Hello, my old friend…
by John Curnow, Editor, Sail-World AUS 9 May 2021 15:00 PDT
Hark. Is that my old friend, Figaro 3, approaching? © John Curnow
So I put the word out back in 52 pick up. At any rate, it got heard... And how! After my not-too-subtle hint, our friends at Flagstaff Marine did indeed get me reacquainted with an old and special friend, in Beneteau's Figaro 3. I have just come back ashore after a day out with her off Barrenjoey Head, courtesy of her owner of just five weeks now, Marc Depret. Many thanks, new friend...
We will prepare a separate article about her soon, but she would have to be at least a 9 out of 10 on the smile on the dial factor. Responsive, entertaining, commanding, intriguing, and playful - all the things one needs. If she were a car, then I think her four-wheeled form would be that of a four-cylinder Ariel Atom.
Now throughout the course of the last little while, both our Managing Editor's editorials and mine have in many different ways looked at being out on the water. COVID had stopped both of last year's Beneteau Cups (Pittwater and Sydney) from going ahead, so it has been about 18 months since this country's longest brand-affiliated regattas have taken place.
Indeed, the Beneteau Pittwater Cup would have been celebrating its 21st birthday over the weekend, but did a fine job of making it to 20, none the less. The Sydney affair has been running even longer, and will be back on October 22, 2021, so that should be super-well attended, as usual.
It was, of course, a chance to catch up with a lot of old friends, such as the crew of Elara, and Bob Swan from Elusive Spirit. Captain Charisma, Ivor Burgess, may have been running late for breakfast, which his crew had great delight in pointing out, but once on the water, all was well and truly back to normal.
Of course, there were new friends as well, such as the crew from On Y Va, who took to the sense of occasion, and celebration of happiness with great aplomb. There must have been half a dozen crews new to the regatta, and they all seemed to be very much enthused with it all.
Can't help but pause to think what it must have been like for the crew of Blizzard, a Beneteau First 27, who are new to boating, and yet won the Non-Spinnaker Division in their very first regatta. Where does one go from here you say? Well for now they just seem stoked enough with the trophy and goodies, but I reckon you'll see much more from them moving forward. (Later redressed, as their overall result was calculated in Non-Spin, but they actually raced with a kite. John Gibson's First 40, Iago, was then declared the winner.)
Now there was what you would refer to as a moment's silence too, which was used to reflect upon friends in other locations who have been more significantly affected than us Antipodeans, as a mark of hope for a glorious return to waterborne activities like this, very, very soon.
Right oh - there is plenty of information on the group's websites for you to review when you can. Please avail yourself of it.
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Finally, many thanks for making Sail-World your go-to choice. We're always here to keep pumping out the news. Stay safe, and have the happiest time possible depending on your level of restrictions.
John Curnow
Editor, Sail-World AUS