"Blog" is the latest attempt to make happenings at Clayton Bay Boat Club more accessible to members and potential members.
CLUBHOUSE ADDRESS
Island View Drive
Clayton Bay SA 5256
Australia
Clayton Bay Boat Club 2021
Wrap-Up
The boating season has come to an end and while boaties now engage in the completion of winter maintenance, they can also reflect on a season of both racing and cruising on the beautiful waters surrounding Clayton Bay.
In September, 8 boats embarked on a cruise to the destination at Currency Creek, where mooring jetties, a fire pit and a shelter shed make for superlative cruising/camping.
The season opened on the October long-weekend with the traditional sail-past and Tom Bentley Trophy Races and the first of the Red Top Regatta Races on the Monday.
Red Top Regatta is a monthly event normally held on the Saturday and Sunday of first weekend of each month and culminating with the Monthly Barbecue at the clubrooms.
In October six boat were loaded up onto trailers for the long drive to Coffin Bay.
Boats were berthed at the Coffin Bay Yacht Club for the duration of the cruise – approximately 6 days with several great sails out to the Brothers, Bulldog Beach and Mt. Dutton Bay with excellent happy hours and dinners at both the Yacht Club and restaurant 1802, making the long drive worthwhile.
The summer saw the continuation of the Racing Program as well as an overnight cruise to Deep Creek during a particularly warm spell that saw the deployment of ‘Floyd the Flamingo” (above) with several crews taking to the water to cool off!
In March, a 3-day trip to the Coorong was planned with about 17 boats making the trip through the lock at Goolwa and up to a great anchorage at Panmarung Point opposite the Tawitchery Barrage. Perfect warm weather during the day enhanced the trip and necessitated shade sails and umbrellas but the evenings were cool enough for a fire.
Two years ago, we’d planned a Club cruise on the Murray between Renmark and the Customs House at Border Cliffs beyond Lock 6. Keren and Rob had reconnoitred the river for camping spots and resources and we were all set to go when Covid hit!
But in April 2021, the trip was reprised and 14 members and two guests in six, mastless trailer-sailers and one houseboat, moored outside of the Renmark Club on Monday 26th April where a splendid dinner was enjoyed prior to our departure the next day, upstream to Hunchee Creek.
Highlights of the seven-day trip included a visit to the Woolshed Brewery, evening spas on the houseboat, followed by fireside happy hours. Spectacular weather in the high twenties most days produced superb sunsets. The transit of Lock Six was a highlight as was the historic Customs House and several boats took the opportunity to dip across the SA \ Vic border just upstream from the Customs house. Morning coffee, courtesy of Barista Rob on the houseboat became a pre-start ritual each morning throughout the trip.
A very successful adventure that could become an annual event!
Winter is well and truly upon us, but since June 21st the days are lengthening once again!
The Presentation and Bingo Night is on Saturday 31st July and the Annual General Meeting on Sunday 8th August.
The former celebrates the achievements and efforts of members throughout the year with, no doubt, a certain lightness during the Bingo sessions.
The latter includes the AGM and two Special General Meetings.
The AGM offers members an opportunity to learn about the ways in which the club has been managed during the year and also to vote on reports as well as electing the new committee.
The first Special General Meeting is to review the Rules of Association and the second to vote on a proposal for life membership.
Both of the general meetings and the AGM are important for the continued running of the club, so please try to attend or complete proxy or on-line voting forms.
We love it ‘ere!
Renmark to Border Cliffs Cruise, April/May 2021
On Monday 26th Ric and Al (Bad Dolly), Brian and Tania (Blasé), Ray and Alison (Optimist), Greg and Meredith (Ali Cat), Mike and David (Annie V) arrived having travelled from Clayton via Karoonda, Loxton and Berri. Renie and Gavin (Sundowner) had travelled up to Renmark on Sunday April 25th, Anzac Day. They were the first to survive the bitterly cold Riverland night.
Boats launched at the Big Four Ramp before proceeding upstream to moor in the pens outside of the Renmark Club.
Keren and Rob and their friends Meredith and Nick joined the fleet after picking up the houseboat “Little Gem” from Paringa and traversing the Paringa Bridge during the appointed daily half hour from 1430 to 1500.
All boats were safely moored right outside of the Renmark Club at the very convenient Renmark Wharf by 1600 and within half an hour happy hour began on the top deck of “Little Gem.”
A gallery of pictures of our trip can be seen below:-
River Trip Gallery
Following a very pleasant happy-hour on the upper deck of ‘Little Gem’ with the super moon rising above the trees across the river and ‘Chook Man’ playing steel guitar music in accompaniment, the group assembled at their table in the Renmark Club for a delicious First Night Dinner.
Tuesday morning saw a few of our group investigating the local café and supermarkets for heart-starters and last minute supplies. The Rootsey’s returned to their boat with an aluminium ladder! This wasn’t such an odd purchase since it facilitated easy disembarkation and boarding from the river banks during the trip.
The group set off from Renmark at about 0930 headed for Hunchee Creek, about 592 km from the mouth of the Murray. The Dales arrived first and chose an excellent mooring with plenty of walking tracks and both space and dead timber for a campfire. Tania quickly had the fire blazing and chairs were positioned for an evening of soporific gazing and very pleasant conversation beneath a canopy of River Redgums.
Wednesday and a short run upstream to the Woolshed Brewery. Since it didn’t open until 1100 a fairly relaxed morning and late start saw us on the river by about 1030 and moored outside the brewery by lunchtime.
Most members of this group have only minimal experience with alcoholic beverages (Ha! – Ed) so in order to enhance their education, several paddles of the Woolshed’s own beer, alcoholic lemonade and cider were thoughtfully consumed (for purely educational purposes) over a pot-luck lunch at one of the beautiful red-gum slab tables on the balcony overlooking the boats.
Lessons well and truly learned and crews suitably refreshed, the fleet headed upstream towards a mooring close to Chowilla Station about 606 km from the Mouth. Newly acquired skills were exercised at the usual happy hour round a Tania-built fire saw the evening out.
Renie crowned Tania “Queen of Pyromania” for her superb efforts in keeping us all warm.
On Thursday, our aim was to transit Lock 6 and motor up to the Customs House at Border Cliffs. After a look around the old Customs station and a brief foray upstream to cross the border between SA and Vic, we turned downstream for the first time, mooring just upstream of the 630 km sign.
The Customs House has a very interesting history, beginning after the 1850s gold rushes in Victoria and New South Wales, several colonies were looking for additional revenue. New South Wales, who claimed ownership of the River Murray, was first off the mark to charge
customs duties for goods entering that colony.
In January 1884 a government party from South Australia went up the river looking for a suitable site to intercept steamers on the Murray entering South Australian waters.
Having found a suitable site near Chowilla Station, Sub-Collector Robert Baker was put in charge of the site to collect the various charges from the steamer captains. On 8 April 1884 Governor W.C.F. Robinson officially proclaimed the site which was named Port Murthoo.
The contract to build the station was secured by Robert Oldfield. While the buildings were constructed Robert Baker and his familylived in tents and other primitive accommodation. They remained for four years after which Albert Simms took over. The last Customs Officer appointed was Robert Ramsey in 1897. He collected duties until January 1903 when the station was closed.
Nowadays, the Customs House contains a small kiosk selling basic supplies as well as a residence and base office for Murtho Houseboats.
Our group spent a short time buying ice, water and ice-creams before heading back downstream, although a few boats took the opportunity to continue upstream for about a kilometer to cross the SA / Victoria border.
The downstream trip featured another visit the Woolshed brewery before we moored downstream of Hunchee Creek for our final night in the wilderness.
Tania was in her element; everyone had brought firewood from home and were reluctant to carry back home again. As a result, the fire was very warm that night!
Our last pleasant evening was highlighted by a visit, for many of the group, to the warm spa atop ‘Little Gem’s’ roof-deck while ashore, with the backdrop of a majestic sunset reflected perfectly in the still surface of the river, others sat by the blazing fire for final conviviality and conversation.
After Rob the Barista had served morning coffees in the ‘Little Gem Cafe’ we moved off downstream for the final leg to the moorings outside of the Renmark Club.
Happy hour on the top-deck accompanied by Chook Man’s ‘Tennessee Waltz’ preceded our final celebratory dinner at the Club where a small party of young women were celebrating the 17th birthday of one of their number. We joined in the ‘Happy Birthday’ singing and they shared a box of birthday cookies with us. A sweet ending to the evening.
Next morning, ‘Cafe Little Gem’ opened early and closed promptly at 0830 to allow a departure from the Wharf that would enable a 0930 transit through paringa Bridge and the return of ‘Little Gem’. Others recovered boats at the Big 4 ramp while Alison and Ray tried out the Bert Dix Boat Ramp below Paringa Bridge.
Brian and Tania and Ric and Al were continuing on downstream to Berri via Lock 5. Lucky ducks!
RATTY
Ratty managed to sneak into a bag of firewood in Nick Steyn’s shed at Clayton.
The bag was picked up and brought on the trip by Al & Ric on “Bad Dolly”
It’s unclear whether Ratty has returned to clayton or whether he’s still cruising the river.
Ratty overheard a few unusual conversations!
A willing group of helpers attempting to secure Blasé to river bank
Gavin: “There isn’t a tree where Brian wants a tree to be!’
Tanya? or someone else: “Brian will plant one and we’ll come back in 10 years.”
Someone:
“Brian mind the tree! “
“Tania’s going for a walk.”
Someone else: “Tania. You can come back now!” (Blasé now secured)
Brian trying to work out what’s wrong with motor
Brian: “It’s a beautiful motor – do you want to buy it?”
As someone heading to bush with a shovel
Tania: Oh! You’re taking Dougie for a walk.
Ray and Alison emerging from Optimist to join group around fire, having eaten their tea.
Someone: “It’s only 4:15!”
Ray: “I thought it was 6:30. I looked at the sun – then at my watch!!”
Ric and Al’s famous rainbow flag, came adrift from the stern of “Bad Dolly” as they hooned off downriver to heat up the water for a shower!
Blasē picked it up from the water and promptly ransomed it!
Reflections on the river:-
River Trip Video
Brian's amazing video featuring highlights of the trip.
River Trip Logistics
- There are two boat ramps close to Renmark Club. One at Patey Drive adjacent to the Big 4 caravan park and the other, the Bert Dix Boat Ramp, downstream on lock 5 Rd. Paringa.
- Renmark Club has eight pens for boats outside and the adjacent Wharf can accommodate numerous houseboats.
- Distance covered. Renmark to Border Cliffs 68km. Return distance 136km.
- Time taken seven nights.
- Motoring time per day averaged 3 hours.
- Fuel estimated at 1.5 Litres per hour based on a 8HP 2-stroke motor. (In fact it was slightly less)
- Other than Renmark, (Anything) Woolshed Brewery (Water, beer) and Border Cliffs (Ice Water, Petrol), no supplies available.
- Lock Transits: Lock 6 only 9-11:30 am and 1-4:30 pm.(08) 8595 8025. Check website https://www.sawater.com.au/water-and-the-environment/south-australias-water-sources/river-sources/lockages
- Dump Point and rubbish skip at downstream end of Bunyip Reach close to the 622 km marker.
- Parking for cars and trailers available from River Fun Houseboats, Lock 5 Rd. Paringa.
- Fires permitted on banks except during fire ban season. Pays to check.
- Plenty of available firewood along this stretch of river.
- Navigation is made easier with a copy of Murray River Pilot.
- Woolshed Brewery (08) 8595 8188 and the Renmark Club (08) 8586 6611 were excellent sources of food and drink.
- Keren and Rob can recommend “Little Gem” from River Murray Houseboats 0427 899 102
LET’S GO TRAILER SAILING!
WEBINAR:
"Rounding marks explained"
This video takes a little while to get going but it is quite a useful explanation for the RRS Mark Rounding Rules.
Starting & Finishing Racing Rules
COFFIN BAY TRIP REPORT
Report courtesy of Fred Meuring, CBBC Cruise Director.
Ron, Chris and Di were the first to arrive on Sunday 17th October, everyone else was there by Mon PM. Fred, Marion and Gwen with Shimmer, David and Helen with Sherwin Road, Dave and Shelley with Hydrotherapy, Ray and Alison with Optimist, Gill and Craig in Gypsy.
Sherwin Road was the happy hour venue for a few tired travellers, must have been a good winter.. we drowned the electrics in their motor-well with most on board.
The club duck -a 9-year resident- is still here demanding as ever and emus with up to 8 chicks strut up and down the main street elbowing the roos out of the way. What a place.
Tuesday a couple enjoyed a brisk easterly for a sail and the fish were on. The Oyster HQ restaurant impressed all. Wed was ‘brisk’ but 3 boats enjoyed a lovely sail out towards Mt Dutton Bay late in the afternoon. As always the club meals were superb. Gwen at 91, smashed the seafood basket like a teenager.
Wed was a bit of a down day, catch up on rest, the first 2 nights at the jetty saw strong easterly winds and were er…noisy. Least we all have learnt how to allow for the large tides. No boats jammed under the jetty or suspended from it this year.
Thu 0730 saw a couple of ‘icebreakers’ do their best Vladimir impressions in the bay. Some Dutch fool suggested they swim out to the blue boat just over ‘there’. The return in 2kts tide took ‘considerably’ longer!
We all ramped up on our own secluded private sandy beach in the arvo for lunch followed by a 3/4 reach home. Superb.
Gill tried to rearrange the foreshore concrete with knees and hands, but failed. She was not impressed with the lack of sympathy after booting someone’s favourite fishing knife off the jetty. The owner promptly slicing his thumb open diving down to retrieve it.
The team fish cook up in front of the club on boat stoves made it all go away and was a great evening. Nothing like a full-on gorge of King George Whiting and bad jokes.
Fri saw a few go road touring some of the fabulous scenery and parks nearby.
Do not get in the way of the oyster boats, they enter the carpark and some are launched and gone in less than 60secs. We saw one today that had to be going 90km/hr in the bay!!
Sat had the group out again on their own isolated sandy beach after a fine sail out. The speeds seemed to get faster as the wine and gins got put away but various figures up to 7.6kts in the Farrs were quoted. It was only 20deg but various Vladimirs were seen again, lucky it was so far away… Oyster HQ (the actual restaurant name) beckoned again on return.
Some things we learned:-
Anchor winches are grunty things, as a Danforth ripped apart testifies; don’t take unposted 4wd tracks, props and anchor ropes should be kept separate, don’t say yes to 0730 swimming if Vladimir asks, liquid lunch = missed tea, 1 Farr = cruise and 2 Farrs = race, top up the ducks bowl with water or he gets cranky, don’t offer to pay for Gwen’s food bill, ladies should never go commando on the sunset cat charters that leave the jetty, power does not give way to sail if the power is an oyster boat, flinging yourselves in another woman’s arms when going for a third desert will make for a very frosty drive home.
All packed and departed Mon 25th, planning the next one already. Be a part of it. The Coffin Bay club’s commodore Chris Stenson was pleased to see us and very welcoming, big plans are in place for a substantial jetty/marina upgrade in 2022.
2022 Clayton Bay Boat Club Action
Flying Fifteen & Farr 6000 Regatta 1-3 January 2022
Report by Race Officer and Organiser, Craig Birbeck
Clayton Bay Boat Club One Design Regatta 2022
After last year’s successful inaugural Flying 15 Regatta at Clayton Bay Boat Club, the committee decided to do it all again in 2022 — but with an expanded format to include a second division of boats. The Farr 6 was chosen because of the good numbers of boats at the club and several at the nearby Goolwa Regatta Yacht Club.
THE REGATTA WAS GENEROUSLY SPONSORED BY:-
Saturday 1 January 2022: First day, Invitation Race
A hot, humid and windless morning greeted the registering participants, with a hive of activity of Flying 15s being rigged and Farr 6s being launched and arriving by water from GRYC. Lunch was a sausage sizzle, and I fielded dozens of questions about whether I’d organised wind for the afternoon invitation race. I assured all that I had, and it would arrive promptly at 2pm race briefing time. Amazingly it did, along with a cooler relief from the humidity.
Once the briefing was complete and the course set, the conditions were 10 to 12 knots of breeze with some lulls and gusts for good measure. The regatta opening invitation race is run as a mixed fleet race including any other trailer yachts that wanted to join in. We had a mixed fleet of 17 boats this year, plus one lovely hand-built Fulmar dinghy which joined the fleet as a guest. The race had a busy start, with one competing boat from Tin Can Bay in Queensland (still not used to the daylight saving time in South Australia!) starting a few seconds early. The course entailed starting in Clayton Bay then rounding Rat Island, leaving it to port and then finding a very elusive rounding mark in
Marshals Bight to port, then another rounding mark to starboard back in the main channel close to Rat Island before a reach back to the finishing line in Clayton Bay. Early bolters included a VX One sports boat and two F15s, Ark and Cool Bubbles, who then took a wide berth around past Rat Island, allowing F15 ROFFL to use some local knowledge (followed by Black Adder) to gain the lead. The Fulmar dinghy Boo was the first to find the difficult-to-see first mark, and led the way until the last leg. The fast-finishing VX One and two F15s took line honours, and the mixed fleet handicap honours went to three Farr 6s: Mackie, Blasé, and Moondancer. After drinks, nibbles, and trophies, all had a quiet night due to COVID-19 restrictions at the club.
Sunday 2 January: Second day, 2 Series Races
On Day 2 we enjoyed a cooler southerly blowing 12 to 15 knots and building in the afternoon to 18 knots. The briefing was held at 10am, with race 1 starting at 10.45am. The two divisions (F15s in Division 1 and Farr 6s in Division 2) had separate start times five minutes apart. The course consisted of a short upwind leg to the top mark, a long tight reach to the wing mark, a broad spinnaker reach to the third turning mark, repeated, then an upwind-downwind loop to the finish. (In effect, two chops and a sausage to the finish.)
Race 1 Results |
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Division 1, F15: | Won by Ark skippered by Dave Tabb (a visiting British Flying 15, a Star and Soling sailor with a wealth of knowledge and Olympic-level experience to share) then Cool Bubbles skippered by Ken Bubb (from Tin Can Bay, Queensland) followed by Impulse skippered by Mark Read. |
Division 2, Farr 6: | Won by Mackie Skippered by Justin Stanbridge, followed by Farrargo skippered by Rob Jones and Moondancer skippered by Kym Hughes. |
Back to the club for hotdogs and a 2pm briefing for the afternoon race, which was the same course but lengthened by adding an extra loop at the end.
Race 2 Results |
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Division 1, F15: | Only a second between the first two F15s and twenty seconds to third: Ark, Cool Bubbles, and Impulse. |
Division 2, Farr 6: | First place went to Mackie, second to Girlzown skippered by Tricia Skews, and Blasé skippered by Brian O’Flaherty. |
[Girlzown, It’s a Rule, and 2Uley are three Farr 6s that came from Goolwa Regatta Yacht Club to compete, all with lady skippers and mostly female crew. They’re part of the “She Sails” group who sail regularly at GRYC. It was great to have them all join the regatta.]
Over evening drinks and snacks, participants were able to mix, socialise and prepare for the evening dinner of steak, chicken and salad provided by CBBC. Regatta organiser Craig Birbeck made a short speech to show appreciation to the regatta sponsors and all the fantastic volunteers both on and off the water, and CBBC Commodore Grant Maddern welcomed everyone to the club and also thanked
volunteers and sponsors. Race placings for the day were then announced, and stories of misadventure were rewarded with stubbie holder prizes from our sponsor Dynamic Lift and Shift.
Monday 3 January: Final day, 2 Series Races
Day 3 was another cool day, with building winds 12 to 18 knots shifting and gusty from the southeast. It was decided (by agreement with the majority of competitors) to run the last two races in the series back-to-back, which provided time for an early pack up for travellers and avoided a possible afternoon wind blowout. With the wind more in the east, the courses allowed for much longer upwind-downwind legs with a triangle/loop sequence.
Race 3 Results
Division 1, F15: Ark, Cool Bubbles, and Impulse again were the first three over the line with Black Adder taking third on Yardstick.
[Black Adder is a classic wooden hulled Flying 15 using Mahogany diagonal planking; on all three days, she showed very good speed upwind but was a little slower downwind. Brian is working on that, and we’re sure Black Adder will improve this in the future.]
Division 2, Farr 6: Won by Mackie, again followed by Blasé, and Moondancer. A couple of lost skippers’ boats in this division struggled to find the finish line.
Race 4 Results |
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Division 1, F15: | Ark made it four from four races with Cool Bubbles second, and Impulse third. A port/starboard collision between ROFFL and Black Adder on the first upwind leg caused the retirement of both boats from the race: Black Adder was given average points redress after the race. |
Division 2, Farr 6: | Mackie made a clean sweep, followed by Girlzown and Moondancer. |
Trophy presentation was done by Craig Birbeck and Grant Maddern after a hamburger lunch at the club. Congratulations to all of our trophy recipients and to all that competed, and thank you for supporting the CBBC One Design Regatta.
REGATTA PICTURE GALLERY :-
2 Series Results
Trophies Awarded
Division 1, Flying 15 |
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1st Yardstick and 1st PHC: |
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| Ark, Dave Tabb & Dave Bennett |
2nd Yardstick and 2nd PHC: |
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| Cool Bubbles, Ken Bubb & Lee Bubb |
3rd Yardstick and 3rd PHC: |
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| Impulse, Mark Read & Christine Rootsey |
1st Classic Hull: |
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| Black Adder, Brian Partridge & Gill Berry |
1st combined age over 125 years: |
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| Ark, Dave Tabb & Dave Bennett |
Riverside Perpetual Trophy:
Division 2, Farr 6 |
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| Ark, Dave Tabb & Dave Bennett |
1st Scratch Fleet and 1st PHC: |
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| Mackie, Justin Stanbridge & Darren Stanbridge |
2nd Scratch Fleet and 2nd PHC: |
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| Moondancer, Kym Hughes & Greg Black |
3rd Scratch Fleet and 3rd PHC: |
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| Girlzown, Tricia Skewes & Jackie Dawson |
Farr 6 Association Perpetual Regatta Trophy: |
| Mackie, Justin Stanbridge & Darren Stanbridge | |
Farr 6 Association Perpetual Regatta PHC Trophy: | Mackie, Justin Stanbridge & Darren Stanbridge | ||
Thank you to all the volunteers from inside and outside of the club for your support and enthusiasm for the regatta, sponsors, and participants. Without you, these events can’t happen.
Hopefully, in this crazy world of ours, we can do the same again next year!
Come and visit Clayton Bay Boat Club: we love it here!
https://claytonbayboatclub.org.au/
Full regatta results under the racing results tab on the club website
Kingsley Picnic Races
15-16 January 2022
SPONSORED BY KFC
- courtesy of Mr. Darren Stanbridge
Thanks once again to the overwhelming generosity of Cec and Mike South, the 2022 Kingsley Picnic Races weekend was a huge success.
The Picnic Races feature a stern-chaser style based on individual skippers’ Personal Handicap (NHC) ratings. The boat with the lowest handicap (Isabelle Grace in 2022) starts first at 0.00.00 minutes after the 5 minute start sequence has concluded. The second boat (Blasé) starts 1:22 minutes later and so on. (See table on right.)
The first race start-line is located off the CBBC long Jetty and after the start, all vessels then proceed upstream from Clayton Bay (See course-map above) to a mark off the northern coast of Rat Island. Leaving that to port, they sail north to a mark near the cliffs of Marshall’s Bight and then to a third mark off the entrance to Kingsley Station.
The third mark is also left to port and the usually up-wind leg back towards Rat Island is then sailed.
The aim of a stern-chaser event is for all boats is to attempt to improve their original position by overtaking boats with better handicaps.
The race had a time-limit of two hours so boats continued to sail the triangular course, in an anti-clockwise direction, until the committee boat, “Snowy Bear” signaled that the two hours had expired.
All the boats then repaired to the Kingsley Marina, where Mike and Cec had organised berths as well as caravan and camping sites for spectators and those seeking accommodation off the water.
Onshore, the Picnic Races organisers, Mike and Cec, together with sponsor, Darren Stanbridge from KFC and several volunteers had arranged tables at socially appropriate distances within the scope of the COVID 19 plan and competitors and spectators engaged in informal – debriefings of the afternoon racing together with drinks and nibbles.
Later, Mike and Darren announced the results of the first race.
First: ‘Absolute Mayhem’ Second: ‘Blase’ Third: Anoqua, followed by Moondancer, Sundowner, Misty Dawn, Isabelle Grace, Bubbles, ROFFL, Tri Again, Farrago, Tinderry, Rebel, Sherwin Road, Predator, ZeFarr and Just Cruising.
The three place-getters were presented with the highly-prized, Kingsley Dongle by Kingsley co-owner and event founder, Mike South.
Each participant, and also the volunteer helpers received a bottle of specially labeled wine courtesy of KFC, from Darren Stanbridge.
Next, Mike outlined the arrangements for using the barbecues. These were very tightly controlled to align with COVID regulations and participants dutifully donned masks & gloves, used the designated area and maintained social distance during the cooking process.
In an orderly fashion, we ate, drank, then continued drinking -some until quite late in the evening- some listening intently to Brian O’Flaherty and his forensically detailed stories, before repairing to caravans, tents or boats for a well-earned night’s sleep.
Mike and Cec and a band of volunteer helpers were up around 7am to cook and serve the participants with continental and/or full-cooked breakfasts of bacon, egg, sausage, tomato and toast, with a ‘help-yourself’ tea and coffee facility adjacent to the barbecue area. Absolutely delicious and just another example of the generosity of our hosts, as well as the support of sponsors and volunteers.
Following breakfast, I spoke with Simon Barrow, a visitor from neighbouring Goolwa Regatta Yacht Club, and he exclaimed, “You guys are so very lucky to have this amazing event on a regular basis!” Indeed we are!
A quick briefing was held at 9am followed by everyone helping to pack up tables and other equipment.
Race two was scheduled to start at 10:30am to allow Sundowner and Absolute mayhem, time to sail up from Clayton where they had stayed the night.
Under the direction of Mike, boats left the Kingsley marina in an orderly fashion, onto the mirror-calm waters of an airless Marshall’s Bight.
The two yachts from Clayton Arrived just before 10 and since all the other boats were out on the water, it was decided by the pair of Nick’s (Steyn & Jongewaard) on committee boat, Snowy Bear, to start the race at 10:10am.
A very light breeze had come in and was building as start time arrived, but some skippers, possibly still under the influence of the previous evening’s frivolity, confused the starting direction and had to return!
The wind continued to build slowly and by the time the first boats reached the windward mark it was up to 12 knots. It continued to build throughout the race and by the time the two hour call was sounded it was blowing around 15 knots.
All vessels then returned, at their own pace, to CBBC, where the Race two and Overall results were announced by Mike followed by presentations by Major Sponsor, Darren Stanbridge.
Results Race 2:
First: Bubbles, Second: Absolute Mayhem, Third: ROFFL, followed by, Blase, Misty Dawn, Anoqua, Rebel, Preditor, Sundowner/Farrago too close to separate, Tinderry, Moondancer and Zeffar.
Overall:
First: Absolute Mayhem, Second: Blase, Third: Anoqua
Once again, Dongles were distributed but it was generally agreed that everyone was a winner if they attended this great Picnic Race event!
And a final word from our Kingsley Picnic races hosts,
- Helped with the organisation especially Ric for preparing & obtaining a COVID Management Plan for 1000 attendees
- Helped prepare the Marina : weed and reed removal
- Helped set up
- Lent us essential articles: Urn, Generators tables etc
- Competed, camped and attended and enjoyed themselves
- Helped “park” the boats
- Manned the ” MV Snowy Bear” and provided a little banter during the racing
- Made a photographic record of the event
- That manned the BBQs night & morning
- That tidied up before breakfast and after
- That helped pack up
Regatta Photographs: -courtesy, Mark Rainbird
