QLD French Yacht Owners Association Inc Bastille Day Race - Overall
by QFYOA 29 Jul 2022 00:10 PDT
16 July 2022
The inaugural Bastille Day Race organised by the Queensland French Yacht Owners Association Inc (QFYOA), formerly the 'QLD Beneteau Owners Group, and hosted by the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, was held on 16th July 2022 on Moreton Bay. The Race was open to all French production boats (Beneteau, Jeanneau, Dufour, Archambault, J Boats etc). Despite light wind conditions a great day was enjoyed on the water and the après race social activities.
Rod Johannessen, Chair of QFYOA commented: "We were very pleased this inaugural event had an enthusiastic turnout of 10 French Yachts with over 60 crew and skippers across Performance and Cruising Spinnaker Divisions. We were particularly pleased that we had 3 yachts participating in their first race at Royal Queensland. It's great to have new competitors. We received positive feedback on the day and now assessing to continue as an annual event in our racing calendar."
"The Bastille Day Race received fantastic sponsor support with over $2,500 in prizes. Australia Wide generously supported the catering for the BBQ. Mooloolaba Yacht Brokers supported the French Theme with a bottle of Jeanneau labelled Mumm Champagne provided to all Skippers. Also, a big thanks to our regular generous support from sponsors - Alliance Francaise, Adam Dodson Diving, Musto, Great Circle Marine, Hood Sails and JSA."
The yachts varied from 10 to 16 metres with 4 Beneteaus, 1 Dufour, 2 Jeanneaus, 2 Archambaults and one J boat, making for some interesting racing. We had 3 new entrants - Arietta, Balancing Act and Penske - welcome. The forecast was for light breeze at the start and then easing to a glass out during the day, so Race Officer Paul Bolton set a versatile course with the goal of 2 laps around Green Island and St Helena but the option to shorten the course if the wind faded.
And that is exactly what happened. After one promising lap, Paul took everyone's time at the start/finish pin but the quickly dropping breeze meant that we all eventually slowed to basically a halt on the first leg of lap 2. Paul (rightly) called it a day for racing enabling us all to tidy up and head back to sausage sizzle at RQ at the "Loo with a View" for celebrations and commiserations.
Drake's Prayer led the Performance Division yachts to the Lockyer Light, where Broadsword took the lead. Peter and his crew had Broadsword in the groove for the remainder of the race and by the finish had passed the Cruising Spinnaker fleet which started 15 minutes earlier than the Performance Division. Laurena (Ian Richardson) was the first yacht in the Cruising Spinnaker Division across the line. The first Jeanneau across the line was Roddo Caldwell's Arietta and the best dressed French themed yacht went to Momentum.
Please note in diaries next regatta for the QFYOA, the Beneteau Cup and the French Yacht Challenge scheduled on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th of October. This year the French Yacht Challenge will also be held over two days and is open to all French built or designed monohulls.
Full race results available here.
2022 Bastille Day Race Winners
- Performance - Broadsword, Peter Krug
- Cruising Spinnaker - Laurena, Ian Richardson