboat event, there are a few 'sticks' around. One that will undoubtedly stand out against its far cruisier cousins, will be the one above the very racey hull form that is the FarEast 28R. I note too that the first of the FarEast 28Rs to go into the New Zealand market has also just been confirmed. Priced from just AUD69,950, you will be able to check it out for yourself at the show, so go and say hello to Gerrit and the crew.
Now seeing as the Coomera River is set to be dredged to a low water level of 3.5m, it might not be too long before large race boats can make the journey up to stop as part of the boat-watching season Northern delivery cycle, or for repairs and refit that the area is so famous for. One to do so could well be the FarEast 28R's larger sister, the stylish 37R penned by Simonis-Voogd... Wait and see, huh?
Big gybe now, and back in Lower than Badminton, we had a look at the Oceania leg of the National Sailing League. Now at just on 25 years of age, the Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club is pretty young in yachting terms, and funnily enough, right about bang on for the demographic that suits the NSL. So it may not be too surprising to learn that they had a full contingent go to the inaugural event at the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron.
The NCYC not only fielded teams for the Women, Open and Youth divisions, but also sent the PRO, Ian Humphries, Chief Umpire, Damien Boldyrew, and their Sailing Manager, Jack Buchan, who was on media boat driver duties. Talk about commitment! Now they may have been biased somewhat, but they also feel they were the best dressed at the presentation ceremony afterwards, so perhaps Mark Turnbull needs to add that particular award to next year's list.
So what do you reckon, Mark? "Absolutely. We are happy to look at all sorts of non-traditional awards, as well as secondary activities and events. This could be a very good thing to build even greater club presence and unity, as well as a bit of fun. Even better, the clubs that won last weekend can now look to be going to Europe, and they all appear to be taking up the opportunity," said Turnbull.
One and into the bottom mark, and as our Summer season winds down, the Northern hemisphere cranks up of course. Then there is the middle ground, the Southern tropics, and the masses will be there soon enough. Change continues to be the common factor, whether it is dinghies, monos or multis. SailGP makes good on a lot of the original premise, which is so good to see.
As we have mentioned before, time, cash and quality are symbiotic, and it would seem that two of the elements are going to make it very hard for the fledging AC teams. Whilst it may be no real surprise, it is good to see the Kiwis stand beside them. Of course, they are no stranger to cash struggles themselves, so no doubt there is a lot of empathy there.
Right oh, here today there are some gems for you to review. We have information about SailGP, the Clipper, Malta and the Middle Sea Race, our Managing Editor, Mark Jardine looks to the RS Aero as it becomes the next single person dinghy for the Olympics, the AST in Hyres, Mount Gay show the way (fully intended), kiteboarding, windsurfing, the AC, David Schmidt talks with our own Malcolm Page on the US Olympic scene, the IMOCAs and Bermuda, Classics in Capri, and certainly there is much, much more.
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John Curnow
Editor, Sail-World AUS