Members of the Metung Yacht Club (MYC) have been making the most of recent opportunities to get out on the water.
Earlier in the week, twilight sailing saw Sail A Vie, crewed by Darren Knights (helm), Lynne Rixon, Jeanette Severs and David Cliff, take victory. Wind Charmer finished second, with Down Under close behind in third. Nine boats contested the event on Bancroft Bay in very light south–southwest winds.
The club also welcomed the St Ayles Skiffs rowing teams and support crews to the weekly barbecue after sailing. Six boats and around 40 people participated, with rowers travelling from Norfolk and Hampshire in Britain, as well as Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.
The prestigious Bill Hope Memorial Trophy was recently contested over two legs across the Gippsland Lakes. The first leg ran from Metung to Paynesville, finishing at Tiger Pole, with a lunch stop at the Gippsland Lakes Yacht Club (GLYC). Three division two boats departed 15 minutes ahead of two division one Etchells, racing in 4–9 knot winds from south-west shifting to south-east. Finishing order: Beagle (Simon Bazeley, Ed Smith, Bruce Crombie), Saffron, Down Under, Etchellente, AUS1292.
The second leg returned all five boats to Metung via McMillan Strait in south-east winds shifting to east, 4–9 knots. Finishers: AUS1292 (Stephen Bull, Peter Kanat, Peter Bull), Beagle, Etchellente, Saffron, Down Under. On handicap, Beagle was awarded the trophy, with a bottle of rum presented to the winners, a new tradition established by Jo Hope, widow of Bill.
The following day, the Sternchasers race featured five boats in very light, shifting winds. Tony Doolan, sailing solo, claimed first place, with Maggie second and Aria third.
In midweek sailing, six yachts raced a course in Bancroft Bay, incorporating Shaving Point and Bell’s Point, in south-west winds of 4–8 knots. Juno, crewed by Julian Brennan and Chris Wannop, took victory ahead of Mimosa and Harmony.
