BRENDAN LINES
ORGANISERS of the Dash for Cash are determined to keep September’s popular dinghy racing event afloat, despite South Australia tightening its eastern borders and the seven-day lockdown imposed yesterday.
The Riverland Dinghy Club (RDC) was given the green light from SA Health recently to proceed with its plans of holding a double round, featuring the Dash and its endurance round.
The RDC hopes that should events with less than 1000 people are soon permitted and that the round – scheduled to be held from the Renmark Club on September 10 and 12 – can proceed.
RDC president Scott Jenke said the club was exploring all avenues for the event to proceed safely.
“Competitors from around the nation have a thirst to get back to Renmark and compete,” Mr Jenke said.
“It is really important that we pursue bringing this event to fruition. We are totally aware that the public has an appetite to have events available to attend.
“As we map our way ahead and continue to deal with restrictions we remain positive and keen to be able to host these rounds.”
It has been a 600-day wait since the last Dash was held in February 2020.
So far, this season the RDC has successfully staged all three rounds of its championship, despite quarantine restrictions shrinking its field of 76 boats to 56 starters for its recent Amazon Sprint at the Woolshed Brewery, Murtho.
It is hoped that while borders with Western Australia remain open, it might help with numbers, however Mr Jenke acknowledged the club was “yet to welcome a full contingent of Western Australian competitors back across the border”.
“These guys have made the trek for a number of years and certainly add to the flavour of our events,” Mr Jenke said.