Big fleets compete at WinterBash Icebreaker Sailing Regatta
by Mark Dawson 30 Jul 2019 22:25 PDT
27-28 July 2019
Catamaran and dinghy senior and junior fleet action at WinterBash © Mark Dawson
Sailors from Ballina to Bundaberg and west to Toowoomba have packed out a huge two days of sailing action at the Humpybong Yacht Club WinterBash regatta at Woody Point, Redcliffe on 27 & 28th July 2019.
Humpybong Yacht Club president David Begley said WinterBash attracted over 128 boats from off the beach large Nacra 5.8 and A class catamarans to junior Opti's, RS Tera and Bug dinghies.
WinterBash saw the yacht club's rigging yard jam packed with boats and the foreshore and adjoining grassed areas taken over for space as competitors arrived and set up for the weekend.
Some 50 junior sailors attended a series of hotly contested races in perfect sailing conditions including a fantastic Le Mans jump in and sail race start on Sunday.
Senior solo and teams vied for the lead in three hotly contested races across four divisions from multihull, to dinghy divisions in the triangular course, the Three Can Bash on Saturday.
All competitors were on the water on Sunday morning jockeying for a start advantage during the running of a series of triangle courses for the junior sailors and the adult and senior sailors marathon race. The marathon started from Bramble Bay to Woody Point jetty south to near Sandgate Jetty, a return course back north up to Suttons beach and Scarborough, before the final return leg back to two finishing buoys anchored off Woody Point jetty.
"Ideal sailing conditions, near flat water and great visibility meant that spectators were able to follow the fleets around Bramble Bay and from the many great shoreline vantage points from Sandgate to Scarborough during the marathon."
"WinterBash is a major event on the sailing calendar and marks the start of preparations for the 2019 -20 season and provided opportunities for skippers and their crews to refresh and refine their skills and maintain and update their boats and equipment in preparation for the Spring and Summer racing calendar."
"Our next major drawcard event is HumpyBash on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 October 2019 which is expected to attract again Queensland and interstate sailors from novice to international sailing competition level."
The 2016 inaugural WinterBash attracted around 60 entries; in the seniors and a junior fleet and numbers have steadily increased and stabilised as the event becomes more widely known.
"We are delighted with the great turnout of and enthusiasm by the junior sailors and their families for their self contained racing program which was staged away from the major fleet action. This is conducted for competitor safety, to encourage individual sailing skills, experience and boat handling and also supports the combined family activities that sailing encourages."
Many use HumpyBash to keep their fitness, competitive edge and skills up to date as well as a terrific social gathering where people can make new friends and renew contacts in the sailing fraternity." Mr Begley said.
"Humpybong Yacht Club is a family focused sailing club and we actively encourage and invite competitors of all experience levels to take part."
Information on the HumpyBash entry registration will be made available soon on the Humpybong Yacht Club website at www.hyc.net.au