Friday, 23rd April 2021
On Sunday 18 April SYC retained the Association Cup (115 year competition between clubs on Port Phillip Bay). The original competition was to be held at SYC on Sunday 11 April 2021, but the wind on the day caused us to postpone until Sunday 18 April. Recorded wind in the tower on 14 April was 61 Knots.
Sunday 18 April saw the day present itself with an overcast sky and a steady 12 knot westerly at 9:30am…but all that was to change.
Our teams were:
IRC (Rating system) Joust Rod Warren and Wicked Mike Welsh.
AMS (Rating System) Xpresso Ari Abrahams and Watermark II Dave Suda.
Other represented teams were RYCV and RMYS. RBYC were unable to field a team.
The first start at 11:00am saw Joust OCS. (Proving no bias in the SYC start boat Graeme Watt (RO)) The wind having dropped to a 7knot westerly.
Joust went on to lead around the top mark. The wind was dropping quickly and the RO decided to shorten the course at the leeward gate.
First to finish was Joust ahead of a very well sailed Wicked (who managed to keep the heavier boat moving when many others did not). This gave SYC 1st and 2nd on IRC.
Xpresso sailed beautifully to cross the line second in AMS to easily take the points. It should be noted that the Xpresso crew was made up of more than 50% women which must be a first in Association Cup History.
Watermark II squeezed across the line in 3rd place. A number of the other competitors jailed to make the time limit and were scored DNF.
Then became a wait for some wind. It did not arrive and soon after 2:00pm racing was cancelled for the remainder of the day and the competition. Presentations and celebrations were held on the Northern Podium.
Congratulations to all competitors and race officials for another successful defense.
