Lake Bonney Yacht Club update

LAKE Bonney Yacht Club sailors and members gathered on Saturday afternoon for the running of one of the club’s most prestigious trophies, the Trevor Stevens Trophy.

The trophy is awarded in memory of a highly respected champion and past member of the club. ‘Trev’ loved a long North lake race in a strong wind, and last year’s race was exactly that, racing in average 20-to-25 knots.

This year looked like it would be another perfect day for a long race with a beautiful 28 degrees, and a 10-to-15 knot NW wind, forecast to increase to around 20 knots.

Most boats got away to a good start, with the Contenders of Geoff Ling and Beau Delaine and ILCA7, Chris Stevens, getting to the first mark clear ahead of the Aeros of Steve and Kirsten Thomas.

There was little change until the big windward work from the Gun Club through to Napper’s Bridge, and the Contenders stretched the fleet with Delaine getting a very nice lead.

Unfortunately, the forecast big breeze failed to eventuate and the wind died out on the run back to the Gun Club turn mark.

The Delaine Contender, which, well in front, missed a good piece of this lull, and the rest of the fleet lost a ton of time.

While every skipper had their fair share of light air patches throughout the course, one seemed to have considerably less, which is part of the fortunes, and misfortunes, of sailing on Lake Bonney.

Ironically, just after all the fleet got home in the light breeze, the wind picked up to the forecast strength of 15 knots.

Race result and back-to-back winner – Contender ‘Bandit’ Beau Delaine.

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