2016 opening day at the Augusta Yacht Club

Augusta Margaret River Shire councillor Kym Hastie opened the season with commodore Herman Gerritsen who proposed a toast to the success of the club.

The biggest crowd for many years enjoyed a light lunch followed by the traditional sail past.

Councillor Hastie congratulated the club on its success observing that each year he had attended the opening day the number of members and visitors had continued to grow.

He also noted that the club had continually improved its facility on the banks of the Blackwood River.

Boats took to the water at 1.30pm and after commodore Herman had taken the traditional salute the racing commenced.

The two classes, monohull and multihull, started separately and with the large contingent of visiting catamarans the boats made quite a sight as they jostled for starting positions, everyone was keen to get a good start to the season.

The wind was moderately strong with some strong gusts from the South creating problems for some of the boats but apart from several capsizes and a few problems with shallow water there were no major incidents until the finish line in the monohulls.

Big Red Dwarf had been shadowing Beez Neez for the entire race and while trying to make a last second dive for the line, the two boats collided, literally on the line.

Fortunately, despite the force of the collision both boats and crews were unscathed although one big red skipper had to be convinced that he should take to the water for the second race, a wise decision as it turned out as Big Red Dwarf went on to win the second race, some rather unkind sailor was heard to remark that it was because everyone was keeping clear after the previous event.

The catamarans provided their usual spectacle with visiting boats getting used to the local conditions and local sailors getting used to their new boats.

Competition between the local cat sailors had seen them upgrade boats and sails in the off season in an attempt to rein in the elusive Buzz Box, sailed by Mal Buzza.

Buzz Box was still the fastest boat but over the weekend Buzza was not allowed to get too far ahead and by seasons end he will not be getting it all his own way.

After the racing, the barbecues were lit and the usual ‘tall tails and true”, or some not so, were exchanged.

The club will be sailing again next weekend , starting at 1.30pm, call down and check out the best little club in Australia, the sailing is great and the socialising is not too bad either!

Results: Monohulls Race 1- 1st – Beez Neez – Ray Wakelin, Greg Grist

                                             2nd –Big Red Dwarf – Brenton Air, Alan Carson

                                             3rd –Anitra – Peter Johnston, Peta Davis, Fred Monahan

               Multihulls              1st – Buzz Box – Mal Buzza

                                              2nd – Oceanic – Cliff Rolf

                                              3rd – White Horses – Mark Heyink

              Monohulls Race 2- 1st – Big Red Dwarf – Brenton Air, Alan Carson

                                              2nd - Beez Neez – Ray Wakelin, Greg Grist

                                              3rd –Rising Damp – Geoff Harrison, Shane Walsh

               Multihulls               1st – Buzz Box – Mal Buzza

                                              2nd – Oceanic – Cliff Rolf

                                              3rd – White Horses – Mark Heyink

Special thanks from the club to Wilson Marine for donating vouchers to the most successful boats, on the day in each class, Big Red Dwarf and Buzz Box.