BALLAST HEAD CUP REGATTA

After a decision by me in 2020 to either end this New Year’s Day event at Island Beach or see it handed over to and continue under the auspices of the CYCSA as race organisers, I am pleased to report the event went ahead under the Club’s racing management and brought with it the additional help needed to make this fun event safe and enjoyable for all who participate on and off the water. The key elements that enabled this to happen and will be required each year are; at least three capable and willing volunteers to assist on the start/finish boat, a start boat of reasonable size, yacht or power, prepared to be on station from about 10.00am on NYD (and ideally a good fridge for cold beer) and three additional volunteers and a course boat to help inflate, put out and retrieve the course buoys. All this has to be pulled together in about three hours on NYD morning after what for many can be a very late and exuberant finish to the previous year! Thanks this year to Adrian Wotton, Wayne Grant, Steve Harrington, Peter Stark and his catamaran Even Keels, Vlad Humeniuk, Peter Clark, Keith Finch, Sandy Quin and Tracy Ayris. The point of all this of course is to host and participate in the first sporting event in Australia for the new year and in this pandemic year, perhaps also the first sporting event in the world for the new year. The post-Christmas weather pattern provided a couple of optimum windows in which to passage south but those who were not safely anchored in Eastern Cove by New Years Eve were no chance to start in the Ballast Head Cup as a 30 knot SE whipped the bay all day on the 31st until late evening. As if knowing that this event was hanging in the balance, the weather gods delivered perfect conditions for New Years Day, a 10 to 15kt SSE all day with sunshine and perfect temperatures that saw a few hung over guests venture out of their homes looking for a sail and encouraged some equally sleep deprived yachties off their moorings to enter the race. The briefing was brief for the seven CYCSA boats that entered as they had all sailed the course before. There was only one ‘Rocky’ division as no smaller boats and no American River boats nominated this year. Category 6 and COVID safety requirements were perhaps a stretch too far for them. Charles Cimiky in Javelin, a regular in this event, was a notable nonstarter this year due to ill health so wish him well if you see him on the water soon. As the three N, Y and D flags were raised at the 12.55 preparatory warning signal Derek Morrison and crew on Sintara were still doing circles with not a sail hoisted as they loaded on board the six South American backpackers they had met the night before and promised a sail, but who had only just managed to find Island Beach at 12.45 along with a dinghy to tender them to Sintara. The start this year sounded with the traditional Island Beach cannon fired downwind from the stern of Even Keels and timed to within a few seconds of actual start time and at point blank range to Marnico who reports fragments of alfoil still impregnated in her mainsail. The yachts got away to a clear start with Sintara bringing up the rear as she got sails rapidly hoisted and backpackers and translators in key positions on the windward rail. The first lap saw all boats in close company as they reached to the Rocky Point W marker close enough to the beach for all those watching ashore to feel part of the event, then a gybe and a long run to the S marker at American River. Race organisers had to make a speedy course boat dash to the S marker to re-anchor the mark as it drifted downwind challenging navigators to resort to calling a line of sight course thereby negating all modern GPS assistance. It was then onto the F mark at the west end of the bay which also needed a

first lap repositioning from the support crew of Rapid 2 due to inadequate brick and rope tackle. Through the gate the first time saw Sintara in the lead followed by Rocksalt and Golden Cowrie with the fleet now separating in accordance with waterline length and colour of sails. Paul Hicks on Impulse, the smallest boat in the fleet, was last to go through the first lap gate but close enough to be in handicap contention. The second lap was uneventful bar a close port starboard on the final windward leg and I understand the incident was resolved on the beach over a beer and BBQ. Sintara took the finish line cannon to the enthusiastic cheers of her largely South American female crew. It sounded like Columbia had kicked a winning goal in the World Cup and there was more of the same at the presentation on the beach. A fantastic display of fun and achievement gained from an experience that for these girls and travellers was spontaneous and unexpected and was a real highlight of the day and one that this event aims to achieve. A quick nod of thank you to David Saies who has PRO’d this event for many years and who has kept a meticulous record of times, handicaps and placings and even worked out the new 2021 handicaps for me for all previous entrants based on their last finish time in this event! So don’t tell me that the results are rigged! This year the on the beach presentation catering was supported by locals Wendy and Lisa from Salty Dog Diner, a new pop up takeaway business they started on Kangaroo Island in 2020. Their food was an absolute hit and a large step up in style from sausages and sauce! Our friends at RIG from American River were not able to support the event this year as they have done so magnificently in the past as COVID raised uncertainty for them in organising anything involving gatherings of people. Well done to all who made the effort to get involved by helping or sailing. With its new lease of life the regatta may well get to its twenty year anniversary event in 2022!

Andrew Saies BALLAST HEAD CUP FOR LINE HONOURS First and fastest Sintara, Derek Morrison (and the South American backpackers) Second Rocksalt, Denby Steele Third Golden Cowrie, Steve Harrington

BALLAST HEAD TROPHY ON HANDICAP First Impulse, Paul Hicks Second Bellatrix, Scott Gurner Third School’s Out, Adrian Wotton

There was no first time new entrant so no Jamie Cowell Trophy and no catamarans competed either.

Impulse

Sintara

It wouldn’t be Australia Day without lunch at the CYCSA and a good crowd filled the Club’s dining area once again this year. The atmosphere was lively despite the absence of the band due to COVID restrictions. Instead there were plenty of raffles and happy faces of those whose number was called. Girls and guys dressed up in their Aussie outfits to complete the day. Meanwhile out in the member’s BBQ area several groups pulled tables together and strung Australian flags around as decoration while they ate their lamb chops and sausages. Our Commodore, Jacq Heffernan organised some games, including a thong throwing competition and beer skittles. Both typical Australian after-lunch fun. We hope the band can return next year to have us dancing the day away.

Pat Catley

Volvo Penta D8-IPS800

Volvo Penta D8-IPS800 is a perfectly matched package, powered by the in-line 6-cylinder D8, a 7.7-liter, common-rail diesel with a twin entry turbo, and supercharger for incredible low rpm response. Working together with a perfectly matched IPS15 pod, twin counter rotating propellers and the Electronic Vessel Control system, this package offers excellent maneuverability, long action range and low emissions.

VOLVO PENTA V8-430-CE/FWD

Volvo Penta Forward Drive V8-430-CE FWD is a totally integrated package, powered by the 8-cylinder, 6.2-liter, freshwater-cooled, direct-injected gasoline engine with catalyst. Working together with the perfectly matched FWD Duoprop drive and the Electronic Vessel Control system, enabling optional electronic features, this package offers great versatility, low noise levels, very low emission levels, and impressive acceleration power.