Please select your home edition
Edition
A+T Instruments BFD 2024 Leaderboard

Entry open for the Topsy D Passage Race

by Southern Woodenboat Sailing 19 Jan 2021 20:37 AEDT 20 March 2021

You may have read a few weeks ago in SWS, about the way the Classic Yacht Association of Australia has adapted the Cup Regatta to ensure that the 14th consecutive running of the event will proceed, working within Covid regulations and adapting to changing times.

In addition to the new format, race officer Peter Costolloe has been working hard to organise three new and very special trophies for the passage race to Geelong on 20th March.

Peter Writes - The CYAA has named the passage race as The Topsy D Race to recognise the contribution to the history of yachting on Port Phillip by the 21 foot restricted class and in particular the Digby Family with their three boats.

TOPSY D skippered by Ken and Ernie Digby, Bunyip skippered by Arthur Digby, and Awinga skippered by Len Digby. It was through the agency and work of Ken Digby's daughter and CYAA member, Ann Crisp that the opportunity was presented to CYAA to name the race as The Topsy D Passage Race.

Ann made a callout to her family around the world to send in the trophies. And in they came! From mantel pieces in the four corners of the world, four Digby family treasures were entrusted to the CYAA. The deed of gift from the Digby family required that the trophies won by Ken Digby, from 1932 and 1933, be re-activated by the RGYC as perpetual classic yacht racing trophies.

The Digby family deed of gift has been complied with thanks to support from RGYC Commodore, Stuart Dickson, and CYAA supporter from RGYC, Bill Chittenden.

The trophies are currently with the restorers being re-silvered and plinthed in time for presentations in March.

For more information on this summer's Cup regatta below is the:

This article has been republished by permission from southernwoodenboatsailing.com

Related Articles

Nose to tail sailing the CYAA 2023 Cup Regatta
11 knots of breeze, blue skies and 28 degrees - a day to be remembered The Div. one flag comes down...a minute to go...the boats are jostling for the final run to the line.... It's all about boat speed at the gun... winding these things up takes minutes not seconds...Five 40+ footers all get it right... Posted on 9 Nov 2023
Becoming the owner of Dame Pattie (KA-2)
An International 12-metre class racing yacht built for the America's Cup Challenge Series in 1967 Dame Pattie is an International 12-metre class racing yacht built for the America's Cup Challenge Series in 1967. She was designed by Warwick Hood and built by W.H. Barnett in New South Wales, Australia. Posted on 5 Nov 2022
Auckland to Melbourne - the 2nd Trans-Tasman Race
We sailed up to one of the committee boats and yelled out, "Is it all right to start now?" "I am afraid I had not swotted upon the technique of racing starts and, it being the first race I had ever sailed, we were a little vague as to the procedure." Posted on 26 Aug 2022
Who is Knud Reimers?
A look at reimers and his boats. Most sailors know Knud Reimers' Tumlaren sailed in Australia since 1937. But it's just one boat in a huge folio of successful designs over six decades. Here's a look at Reimers and his boats. Posted on 20 Aug 2021
Racing with royalty - Great Veterans Race
The weekend began with a knock-out dinner and about thirty seven bottles of our finest As with all things involving our Fair Winds crew, the weekend began with a knock-out dinner and about thirty seven bottles of our finest. Posted on 23 May 2021
Where is the Couta's true home?
SWS welcome an incredibly talented young writer and sailor to the fold First and foremost we are delighted to welcome to the SWS fold an incredibly talented young writer and sailor. We've had the pleasure of knowing Oscar Perri for most of his life. Posted on 2 Apr 2021
Tums and Dragons - A game of class
The Dragon was designed in 1928 by Norwegian Johan Anker The success of a yachting class often rests with a few unforeseen events and decisions. For over 90 years two similar boats, the Tumlaren and the Dragon have competed for devotees. Posted on 28 Mar 2021
Chelsea Yacht Club Classic Dinghy gathering
A buzz on the beach as the entrants rigged their craft There is a theory that "you shouldn't race offshore in a boat that is shorter (in feet) that your current age". This sort of makes sense but requires that you get a lot richer as you get older. Posted on 26 Mar 2021
The archetypal Sydney Harbour day boat
This month marks the twentieth anniversary of the launch of Vanity This month marks the twentieth anniversary of the launch of Vanity, the 24ft Ranger Class Gaffer, that has set the standard for the class over the last two decades. Posted on 19 Mar 2021
Fifty-one years earlier
I watched the dramatic events unfold in the early stages of the Prada Cup I watched the dramatic events unfold in the early stages of the Prada Cup last weekend. I must admit that subconsciously i was hoping to dislike the whole event. Posted on 22 Jan 2021
Sydney Boat Show 2025 - Apply to ExhibitJeanneau Sun Odyssey 350Allen Dynamic 40 Footer