The Dunsborough Bay Yacht Club held their annual Knotting Hill Winery regatta last Saturday.
Club members, friends and parents of junior sailors enjoyed the sailing spectacle on the dam, along with visitors who were happy to see the sight of blue sail boats dotted around the water.
As well as the club’s minnows, splashes and GP14’s, three more GP14’s came down from the Mounts Bay Yacht Club in Perth to join in the fun and rivalry.
Early in the day calm waters ruffled periodically with patchy breezes making the sailing rather challenging - but the breezes became more constant throughout the day – although rather light off the land.
The younger and newer sailors on the minnow fleet sailed the unusual course and were able to handle the conditions as though they had been doing it all year.
The less experienced fleet were completely undaunted by the sight of bigger boats on the water which had their spinnakers up on some races.
It was a testament to the excellent coaching from the club’s youth sailors who took on this year’s junior group under the watchful eye of the Dunsborough Bay Yacht Club’s rear commodore junior sailing Kate Hunt.
There was the usual banter from onlookers as the bigger yachts called rights on each other at the buoys on the course, and some of the close finishes got the crowd excited.
When the juniors were not in their boats, they were in the water having a great time. One small sailor said to her parents, that it was the best day they had.
It was a great day for the club at Knotting Hill, with the winery tempting everyone with their marron and fish pies, tapas plates and wines.
The Gould family were generous with their marron, vouchers and wine for the lucky winners.
So keep an eye open for this day next year and come and enjoy the beautiful venue with all that it has to offer and the spectacle and fun the day entails.
RESULTS:
Minnows – First: Josh Teasdale; Second: Floyd Donan; Third: Hughie McDowell.
Splash dinghies – First: Klaus Schmechtig; Second: Harry Ainsworth; Third: James Myurgh.
GP14’s – First: Morgan Flower / Finn de Mou; Second: Steve Flower / James Myburgh; Third: Bruce Quail / Steve Hayward (from the Mounts Bay Yacht Club in Perth).
The Dunsborough Bay Yacht Club is a family based club which prides itself on teaching sailing well with ethos on having fun.
