(Sydney,
Australia- Oct 30-31)- The Balmain Regatta is one of Sydney’s oldest
sporting events, and has a long history with our waterways. It was first
held in 1849 and continued until 1934, when sadly it was discontinued.
It was revived in 1994 by the Wooden Boat Association, and Balmain
Sailing Club participated in the Balmain Regatta in 1995 and 1996 as one
of its Spring Series races.
In 1997, it was run as a separate
event, jointly organised by the Balmain Sailing Club and the Wooden Boat
Association. Today it is run by Balmain Sailing Club, in association
with other sailing clubs and community organizations, and is a real
celebration of Balmain, the harbour and our maritime heritage. The event
attracts over 150 vessels on the water, making it one of the great
annual spectacles around Balmain.
A couple of months ago Simon
Grain was contacted by Neil Hamilton from the Race Committee and asked
if they could get a J/24 fleet together as they would like to give them
their own division – after a lot of phone calls there's a fleet of 6,
enough to race! Wildfire’s Brett Hudson is always keen to race, as is
KAOTIC – both sailing down from Middle Harbour. FUN, newly owned by Paul
Baker and David Lamb will just be wherever you tell them to be,
MADDER'N'BADDER have the one design racing bug since coming to the NSW
State Championship and local entry MARITIME TRAINING SCHOOL made up the
fleet, joined by the new crew on SAILPAC.
A Spinnaker start in a
10-15 Northeasterly winds soon splits the fleet with MADDER'N'BADDER
getting away, KAOTIC not far behind them and then a match race for the
next 20 mins between SAILPAC and WILDFIRE. FUN and MARITIME TRAINING
SCHOOL not far behind! Shifty winds and shadows from all the islands
and headlands around make it a tactical race with a mix of works, kite
runs and reaches.
Tim Briggs, steering SAILPAC in only his fourth
race is going well. Further around the course, we see Janette, steering
Arthur Crothers’ KAOTIC, sail into a hole and as we come around Goat
Island – with only MADDER'N'BADDER in front of us a shy kite gets us
where we want to be – in the lead. Holding that lead is the key, and
finishing in front of KAOTIC and MADDER'N'BADDER, it was an absolute joy
to see Tim steer a J over the line first – a huge confidence boost for a
new owner!
Balmain Sailing Club doesn’t disappoint, with fun and
festivities on the water front – a great regatta atmosphere, life raft
demos, rowing, BBQ and raffles. A few wines later…the only thing
sending people home on a glorious Sunday afternoon was the 6pm tropical
downpour – a delightful days racing. We were also definitely in good
company, hearing J/24 Legends Gary Geitz and Ian Bashfords names dropped
in post racing story telling!! Well done BSC! Hopefully with a larger
fleet, we will definitely be there next year. Overall the finishes were
first, SAILPAC (Tim Briggs), second KAOTIV (Janette Syme) and third
MADDER'N'BADDER (Chris O'Neill). For more Balmain J/24 Regatta sailing information.