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CRUISING YACHT CLUB OF SA
BOARD OF MANAGEMENT
President Treasurer
David Roper
David Hughes
Aaron Low
Mark Hutton
Doreen Perrin
Amanda Rice
Mike Holmes
FLAG OFFICERS
Commodore
Vice Commodore
Rear Commodore PATRON STAFF
General Manager
Financial Controller
Port Vincent Marina Manager
COMMITTEES
Members Committee Chair
Fishing Association Chair
Racing Association Chair
Cruising Association Chair
Social Association Chair
LIFE MEMBERS
Andrew Saies
Dianne Schwerdt
Pat Catley
EDITORS OF GROUNDSWELL
Advertising & contributions to Mellissa: mellissa@cycsa.com.au
Registered by Australia Post Publication No PP565001/00184 ISSN 1039-4230
Printed by Newstyle Printing Graphic design by Mellissa Vahoumis
Volume 43 | Edition 1
Catherine Foreman
Kerry O’Brien
Rob Marner
Andrew Saies
Peter Schembri
Rob Human
Darren Harvey
Adrian Wilson
Geoff Boettcher
Arthur F Carolan (Dec’d)
Geoffrey R Catt
Craig A Evans
Richard H Fidock AO
Gay Footer
Graeme L Footer
John D Gerard
Jacqueline Heffernan
James A Henry (Dec’d)
Roderick C Hunter
Malcolm A Kinnaird AC (Dec’d)
Peter J Page (Dec’d)
Andrew D Saies
Robert J Sellick
Gay Footer, Mellissa Vahoumis, Pat Catley, Dianne Schwerdt
Phone: 08 8248 4222
Email: reception@cycsa.com.au
Web: www.cycsa.com.au
Phone Port Vincent: 0414 611 110
Groundswell is the official journal of the Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia Inc
Lady Gowrie Drive, North Haven PO Box 1020 North Haven SA 5018
New General Manager
I am pleased to welcome Catherine Foreman as the new General Manager of the Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia. With an MBA in Sports Management and a long-standing connection to sailing, having grown up on the water at Brighton Seacliff, Catherine brings strong, values-aligned leadership and a track record of delivering reliable financial and operational outcomes. While it will take some time to fully absorb the CYCSA’s unique operating environment and the expectations of our members, Catherine will be bringing fresh ideas and contemporary ways of working drawn from her experience running leisure facilities and services efficiently. Over her first few weeks you will see Catherine around the Club a great deal as she meets with Flag Officers, Association Chairs and familiarises herself with day-to-day operations. An opportunity for Members to meet Catherine is also being organised. With Catherine now on board I sincerely thank Kerry O’Brien for serving as Acting General Manager on two extended occasions. Doing so part-time, in addition to her Financial Controller role, was a herculean effort and one the Board greatly appreciates.
Major Facilities Projects
As Members will be aware, the Club’s slipway is currently undergoing an urgent upgrade. Works are well advanced and are expected to be completed by mid-April.
Multiple suppliers have been approached for input into the replacement of our Marina East walkways which have reached an age at which continual patching is no longer viable. A tender document is being developed, funding options modelled and a business case will be prepared for Board consideration. Further details will be presented at the Board’s Mid-Year Presentation Night where Members will have the opportunity to provide feedback.
The Facilities Sub-Committee has been re-established to assist the Board with the development and overall strategic management of the Club’s physical environment and assets. The most important of these over the medium term is the Marina East upgrade. I’d like to thank Aaron Low (Board Member and Committee Chair), Craig Evans (Life Member) and Scott Verco (Senior Member) for volunteering on this committee.
Volunteers Needed
Volunteers remain the lifeblood of our Club without whom we would be unable to provide the range and quality of events and activities we all enjoy. We are currently in urgent need of additional volunteers to assist with Race Management on our Committee Boats for weekend races and regattas. No experience is necessary, just a willingness to be on the water, make friends and have fun. Opportunities are available in many other capacities including Social Activities, Cruising, Fishing and Racing Associations as well as Groundswell Magazine and other Committees. If you’d like to learn more please track down one of our Flag Officers or ask at Reception.
Financial Overview
Financial Overview
The Club’s balance sheet remains sound, with Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortisation (EBITDA) positive but currently below budget. For context: last year’s actual EBITDA was approximately $380,000; this year’s budget was for $300,000 and the current forecast is around $120,000. The drivers behind the variance include Hospitality impacts (including ramp-related disruption during the algal bloom period), reduced slipping throughput during works and shortfalls in YSF/Elliotts and Marine Academy activity while we stabilised compliance and vessel readiness.
The Club’s balance sheet remains sound with Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortisation (EBITDA) positive but currently below budget. context, last year’s actual EBITDA was approximately $380 ,000, this year’s was for $300,000 and the current forecast is around $120,000. The drivers the variance include Hospitality impacts (including ramp-related disruption algal bloom period), reduced Slipping throughput during works and shortfalls YSF/Elliotts and Marine Academy activity while we stabilised compliance and readiness.
Capital expenditure is being kept within our operating capacity with slipway replacement and fire hydrant remediation drawing on the Sinking Fund. As of 31 January 2026 the Club’s Sinking Fund stood at $7,983,847.
Capital expenditure is being kept within our operating capacity with slipway replacement and fire hydrant remediation drawing on the Sinking Fund. As January 2026 the Club’s Sinking Fund stood at $7,983,847
$8,000,000
$7,000,000
$6,000,000
$5,000,000
$4,000,000
$3,000,000
$2,000,000
$1,000,000
$-
-$1,000,000
Sinking Fund Value (Jan 2026)
Sinking Fund Value (Jan 2026) Invested in Portfolio Withdrawn to
Invested in Portfolio
Withdrawn to fund overwater assets
Thank you to all members, volunteers, staff and partners who continue to to the Club, particularly during this period of operational change and project I look forward to seeing you on the water and around the Club as we transition Catherine’s leadership and complete several key facility milestones.
Thank you to all members, volunteers, staff and partners who continue to contribute to the Club particularly during this period of operational change and project delivery. I look forward to seeing you on the water and around the Club as we transition into Catherine’s leadership and complete several key facility milestones.
David Roper
The pre-Christmas Twilights remain popular with up to twenty-one yachts and six Elliotts out on the water on most Wednesdays and this year at least only two races were abandoned due to too much or too little breeze, so a much kinder and more successful start to this series this year. The atmosphere post-race in the Bistro as always is a lot of fun. I encourage any yacht that has a main and a jib to come out for a sail and join me in the ‘Davitt (B) Division’ for a sail around a couple of buoys in the company of other like minded cruisers! The PHS handicap system eventually rewards everyone who turns up often enough, even if you have a genset, dinghy and outboard all weighing down the back of your yacht!
In contrast the IRC racing fleets are contracting and even the major regattas like the Premier’s Cup and the Great Southern, both held before Christmas, saw smaller numbers compete. Sadly the CYCSA Offshore Series is almost non-existent and only being contested by stalwart Derek Morrison and crew in Sintara. It is good to see Adam Cottam in Rapid 1 starting in some of the offshores.
Clockwork continues to race extensively around the country and did well to finish the 2025 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race which saw two days of punishing up wind sailing for the mid-fleet and smaller yachts followed by some fast downwind running that helped push the overall IRC results in favour of the ‘forty footers’ and for the first time ever a two-handed yacht and female skipper won the Tattersalls Cup.
Clockwork, with Andrew Lloyd, Mary Ann Harvey and crew, finished third in Division 2 IRC in the Geelong Festival of Sails Regatta. The Club was also represented by Adrian Wotton and crew in School’s Out.
Congratulations to FOMO with Cailin Howard and crew for winning the Premier’s Cup and to Ken Abbott and crew in Outlier the IRC winner in Division 2.
I attended the presentation that day and met with the Premier’s representative, the Honorable Rhiannon Pearce MHR Minister for Sport, Recreation and Racing, who was accompanied by Cheyne Rich who is running for Labor in Port Adelaide. The presentation was well organised by Inese who single-handedly set up endless bottles of wine and many trophies to be handed out in an orderly fashion to the respective place-getters in all races held over the weekend. I subsequently wrote to REX with some suggestions that might take the pressure off the PRO, David Hughes, Inese and any invited guests for future major regattas.
The Club hosted the Flying 15 National Championships in January and this event went off extremely well both on and off the water due to the huge commitment and effort of PRO David Hughes. Taking on major regattas in the future should only be done with plenty of volunteers and Club readiness.
New Year’s saw a good fleet of CYCSA boats anchored at Rocky Point under the guidance of Darren Harvey which saw a few skippers face the starter for the Ballast Head Cup on New Year’s Day. This event was started by me and the late Evan Hiscock in 2002 and we billed it as the ‘first sporting event of the new year in Australia’ I was quite amused when a recent home owner at Island Beach beach told me that he had been advised without a doubt that the BHC was the “longest continuously running annual yacht race in Australia”. You have to like these urban myths!
On Club matters it was recently brought to my attention that if members note any maintenance issues or break downs around the Club there is now a QR Code in Reception that can be scanned and the issue logged and reported. Equally, a quick email to the General Manager will also work.
I have more recently been part of the General Manager selection working group and I know that we all look forward to some stability and in due course innovation in that role and the Board is very positive about the skills and experience Catherine Foreman will bring to our Club. As members let’s make sure Catherine is welcomed and supported as she learns about our current activities and priorities as well as our history as she picks up the reins of running this wonderful Club.
Andrew Saies
Flying Fifteens
CYCSA Members Draw Update
Congratulations to Craig Westlake, our 22nd Members Draw winner, who took home the $900 cash jackpot generously sponsored by Rolly Tasker Sails. Founded in 1949, Rolly Tasker Sails is a trusted Australian sailmaker, renowned for producing premium cruising and racing sails. Their South Australian service is provided locally by Adam South, your go-to contact for all sail enquiries from measurement to delivery.
We are also excited to welcome our new draw sponsor, Coopers, a proudly family-owned business for over 160 years. Every sip of a Coopers beer supports the South Australian economy and local business, making your enjoyment count twice.
A huge thank you to our generous sponsors for their ongoing support, helping make our Members Draw such a highlight of the week.
Remember to be at the Club by 6.30pm every Thursday for your chance to win. Come along for dinner, enjoy the friendly atmosphere and you might just be our next jackpot winner!
Get Noticed! Become our Next Members Draw Sponsor...
Looking for a simple way to promote your business?
Sponsor our next Members Draw. Your business will be featured in our weekly emails, highlighted on social media, announced at the Club and seen by members and guests. It’s a great way to support the Club while gaining valuable local exposure.
For more information or to get involved contact: mellissa@cycsa.com.au
Welcome Chapel Funerals
We’re excited to welcome Chapel Funerals on board as a supporter of our weekly Members Draw. A special thank you to Club members Anthony and Anna Farrugia for their valued support.
Each week Chapel Funerals will be providing two bottles of wine to be raffled after the Members Draw. Simply grab your raffle ticket at the bar when you purchase a meal to be eligible to win.
Chapel Funerals is a proud, locally family-owned and operated funeral home, with dedicated staff committed to serving and supporting the culturally diverse needs of our community. To find out more contact Anna at: care@chapelfunerals.com.au
Welcome New Members
Over the last three months the following people have joined the Club. Please make them welcome. Gregory Black, Catherine Blackman, Dwayne Bonner, Janet Cameron, Fern Capobianco, Daniel Collins, Barbara Dalziel, Graham Daniels, Tom Eylander, Donald Fleming, Thomas Gordon, David Goulter, Sophie Hamden, Walter Jakimczuk, Chris James, Simon Jones, Judith Kennedy, Max Kulbida, Bradley Lawson, Robert Marr, Emma Martin, Paul Martin, Rane Naish, Paul Newport, Warwick Noble, Andrew Sendy, Stuart Shimeld, Julie Verco, Shayne Watts, Mark Weinert and Rebecca Wilksch.
Welcome Our New Club Sponsor – Morgans Financial
We’re excited to welcome Morgans Financial Limited as a Silver Sponsor of our Club. With over 40 years of experience, Morgans has grown to become Australia’s largest full-service stockbroking and wealth management company supporting clients, communities and Australian businesses across the country.
Their purpose: ‘Create enduring value - for our clients, our communities and generations to come.’ perfectly aligns with the spirit of our Club. We thank Morgans for their support and look forward to a long and valued partnership.
Get Onboard – Volunteer with the CYCSA Racing Team
The CYCSA Racing Committee is seeking volunteers to join our friendly racing team. It’s a great way to stay active, meet new people and be part of our sailing community.
All experience levels are welcome from newcomers to qualified Race Officers. Most roles are on the water, training is provided and volunteers enjoy lunch on race days or a meal after Twilight Racing.
No regular commitment required, help once, twice, or as often as you like. Interested? Contact Inese Lainis, Racing Administrator: 8248 4222 | racing.manager@cycsa.com.au
Australia Day Lunch
I can’t remember the last time the Club was booked out for the Australia Day lunch but this year it was packed with about 150 diners. Despite the hot weather the outside tables were full together with the patio area, inside in the Bistro and through to the Ristorante and the feeling of patriotism spread far and wide. Many people dressed up in red, white and blue and funny hats, strange sunglasses and flags flung around shoulders like a cape gave off a party atmosphere to celebrate our great country. Behind the bar Alex blinked and showed off her eyelids that had been painted with flags. Isla donned a pretty green skirt while other staff had flags in their hair. Head Chef Camillo offered the usual menu but with two specials - the biggest Giant Sausage Roll I’ve ever seen and enormous ham and cheese toasted sandwiches. I shouldn’t forget the pavlova, double size with fruit and cream. Phew!
A two-man band sent music flowing before the best dressed prize was awarded. The only man who went to a lot of trouble to dress up won the prize. A raffle was then drawn as everyone who had a meal received a ticket. For some people it was their first visit to the Club and they said it won’t be the last. The atmosphere of friendship and patriotism flowed through and I hope it’s a repeat next year.
Pat Catley
Australia’s submarine company, ASC, is proud to announce a new three-year partnership with the Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia (CYCSA), becoming the naming-rights sponsor for one of the club’s Elliott 7 keelboats until 2028.
This investment reflects ASC’s long-standing commitment to supporting local communities, particularly youth engagement programs and initiatives that strengthen ties across the wider defence and veterans’ communities.
The sponsorship directly supports the CYCSA’s Youth Sailing Foundation (YSF), which plays an important role in introducing young people to the sport of sailing and building their confidence, teamwork and resilience. Through the YSF, the CYCSA engages with schools across the Lefevre Peninsula, offering students handson experience on the water and exposure to pathways in both competitive sailing and maritime industries. ASC’s contribution will help the YSF expand its reach and enhance the resources available to participating schools and youth groups.
ASC Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, Sonia Oke, said the partnership is a natural alignment of values.
“Many of our people are long-time members of the CYCSA and the Club is an important part of their lives and of the local community more broadly,” Sonia said.
“That strong community engagement is something our organisations share, and it sits at the heart of ASC’s Corporate Social Responsibility focus. We’re proud to support a program that gives young people opportunities to learn, grow and challenge themselves.”
ASC’s partnership with the CYCSA also reinforces the organisation’s ongoing support for the defence community. The CYCSA has close ties to defence industry personnel, veterans and their families, connections that complement ASC’s purpose and identity as Australia’s sovereign submarine builder and sustainer.
The collaboration was highlighted recently at the annual Defence Industry Cup. In a fitting twist the victorious team was none other than ASC’s own crew.
Photo credit: Subin Wright-Simon
This year's Defence Industry Cup (DIC) was held on Friday 30 January, just outside the North Haven breakwater. Designed to bring new teams together on the water in a nice, relaxed atmosphere, the DIC aims to promote camaraderie and the ability to share ideas and stories between likeminded Defence workers for a day. We brought teams together from the large industry shipbuilding players nearby (namely ASC and BAE Systems), small business (Magic) and the Australian Defence Force (RAAF Edinburgh).
The first race (held before lunch) enjoyed 10-12 kts of breeze, with Magic Business taking the win from ASC Young Guns, ADF Sailing and
BAE. The breeze built strongly as a blow came in up to 30 knots and the boats darted back inside the marina to tie-off on the pump-out ‘T’ in Marina West. Some boats went there directly while others wanted to play in the mud first and needed some help from the safety RIB. Nothing was damaged, just a touch of pride.
Racing was temporarily postponed over lunch and while we waited for the conditions to settle, everyone enjoyed pizza in the Marina West Clubroom. After about 90 minutes waiting for the wind to abate racing resumed and revealed that the Young Guns had improved with full fuel load onboard to take the wins in
the remaining two races, with the ADF as runner up each time. This gave the ASC Young Guns the Defence Industy Cup overall victory with ADF, Magic and BAE in second, third and fourth place respectively.
Well done to all involved and a big thank you to all the on-water volunteers.
Mike Holmes
DEFENCE INDUSTRY CUP RESULTS
1st ASC Young Guns, Tom Gordon
2nd ADF Sailing, Darrell Greig
3rd Magic Business, Mike Holmes
4th BAE Systems, Michael Noy
Images thanks to: Subin Wright-Simon
The Kaz II, a 12 metre catamaran, was discovered drifting off the coast of Queensland, Australia in April 2007. The scene aboard was eerily calm; meals were set on the table, a laptop was open and personal belongings were undisturbed. The boat showed no signs of damage or foul play and the engine was running. Despite an extensive search covering more than 7,000 square nautical miles no trace of the men was ever recovered. Theories range from accidental overboard incidents to a sudden squall or rogue wave. The Kaz II stands as a modern ghost ship, its story unsettling in its ordinariness and lack of answers.
Even at anchor a vessel presents risks. One of the most underestimated is the possibility of a person falling overboard during routine tasks. Calm conditions can create a false sense of security but incidents often occur during simple, familiar movements on deck. Complacency is the real danger. If you are alone and fall into the water beside your boat, the question becomes urgent: Can you get back on? This briefing outlines key hazards, preventive measures and recommended actions if someone goes overboard while the vessel is anchored.
COMMON CAUSES
• Leaning over the rail to adjust lines or gear
• Moving on deck without proper lighting
• Wet, slippery or cluttered surfaces
• Fatigue or reduced awareness at night
• Working alone without communication or backup
These factors can combine to create a sudden loss of balance, even in still water.
PREVENTIVE MEASURES
1. Maintain Situational Awareness
• Treat all deck work, day or night, as a task requiring focus.
• Avoid rushing or multitasking when near the rail.
2. Use Safety Equipment
• Wear a PFD when working alone or after dark.
• Use a tether or jackline if leaning over the side or handling gear near the edge.
• Ensure deck lighting is adequate before starting any task.
3. Keep the Deck Clear
• Stow lines properly to prevent snags or tripping hazards.
• Keep surfaces dry when possible.
4. Establish a Solo Work Protocol
• Inform someone ashore or on another vessel of your plans if you are alone.
• Keep a waterproof communication device on your person.
IF YOU FALL OVERBOARD AT ANCHOR
1. Stay Calm and Conserve Energy
Panic accelerates fatigue. Slow, controlled breathing helps maintain buoyancy and clarity.
2. Assess the Vessel’s Movement
An anchored boat will swing with wind and tide. Instead of swimming directly toward the stern, anticipate the swing arc and position yourself where the vessel will drift toward you.
3. Use Visual References
Track the mast or bow against the horizon to judge movement. This helps time your approach.
4. Approach the Stern or Ladder
These are typically the safest and lowest points for re boarding. Avoid the bow where the anchor chain is under tension.
5. Reboard Carefully
Use the swim ladder or any accessible low point. Move slowly to avoid slipping or exhausting yourself. Conserve energy for the final lift as this is often the hardest part.
NOW
CONSIDER THIS CAREFULLY
If you’re in the water and no one is onboard, can you deploy your ladder and how much trouble will you be in if you are in the water with no one to help?
I did — and now have a rope with a slip knot that can be reached from the water to pull the ladder down should I ever find myself alongside my vessel with noone on board.
Bravo Sails Pre-Christmas Twilight Series
With only two abandoned races the results were –Cruising A – Sintara (Derek Morrison) first with Rapid (Lamshed/Cottam/Robinson) in second and G-Wizz (Greg Patten) third. Ladies Helm was won by Sintara with Jo Pilmore helming.
Cruising B – Jenwho (Dennis Poole) first with Seduction (Mark Moore) just behind and Clair de Lune (Simon Jenkins) in third place. Ladies Helm was won by Synergy with Inese Laine helming.
Up to three Elliott 7s were out occasionally racing windward/ leeward courses with spinnakers.
The Novelty Race in January had perfect weather for the racers not away on holidays with Rapid 1 and Bellatrix (Scott Gurner) first in each division.
During Lincoln Week was the next Novelty Race combined with the RSAYS boats with seven Division 1 boats and 19 Division 2 boats had good breeze to set a longer course. Marnico (Graeme Footer) ahead of G-Wizz in the combined results for Division 1. True Blue (Andrew Saies) ahead of Aquitaine (David Eldridge RSAYS) in the combined results for Division 2.
The MaxiSpan TrueCore Post-Christmas Twilight Series
With three races abandoned so far the results after two races are –
Cruising A – Sintara first with G-Wizz second and Vulcan (Chris Jones) third.
Cruising B – Tiga first, Clair de Lune second and Aurora (Brenton Pegler) third.
Welcome to Matador (Jason Meyer) and Tiga (Stuart Shimeld).
Scan the QR code to join our Facebook Racing Group
Inshore Series
With 16 races programmed for this season, with six races run and five abandoned, the results currently stand at –
PHS Division 1 – Ocean Hawk (Steve Emery) first, Sintara second and Dr Feelgood 3 (Dan McHolm) third.
PHS Division 2 – Pure Magic (Haakmeester/Holmes) first, Rock On (Trevor Conyers) second with Rocksalt (Denby Steele) and Outlier (Abbott/Riddle) equal third.
AMS Division 1 – Sintara first, Ocean Hawk second and Dr Feelgood 3 just a point behind in third.
AMS Division 2 – Outlier ahead of Rock On then Pure Magic. IRC Division 1 – Ocean Hawk first, Sintara second and Dr Feelgood 3 third
Short Offshore Series
In the second race of the series, the Glenelg Gulf Race held on 29 November, two CYCSA boats raced with one RSAYS boat and Sintara took out second place on AMS in the combined fleet.
The third race of the Short Offshore Series, the Tapley Shoal Race held on 17 January, three CYCSA boats raced with two RSAYS boats and Vulcan took out second place on PHS and Sintara took out first place on AMS.
Wrap Up
The Premier’s Cup Regatta, sponsored by Heatlie, was held in December 2025, the full report is on the next page.
The Flying Fifteen National Championships article can be found on page 14.
I would like to thank the regular Duty Crew who volunteer to run all the races and those who help when extra help is needed, as was especially needed for the Flying Fifteen National Championship. The CYCSA is grateful and if anyone else would like to help please let me know.
The Club is thrilled to welcome Maxispan and Truecore on board as new sponsors of our Wednesday Twilight Race Series and we thank them for their support together with Yalumba Wines and Heatlie.
Inese Lainis Racing Administrator
Twilight sailing with Claire Boan, Mayor of City of Port Adelaide Enfield
The Premier’s Cup Regatta delivered a weekend of varied and challenging conditions providing competitive racing across the fleet.
Day one opened the regatta in breezy conditions with winds in the low 20 knots setting the tone for an energetic start. Race One got the series underway in testing conditions while Race Two was ultimately abandoned as the wind strength increased beyond racing limits.
Day two brought a welcome change with Race Three sailed in lighter breezes. Although the wind proved a little shifty at times competitors enjoyed a well-set course featuring a traditional triangle first leg. By Race Four the breeze had filled in once again delivering a strong and fitting finish to an excellent regatta.
A special thank you goes to our event sponsor, Heatlie, for their valued support. We were honoured to welcome the Hon Rhiannon Pearce MP, Minister for Recreation, Sport & Racing, who attended on behalf of the Premier of South Australia and assisted with the presentations alongside Club Commodore, Andrew Saies, who also served as Master of Ceremonies. We were also pleased to have Councillor Adrian Wotton representing the City of Port Adelaide Enfield Mayor in attendance.
Presentation duties were shared across the divisions with Mitch Mead from Heatlie BBQs presenting the PHS trophies, Councillor Adrian Wotton presenting the AMS trophies and Minister Pearce delivering an address before presenting the IRC trophies.
Trophies were proudly supplied by Heatlie with additional prizes and wines generously provided by Koonowla, Clare Valley Wines.
The Club extends its sincere thanks to all competitors, volunteers and supporters who contributed to the success of this year’s Premier’s Cup Regatta.
Inese Lainis Racing Administrator
DIVISION 1
IRC & AMS – FOMO, Howard (CYCSA), Doctor Feelgood 3, McHolm (CYCSA), Game On 31, Newton (CYCSA)
PHS – Doctor Feelgood 3, FOMO, Nerana, Perry (RSAYS).
DIVISION 2
AMS – Mystery Taxi, Knill (RSAYS), Outlier, Abbott/Riddle (CYCSA), Pure Magic, Haakmeester/Holmes (CYCSA)
PHS – Pure Magic, Outlier, Mystery Taxi
FOMO
Pure Magic
Dr Feelgood 3
The venues for Australian Sailing Championships normally have a cycle which gives each State, where fleets are active, an opportunity to host the most significant event in their sailing calendar. The Flying Fifteen class, with a keen and developing fleet in South Australia and well established fleets in Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia, was keen to encourage the local fleet and with the geographical benefit of an (almost) central location, South Australia was chosen for the 2026 Australian Championships.
Following a number of recommendations from local sailors and competitors at previous events the Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia was chosen after successful negotiation with Club officials.
Fast forward to 11 January 2026 and the invitation race made sure there were no cobwebs to be found with competitors and race officials prepared for a week of above average wind strengths with an awkward chop and a bit of tide. Our Race Officer, David Hughes, was determined to get the full program of ten races completed by adjusting start times and judicious use of the U flag.
With the on-water side of the event producing some great racing the off-water portion of the regatta provided the perfect avenue to relive and occasionally embellish the various racing incidents depending on which side of the boat you were sitting.
Adding to the storytelling atmosphere, wine supplier Yalumba provided generous support throughout the regatta, supplying daily prizes for competitors, a token of appreciation for volunteers and race officials and wines for the trophies awarded at Presentation Night. Their contribution was valued by all involved.
The winner for the second successive year was Nick Jerwood from Western Australia sailing with his daughter, Enfys. Nick is a former World Champion in the Flying Fifteen class and Enfys is a very accomplished crew in the Javelin class.
Second overall were twin brothers also from Western Australia, Mike and Paul Dunbar, who were the only team to challenge the winners with the competition being much closer than last year. Third overall was the good and bad luck story of the regatta. The boat was to be skippered by Sue Thompson who finished third overall last year. Unfortunately Sue tore a tendon in her foot as she was packing to leave Victoria for this regatta. Her son and intended crew, John Radnell, sent an SOS to Guy Bancroft who had just completed the Sharpie Nationals in Port Lincoln to take the tiller. Guy is a three-time World Champion in the B14 class and was sailing a Flying Fifteen for the first time!
Scan the QR code to view the full results
All races were completed in great conditions, both on and off the water. With no serious incidents and a fantastic showcase of the people and facilities of the CYCSA, the regatta was widely regarded as a great success.
Several individuals deserve special mention. Inese Lainis was the glue that held the event together ensuring the Club and class remained informed and aligned throughout. David Hughes, as previously mentioned for his contribution, was kept honest, grounded and tearing his hair out (take your pick) by Adrian Wilson. Michael Nettle handled crane operations, Haresh Singh ensured catering ran smoothly, Mellissa Vahoumis oversaw media and IT and together with Subin Wright-Simon, captured the regatta through photography.
The 2026 Flying Fifteen Australian Championships will be remembered not only for competitive sailing but for the camaraderie, organisation and hospitality that showcased the very best of the CYCSA.
Russell Dawes
On behalf of Surprise (3651), you can say that we were very impressed with the quality of the race management by David Hughes and his team. We got the full series of races in, making the best of the conditions in challenging strong winds, so many thanks.
Andrew Harris
Off-water images thanks to: Subin Wright-Simon
On-water images: Mellissa Vahoumis
Race Management Team & Volunteers
Well, what a windy summer we are having! The Marine Academy has been very busy since Christmas conducting a range of courses on Southern Investigator and the Elliotts.
Southern Investigator has conducted two Three Day Liveaboard Competent Crew Courses and one Five Day Liveaboard Dayskipper Course since the new year began. All courses have been filled to capacity and been dominated by strong winds. This in many ways is a blessing as a lot of learning can take place with a real emphasis on the importance of passage planning based on the weather forecast and choice of destination.
A good example of this was on the Five Day Liveaboard from 22-26 January when for the first four days we had strong winds from almost all points of the compass.
After the first day of settling into the course with some classroom navigation practise, detailed onboard briefing, afternoon sail handling activities then dinner, we headed up the Port River for our night time navigation activity. It was still blowing pretty hard about 20 knots but the one nautical mile from exiting North Haven to entering the calm of the Port River only took about 10 minutes at six knots of boat speed. The Port River is a great resource and is superbly lit at night showcasing a range of navigation aids with the succession of blue leading lights, a real favourite with the Dayskipper candidates.
The most interesting planning and sailing day was the Saturday sail from Port Vincent to Edithburgh with the wind feisty, hot and strong from the north west backing later in the day to the west then south west and forecast to then settle in the south east. We set off and it felt like sailing in the Gulf of Hades as the wind, although strong, was offshore on that side of the gulf so the sea state was very manageable. Our timing was good and we arrived in Edithburgh just as the wind settled in the south west. After tidying up Southern Investigator the candidates all took turns putting the boat on and off the mooring. After dinner the wind, as forecast, settled into the south east and with the high tide, a reasonable sea affected our mooring area which made for a bumpyish but reasonable night moored in the town of wind. (Edithburgh always seems to generate a bit more wind than anywhere else in the gulf).
The next day had the best forecast for sailing back to North Haven so after delicious bacon and egg breakfast wraps at the Cutter Patch off Troubridge Island we made the dash back to the CYCSA with a fair and favourable southerly wind.
The point I am trying to illustrate with the description of these recent Dayskipper days is that even with a difficult forecast you can have a good sailing holiday. The key is to try and use the trend of the forecast to your advantage and be prepared to change plans and be flexible.
The last Liveaboard Course I instructed was a Three Day Liveaboard with three Competent Crew candidates and one person completing some elements of the Dayskipper program. We also had two days of ‘a hatful’ of wind as the old timers used to say and a reasonably sedate last day of about 10 knots of breeze. On day two we had a terrific reach across to Port Vincent where Southern Investigator at times touched eight to nine knots. We sailed a lot of the passage in company with the One and All who had almost full sail up and looked magnificent. We all took a lot of photos and video of her. After a lovely meal at the Port Vincent pub and breakfast coffee at the equally nice café across the road, we had an uneventful crossing back to the CYCSA punctuated by one of the best dolphin bow riding and acrobatic displays I have seen in quite a while. Those Competent Crew students were very lucky to have seen the One and All properly sailing at sea and a dolphin display the old ‘Marineland’ would have been proud of.
Other events going well under the broadening banner of the Marine Academy include an increasing number of people undertaking International Certificate of Competency (ICC) Training and Assessments usually with senior RYA instructor Rod Hunter (senior in experience not the other…). If you require an ICC to charter in the Mediterranean or Ionian etc then contact us and we can tailor a program to suit you. If you have the time completing an RYA Dayskipper Practical Course, which automatically gets you your ICC, is often the best way. We also find that some people with lots of experience in sailing can just do the four hour assessment but that others need a little bit more formation which we can organise.
The South Australian Women’s Match Racing squad is training every Friday afternoon getting ready for their event on Saturday 18 April. Lesley Roberts, the coach, is a very experienced and passionate sailor and coach and is developing a strong group of sailors who really enjoy their time together.
Luke Allison is our Elliott and Youth Development coach who oversees all the training that occurs in the Elliots. Please reach out to Luke if you would like to know more about sailing these great small open keelboats. We are also working to create opportunities for CYCSA members to have some access to these boats with a fun event in planning for October 2026.
Please drop in and say hello in the Boating Office if you have any questions about the Marine Academy as I am always happy to talk boats and sailing.
Let’s hope for a little less wind and some cracking sailing for our ‘Indian summer’ as my English Aunt Shirley used to call this time of year.
Fair winds and following seas.
Pete Chambers Marine Academy Principal
Scan the QR code to learn more about the CYCSA Marine Academy
That’s a wrap for summer! Over the Christmas break and throughout January our youth sailors were kept extremely busy competing in their respective classes, producing some outstanding results across multiple events.
From early December through to January, several of our youth competed at the Sharpie Nationals, a major event that delivered some excellent performances. Team Tuff e Nuff racing with Carter as skipper and Fraser Baker and Will Gaylard crewing, finished an impressive 16th in a fleet of 67 boats. Oscar Gaylard also crewed on Blur, alongside former youth members, with other familiar faces competing across the fleet, including Sailor and Murphy Cowen.
In the Aeros we saw an exceptional result from Finlay Bunt who claimed his second national title in the RS Areo 5s.
After some very close racing Finlay moved from third to first overall, securing the championship on the final day. A huge congratulations to Finlay and his family on this fantastic achievement.
Lastly, at the International Cadets and 420 Nationals, Calin Went narrowly missed the podium after some fierce racing, finishing fourth overall.
Fraser Baker and Will Gaylard also just missed the top three in the 420s, finishing fifth overall after challenging and varied conditions.
Team Slip Away , with Oscar Gaylard and Lucy Cree, showed strong improvement as a young team and will be looking to continue climbing the ranks at future events.
Congratulations to all our youth sailors. It’s exciting to see so much potential for South Australia heading into the future.
For more course information, dates and bookings, please scan the YSF QR code:
Fraser, Carter & Will. Image credit: Down Under Sail
Calin Went (far right), International Cadets podium
Luke Allison CYCSA Head Coach
Fraser and Will, 420s Nationals
Finlay Bunt. Image credit: Salty Dingo
Lucy and Oscar
Opening the Start Line
There’s a new energy on the water at the CYCSA and it’s being driven by women stepping confidently into the skipper’s role.
The South Australian Women’s Match Racing (SAWMR) Training Program has done more than run coaching sessions, it has created opportunity, it has built confidence and it has quietly reshaped what’s possible for women in keelboat racing at our Club.
Access Changes Everything
Launched under Australian Sailing’s Sail Our Way intitiative, SAWMR was designed to solve a simple but powerful problem: access.
For many competent female sailors, high-quality keelboat coaching is difficult to find without already being “in the system”. Using CYCSA’s Elliott 7 fleet, the program opened that door.
From late September through December (and continuing to April 2026), twilight sessions ran weekly with onboard coaches, safety support and structured learning plans. Some participants had never helmed off a dock. Others were refining advanced match racing tactics. All were given the same thing: a safe, challenging, professionally supported environment to learn.
From Crew to Skipper
Over the course of the program participants progressed rapidly with pre-start hunting manoeuvres, dial-ups, sailing astern, coffin corner pressure and close quarters helming using the Racing Rules. Beyond match racing they built real-world seamanship skills; berthing, marina navigation, aground procedures and even blindfolded helming to sharpen communication and boat feel. These aren’t ‘participation’ skills, they are skipper-level skills and with structure, repetition and coaching, they stuck.
Many participants described it as the most effective and most enjoyable coaching they’d ever received. Confidence grew week by week, so did ambition.
A New Competitive Pathway
The proof? The squad is now training for the inaugural South Australian Women’s Match Racing Championship on 18 April 2026.
For several sailors it will be their first time skippering in a formal match racing event. That shift from participant to competitor is significant. It signals depth, sustainability and a genuine pathway forward.
Strengthening the CYCSA
The impact extends well beyond the individuals involved. Fifty-six women registered interest, with 20 committing to regular weekly training. Participants came from clubs across the state, strengthening relationships and positioning the CYCSA as a development hub for women’s keelboat racing in South Australia.
The program has:
• Activated a previously under-tapped demographic
• Increased engagement with the Elliott fleet
• Elevated the CYCSA’s leadership role in inclusive sailing pathways
• Built momentum toward new events and competitive opportunities.
This is what growth looks like — not just more sailors, but more capable skippers.
Making It Possible
The Sail Our Way grant was critical. Access to the Elliott fleet operates on a cost-recovery basis and requires demonstrated skill levels that most participants could not have met independently. Onboard coaching tailored to women ensured both safety and progression. Without that support, this opportunity simply would not have existed.
The Bigger Picture
What SAWMR has shown is clear: when access barriers are removed and coaching is intentional, women step forward, enthusiastically and competitively. The result is stronger sailors, stronger fleets and a stronger Club.
As the women prepare to line up for their State Championship one thing is certain, this isn’t a one-off program, it’s the beginning of a new chapter for women’s match racing at the CYCSA and the start line is wide open.
Cruising Arriba from Fremantle to Shark Bay
The title of this article might have been “Fremantle to Timor”. Two years ago when I started planning our Western Australian sailing trip, my dream had been to continue all the way to Indonesia and Timor Leste. However, life’s diversions meant those northern climes would have to wait. This will be a speedy recap as almost a year has passed since we made this voyage.
We spent six days enjoying the hospitality of the Fremantle Sailing Club and getting to know Perth’s port precinct. There was time for a short road trip to Margaret River where the stunning caves were the highlight with the wine to our liking also.
No trip to Western Australia would be complete without a visit to Rottnest Island, a nature reserve located just 10 nautical miles off the coast of Perth. The island is famous for its cute quokkas and we were not disappointed on that front. The island's beaches are pleasant, albeit crowded, but we were underwhelmed by the huge number of boats making any form of seclusion impossible. We couldn’t wait to sail north in search of wild, empty places.
However, a cyclone was brewing in the north of the state, so it was prudent to return to Perth, this time to the friendly and affordable Hillarys Yacht Club (HYC). For five days, using HYC as our base, we waited out the big seas and strong winds raging up north. We explored more of Perth and caught up with my son and daughter-in-law who lived nearby. The Aquarium of Western Australia, a short walk from HYC with its underwater walkway was a highlight. HYC’s Wednesday night dinner specials were a treat too.
On the morning of our departure I was chauffeured around for last-minute provisions by my son, a luxury on sailing trips. We’d already received a large online order for most of our supplies but there always seems to be another thing. Finally, at 13:42, we got underway. Two hours later the wind picked up and we were sailing at seven knots but we only went as far as Two Rocks that night, 24 nautical miles away.
The following day we sailed 83 nautical miles in moderate winds and following seas to Boullanger Island. We delayed going ashore until the next morning when we walked around the island and were treated to thousands of Golden Ghost crabs (Ocypode convexa) clambering all over the beaches.
Nature's Window at Kalbarri National Park
In stark contrast to Rottnest we had the island to ourselves, except for the crabs and birds.
Afterwards we anchored southwest of the Jurien Bay jetty and walked around the township. It was hot and dusty and there was little of interest for us so we kept going. We made it as far as Green Head, 21 nautical miles to the north, where we sat out a near gale (28 knots). We hunkered down for the night at anchor as I deemed it too windy to go ashore. Western Australia’s moniker, Windy Always, was beginning to sound very apt.
Finally, three days after leaving Perth, we pulled into Geraldton where we claimed pride of place anchoring directly in front of the Geraldton Yacht Club (GYC). “Gero”, as the locals call it, is very convenient for boaties with all amenities within walking distance of the anchorage and/or marina. We spent a few leisurely days exploring WA’s third-largest city, joining locals on the foreshore for morning coffees and free evening concerts and partaking of GYC’s Friday night dinner specials. The maritime museum is a must-visit for its haunting display of the Batavia shipwreck remains and its immersive exhibits, in particular, the stereoscopic 3D footage of the shipwreck of HMAS Sydney (II) in WWII.
For two days we swapped our sea legs for land legs to rent a car and drove north to explore the town of Kalbarri and nearby Kalbarri National Park. The latter is Australia’s answer to Utah's scenery with ancient, red-rock gorges carved by the Murchison River and towering coastal cliffs that plunge into the Indian Ocean. The only downside is that it was ridiculously hot in summer and would be better enjoyed later in the year.
On 1 February we set sail for the Abrolhos Islands approximately 30 nautical miles offshore. This archipelago of over one hundred islands is renowned for its stunning coral reefs and biodiversity, in particular, serving as a critical sanctuary for over two million breeding seabirds and the most northerly habitat for the endangered Australian sea lion. The islands are also steeped in maritime history most infamously the 1629 Batavia shipwreck and the gruesome survivor mutiny that followed.
We spent a week exploring the archipelago though the lowlying islands offered little refuge from relentless winds. There are plenty of moorings which are on a first come first serve basis, operated, as elsewhere in WA, by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA). However, prior to visiting the Abrolhos, you must apply online for a (free) permit with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).
A poignant highlight was a dinghy ride to West Wallabi Island to visit the remnants of Wiebbe Haye’s 1629 fort, the oldest European structure in Australia. There, under his command, a group of loyal Batavia survivors successfully defended themselves from murderous mutineers.
We spent the last two nights moored at Turtle Bay on the northern shore of East Wallabi Island. There we enjoyed snorkelling and long coastal walks, disturbed only briefly by day trippers flying in for a few hours from the mainland. When it was time to return to the mainland we headed for Gregory, 31 nautical miles away, which took us just over five hours. The anchorage, which is protected by a rocky reef that parallels the coast, had several free moorings but we chose to anchor. Port Gregory, as it was once known, was once a bustling lead exporting port and lobster fishing town. In one of WWII’s more unusual events, a Japanese submarine fired about ten shells at the town in 1943, apparently mistaking the
local lobster factory for a munitions plant. Fortunately, no one was injured. Today the wharf is high and dry except at high tide and no longer usable for boats. Even fishing from it requires good casting skills just to reach the water.
The small town has a single general store and a caravan park which included a much-needed laundromat. While waiting for our clothes to clean we walked to the nearby Pink Lake. Officially known as Hutt Lagoon, this 70-square-kilometre marine salt lake is famous for its vivid pink hues. We had visited it earlier during our Kalbarri road trip but were keen to see it again.
Our next destination was Shark Bay, a huge UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its extraordinary marine biodiversity. We were eager to spot dugongs as the vast seagrass meadows host the world's largest population. The landscape is striking, featuring some of Western Australia’s most dramatic coastal scenery where red cliffs, white sands and aquamarine waters converge.
The southern entrance into Shark Bay, called the South Passage, can be a tricky passage with strong currents and tides, exacerbated by Indian Ocean swells. I didn’t want to cross this passage in darkness so we anchored at False Entrance for the night which offered good protection from the south-westerly wind.
Light winds and minimal swell the next morning made for a perfect South Passage crossing and by 11:39 we were anchored at the aptly named Shelter Bay. After lunch we went ashore and enjoyed a long walk along the beach which we had to ourselves.
The next day we relocated to Homestead Bay. We’d heard the resort there had a beach bar but it wasn't open yet so we made a mental note to return. This would be just a brief exploratory foray to Shark Bay. A couple of days later we turned around and retraced our path back to Geraldton having sailed 737 nautical miles since leaving Fremantle.
We parked the boat in the Batavia Coast Marina for two weeks, returning to Adelaide for my son’s wedding and to tackle the ’life admin’ that had accumulated during our two month absence.
Alan Noble
PS. You may be wondering why we doubled all the way back to Geraldton rather than continuing north to a closer marina at Carnarvon.
The answer lies in the fact that in the Australian insurance industry the 26th parallel defines the line cyclone risk. Geraldton is on the (southern) safe side of that line whereas Carnarvon is not.
The CYCSA was proudly represented in the 2026 Marina Hotel and Apartments Adelaide to Port Lincoln Yacht Race by three yachts: FOMO, Sintara and Clockwork . Here are their recaps from the 156 nautical-mile offshore challenge to Lincoln.
The 76th Marina Hotel and Apartments Lincoln Race and Regatta for 2026 saw Caillin Howard and Geoff Boettcher’s FOMO (Ker 40+GP), having just missed the race last year, line up for its first big event on home waters. With the team formed through the Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO) following the sales of SMB (Secret Mens Business, TP52) and Aikin.
A long-term local team supplemented with Will Parker from Sydney along with Steve Kemp and Andy Dyer flying in from Lincoln in comfort, so they could head back there the long, wet and wild way at 3pm on Friday.
The race lived up to the weather and routing expectations with a quick race. So quick that a few of the early race modeling saw Kempy questioning whether we’d left the TP52 performance data in the models.
We were excited and anxious, this was going to be the first real hit out for the new boat and with Rob Date bringing his highly competitive Scarlet Runner over and Julian Newton’s Game On 31 in the regatta, we were due to find out the true potential of the new toy.
By now we were all aware of the events that claimed Scarlet Runner just a couple of days before the race start. While there’s been some speculation that we may have dropped a few tons of sand at the entrance the night before I can’t confirm nor deny anything. Jokes aside, we wish Rob all the best with the process of putting his yacht back together and look forward to sailing against him and his team next season. We can also confirm that while having lunch with Rob the day before the race, we agreed to settle this year’s bragging rights based on which boat had the best model route to Lincoln. We won that bet but performing to that routing as we were about to find out is another thing in the conditions the race gave us. Regardless, it would have been a hell of race against a great competitor.
We finished our preparations and loaded the last pieces of gear going by road to Lincoln into the team FOMO horse float and set out to the start. It was going to be a windy one with an unusually more south easterly breeze resulting in a friendlier and faster angle to see the completion of the race in 12-13 hours. We did run a routing for the orange SMB and that had an ETA from all models arriving in Lincoln before midnight Friday (that’s inside 9 hours!).
Before getting into the quick ride a few of the models, especially the high-resolution ones, were showing a bubble of
no breeze shortly after the start, requiring a choice on how to get through it. Head west to get away from the land effect or head south aligned with the flow of the new air. We chose the second and once in that bubble realised we had got it wrong. We watched the three boats that chose heading west disappearing with breeze as we fought our way slowly across the transition. FOMO had company for the first hour or so as we caught back up and eventually passed them. I’m sure they appreciated leading us across the gulf a little more than we did.
From there we reached Marion buoy at about 6:30pm with the building of a magnificent sunset. We set up for the blast reach a little earlier than usual for the leg along the foot of Yorke Peninsula. Post sunset we double headed and then triple headed into the darkness and dark it was. With no moon and no stars and near 100% cloud cover, the night closed in completely. Wet, wow, was it wet, this boat may in fact identify itself as a submarine rather than a yacht.
Coming around Cape Spencer we opted for the big chute with expectations that the 22 knots of wind at the time was due to moderate quickly into the high teens across Spencer Gulf. It turns out Huey didn’t read the script and having got the A2+ up the breeze escalated back to the high 20s, low 30s as it had been along the foot of Yorke Peninsula.
In that setup in that breeze, it is somewhat of a handful. In the pitch black and when the instruments turn off as the bilge pumps have run the batteries down, it’s downright scary.
While top boat speed is still somewhat in conjecture as it’s hard to read the numbers either when they’re not on or at the time of peak speed, the eleven of us were about two foot underwater it’s generally agreed that a high of 24 knots was seen multiple times.
Sending her into the complete darkness feeling your way in lining up the next trough of the wave ahead is akin to Russian roulette. While this was getting us towards Lincoln at a good speed we needed to manage the boat and team. It turns out though that getting the 195sqm of chute down in that context was a little more difficult than we’d planned. To this end if anyone comes across that spinnaker and half a mast head halyard somewhere north of Wedge Island, please drop it back to lost property at the Club.
From there we set the boat up under the smaller fractional A6 chute, jib and staysail for an express run across the paddock gybing towards Dangerous Reef. With boat speed maintained, handling improved from being beyond the edge to on the edge.
With the water and boat speed combining and putting that much water through the boat we managed to drown the computer and router to a point that phones and a handheld GPS were needed. At this point we made the call to further reduce sail on the boat in acknowledgment of the compromised safety.
So replacing the A6 spinnaker with the BRO (flying jib), we spent the last couple of hours getting to Donnington with the foot slightly off the accelerator. We were soon navigating through Donnington and around Fanny Point where we relaunched the A4 chute and gybed our way down the harbour at 20 knots, reaching the finish west of the town jetty a little after 5am with an elapsed time of 14:39:58 seconds.
It was one of the quickest races I’ve done (No 23) but was equally one of the most exhausting. To take the double of Line Honours and IRC and AMS was fantastic and huge, thanks to the team. The boat is a beaut, but the team is even better as we would further establish in the regatta.
We’re often asked which is better, the race or the regatta. I think the answer is like looking at having to pick a favourite of your two children. They both have their moments but you love both equally. They relate to each other and strengthen one another.
The race gets us to Port Lincoln and the 76 year history of the event. It’s a history connected to the South Australian boats that have competed here and gone on to achieve distinction
Returning to Adelaide just two weeks before the start of the Adelaide to Port Lincoln Yacht Race, preparations were tight but thanks to our ongoing maintenance program, we were in good shape for SA’s premier blue water event, 150 nautical miles non-stop to Lincoln.
It was a frantic morning prepping, stowing food, water, crew gear and offloading delivery sails followed by a short lunch at Admirals Bistro. This was a chance for all the crew to meet for the first time. Andy, Mary Ann, Mike Burvill, Kerry Parker, Paul Senior and Helen Palm from the CYCSA were joined by Trin Woodley (now Sydney) Lisa Seiffert (CYCA and two-time Sydney Hobart on Wild Thing 100 ) and Jacqui Giles who we met at SAWKR and lives near Port Lincoln.
The 3pm start time delivered light breezes and not long after the start crazy wind shifts that no one could read. We decided to head west in the hope that the breeze would settle whilst most of the fleet remained inshore for the first hour or so.
beyond our state (Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race overall win). From the early success of Nerida (1950) and Ingrid (1952) to the likes of Ausmaid (2000), Two True (2009) and Secret Mens Business (2010) all tie our history and future together. The regatta makes sure we get a better glimpse of the waterways around Lincoln and invites us to explore further while the race makes the journey more familiar and more likely to commit to other challenges beyond. Past the natural beauty and voyage it’s always been the people of Lincoln that embrace us and make us feel a part of this place, making this race and regatta so special.
I truly hope that common sense prevails sometime soon and we see the other more recent popular regatta (King of the Gulf) find a way to separate the dates so we can all compete in both regattas rather than having to choose one or the other. What’s not to love about an annual week in the centre of the universe, Port Lincoln.
Caillin Howard
Team FOMO: Jesse Mitton, Carl Ravel, Adam Common, Steve Dunn, Will Parker, James Patterson, Steve Kemp, Andy Dyer, Tim Cowen, Jamie Beavis, Alex Blacker, Geoff Boettcher and Caillin Howard.
A veteran of 40 years sailing Adelaide to Port Lincoln races, Sintara skipper Derek Morrison vows 2026 will be his last –probably! Of course that may have been a ploy to recruit some top sailing talent onto his crew for the race welcoming on board the likes of Robert Human and Chris Tillet.
After a slow start finding a wind hole off Semaphore, Sintara made good time across the gulf. As darkness fell, the south easterly winds picked up as forecasted, providing plenty of speed on a nice reach, followed by a spirited spinnaker run along the foot of Yorkes. The sea state was just choppy enough during the night to make sail changes a wet affair for the crew on the bow and wind gusts up to 30 knots at times kept the helms on their toes. Sadly, this was all a bit much for two spinnakers that blew before Sintara turned into Spencer Gulf wing-on-wing under No 1 jib being the best we could do for the run into Boston Bay. Overall, a quick race and a good one, with Sintara finishing in Port Lincoln at 9:03am, in time for some welcome breakfast beers. Sintara placed second in IRC Division 1.
Cate Blackman
Fortunately this was a great decision as the breeze built and we escaped most of the fleet. Inevitably as the breeze filled in for the whole fleet, we had to suffer the longer faster yachts overtaking us one by one.
Making Marion Reef under slightly cracked sheets and then easing more for the long night, we bounced across the foot of Yorke Peninsula happy but mildly uncomfortable. One crew member thought it was really tough conditions however Mary Ann and Andy were quick to respond with “This is not tough, it’s almost champagne sailing”.
Rounding Cape Spencer with the wind between 15 to 20 knots directly behind us meant a really comfortable last third of our race. We were happy to be back in Port Lincoln again and very proud of our wonderful crew and their efforts.
Andrew Lloyd
The Pure Magic program is a blend of the old CYCSA Magic Mumm 36 and Outrageous Melges 24 teams. Based on something which is an average length of the two old boats, Pure Magic is a FarEast 28R, a relatively simple design in fibreglass, aluminium mast, no battery, road transportable (2.75 wide load), limited electronics and maximum fun. Our goal is to enjoy racing this fast little boat over the next few years sailing as many regattas as possible. This year's Lincoln Regatta was the first real test of how this program was going to work. The road trip to Lincoln is almost as far as going to Melbourne so is a great test of logistics. We opted to use a crane in Lincoln to lift the boat and rig in and out, taking about an two hours of crane time total with a great local operator.
On day one (Monday) there were two races. In Race 1 (windward/leeward) we found our groove heading upwind quicky but a messy gate rounding in the first lap put us a long way behind, finishing 7th. In Race 2 the wind had strengthened to around 20 knots which meant we could go ‘flying’ or up on the plane. I think we saw 16 knots of boat speed as we breezed past almost all of the Division 2 fleet to nail a win under PHS. Back at the Marina Hotel later that afternoon we had a number of reports from other boats that remarked how little of Pure Magic was in the water as we cruised by.
Day two the long race didn't go that well for us. The breeze was up, which we don't mind, but in trying to get the main as flat as possible the outhaul gave way inside
the boom. We jury rigged something we thought might work, but ultimately a faulty VHF radio discovered right before the start sequence made us retire before the start for safety reasons. The rest of the day was spent sorting the boom out and other minor stuff.
On day three there was race 4 and Megga’s BBQ. The breeze died just before the start but we held in to find some and kept in touch with the other boats. At the Sub Buoy we were still doing okay but our slow start really wasn't helping us. Finally at the Southern Entrance beacon we were able to set the kite in 6-8 knots of breeze and work our way across the bay to the Bickers Island finish mark. We made up a lot of ground to the leaders on this leg with careful trimming and concentration, finishing third over the line just two seconds ahead of Nerana and third on PHS.
On day four, the final day, our first windward/leeward race went well, finishing third on PHS with only six seconds separating the top three boats. In the last race we really had everything dialled in (well it's the last day after all) and finished first over the line to take the sound of the hooter and first on PHS. With the racing all done we returned to the marina to start the big pack down to get the boat back on the trailer. With us being able to take the drop from day two we finished a creditable second on PHS for the regatta, which felt pretty good. Hopefully the start of more great regatta results to come!
Mike Holmes
Game On 31
Pure Magic
Next Step is a McConaghy 31 from Lake Macquarie recently bought by CYCSA member John Mortimer, which made its South Australian racing debut at the 81st Marina Hotel and Apartments Lincoln Regatta.
The catalyst to purchase Next Step occurred on a cold, wet and windy night off the west coast of Tassie on the way back from Hobart after the 2024 Sydney to Hobart. John had joined Stuart Johnston on board his Sydney 38, Audacious, as he had done for Stuart’s last few campaigns. On the delivery home the two decided there must be a better (more importantly more comfortable) way to enjoy racing and this started a fascination with trailerable keelboats that could do deliveries at 45 plus knots.
They stumbled across the MC31 class which ticked a lot of their boxes. After some inspections and trial sails they hooked Next Step up to John’s car and towed her back to Adelaide staying dry and warm in the process.
The crew squeezed in a few pre-Christmas twilights and an inshore race before it was time to tackle the first leg of the campaign, Lincoln Week 2026. John, Stuart and the crew delivered Next Step over to Lincoln the weekend before the race. Whilst many battled a wet and wild Adelaide to Lincoln Race the Next Step crew returned to Lincoln at record pace aboard ‘Rex’.
Sunday enabled some much needed training alongside Julian Newton’s Game On 31. The help and advice that the Game On crew gave us during week was invaluable and we are very grateful for the support.
The first day of racing brought an opportunity for us to trial some of the things we learnt the day before which made a noticeable difference to height and speed, but what really put a smile on the crew members faces was the first downwind leg. As the kite filled and the boat surged we knew why we had bought Next Step. The first spinnaker drop brought a slightly different facial expression but we improved on that.
Day two brought with it some stronger winds and larger sea state for the fixed mark course, conditions that didn’t really suit us given the limited preparation of the boat but it did give us some long spinnaker legs and an opportunity for everyone to fine tune the trim, helming and weight positioning. The last upwind leg left a few crew battered and bruised and one lively tack knocked off a toe rail and left Stuart sprawled across the deck but otherwise an enjoyable race for all.
The remaining two days of racing brought much lighter conditions which suited us a lot more. We moved a lot of
Julian Newton and his crew had another awesome week of racing the Cape 31 around the beautiful waters of Port Lincoln. A great deal of effort went into the preparation and on-water tuning for this regatta and we saw the results straight away, with solid results across the board, good boat speed, better moding and transitions.
Some changes to crew positions also brought with it a lot of focus on process and the team improved their boat handling skills as a result.
We had great breeze the first two days and it was awesome to push the boat hard, especially off the breeze!
It was lighter on Wednesday and Thursday and although not as much fun, we kept the boat moving well and continued to sharpen our crew work.
By the end of the regatta we all felt we had taken a step up and are really excited to head to Port Stephens in April for the Cape 31 Nationals. We also managed to have a great time off the water also!
weight forward which helped us significantly and finally we were brave enough to use our big kite, which John had been waiting for all week. Megga’s BBQ was, as always, a big hit for the crew who enjoyed the fantastic hospitality of the Port Lincoln Yacht Club.
The final day of windward leeward was a defining day for us. We managed to sail competitively and hold reasonable distance with the Division 1 fleet, it showed our continued effort and improvement throughout the week and was a fantastic way to end the week.
All in all the crew had an incredible week, the boat performed absolutely beautifully without issues and we confirmed that the Next Step was a wise decision.
We are very excited to continue to race Next Step and plan to attend regattas around Australia and will definitely be back in Lincoln for 2027.
Charlie Ryan-Kane & John Mortimer
Game On 31 placed: Second in IRC Div 1, Second in AMS Div 1 and First in PHS Div 1
Jason Webb
Next Step
Jemmaroo in Greece and Beyond: 5 August - 4 October 2025
Somehow we took the long way round with Malaysian and Turkish Airlines and very quickly decided it was not a good idea. We eventually made it to Leros via Kuala Lumpur, Istanbul and Athens very tired and grumpy and made our usual visit to Jemmaroo to check it was ready for launching the next day. All was good so we had some dinner at Parsiana, the Steak and Stout restaurant just down the road from our hotel, before collapsing into bed for a good night’s sleep.
Down at the marina there was a bit of a hold up with the launch so we checked in with Customs and the Port Police beforehand and saved a bit of time. Graeme did a great job of putting Jemmaroo into its berth and after connecting the power and water we started unloading. It was very hot and quite windy and we were not acclimatised so were quickly exhausted. We got the fridges going, did some shopping for essential supplies to keep us going and ordered the meat supplies for pick up the next day. After dinner at a restaurant on the waterfront we spent a restless hot night trying to sleep. The weather was being very unkind and together with all sorts of holdups, eg air conditioning not working, toilets not working, the bane of every boat owner, it was another seven days before we were able to leave.
Finally, nine days after leaving Adelaide, on Thursday 14 August we set off for Levitha, picked up a mooring and settled in. The farmer came around to collect his fee and see if we were going in to dinner but in the dark it is quite an ankle breaker of a walk back so decided against it.
We could not get a weather forecast as there was no reception on the island and although it looked a bit dodgy, we braved it. It was very unpleasant with up to 30 knots on the nose so we bounced along as we made our way to a bay behind an island off the north east coast of Amorgos called Kalatiri. There was a large charter yacht of about 50 metres anchored close by together with a couple of other boats and the beach was
crowded with tripper boat customers but they left when the sun went down and it was very peaceful. So much so, we decided to stay another night as it was still blowing.
Graeme insisted on moving so we set off for Skhinousa. We decided the owner of the very large house above the bay must have been having a party as there were some huge boats and a large gullet anchored nearby. The sail over was a bit lumpy but over time it calmed down a bit. Assumedly the owners of the large house were responsible for the row of little old traditional fishing boats as markers for the ten metre line inside which you are not meant to anchor and they were definitely very cute and prettier than a row of buoys.
The next day, around 11.30, we up anchored and made our way to a bay new to us between the southern end of Andiparos and an island called Dhespotico where there was a temple being restored. It was a calm lovely protected bay and we dinghied into shore for dinner, not exactly haute cuisine but the restaurant was packed.
The sun was shining and it was getting warmer so I turned the gen set on, made some water and did a load of washing. We had a glorious swim as the water was clear and a lovely temperature. The following day at around 11.30 we set of for Paroikia on Paros and instead of going through the channel between Paros and Naxos navigated through a passage between the islands to the west and Andiparos and motored up the west coast of Andiparos to the anchorage in Paroikia. There were heaps of boats on anchor and it was nice to be back there again. I discovered the chain plate in my wardrobe was leaking again and there is nothing quite like damp clothes and shoes! We took the dinghy in to try to get some sort of pumping system to clear some of the liquid in the bilge and surrounds so enquired at the chandlery, did some provisioning and had an early dinner at Pepe’s across the road from the small boat harbour where we take the dinghy in.
We walked up the hill to the plumbing place to buy some tube to add to the pump then into the Old Town for an ice-cream
A
before returning to Jemmaroo and setting off for Ormos Vathi on the west coast of Sifinos. There were heaps of boats there and we had to re-anchor as we got a bit close to another boat. After a great swim we vegged out and had dinner on board. We had previously told the Port Police we would report in on Sifinos but they were at a fairly exposed bay on the west coast so instead we motored around to another new bay to us on the south eastern side of the island called Plati Yialos as the wind was predicted to turn south westerly. It was quite a large bay with quite a few largish boats anchored there so we did the same and had a swim and settled in.
The wind was coming from the south and we were quite settled so decided to stay a bit longer. We did a big power up and made some water before having a delightful swim. We found the Stezi Taverna in shore very good and Graeme thoroughly enjoyed his whole grilled squid and Plomari Ouzo while I had a salad and zucchini fritters.
We decided we should report into the Port Police so set off for Kamares on the west coast of the island. We made it to the corner of the island when I suggested we go back to Plati Yialos and catch the bus around and we could have a scenic tour around the island into the bargain. When we arrived in Kamares we very glad we took the bus as the anchorage was very small with limited mooring and anchoring possibilities and ferries coming and going incessantly. We managed to cop the head honcho at the Port Police who questioned us about everything, including wanting to see our passports as we might not be who we said we were. Our driving licences sufficed as they had photo evidence. We hurriedly got out of his office before he could think of anything else. We had a lazy lunch on the waterfront and caught the 14.30 bus back to Jemmaroo. The meltemi had really set in so we spent seven days anchored at Plati Yialos on Sifinos before we up-anchored and set off for Paroikia on Paros where we were to meet Bob, our friend from New Zealand, who we met in 2023 while sailing in Noumea in the South Pacific. After the weather we had been through it was blissful at Paroikia. Graeme had not completely closed one of the small hatches over the galley so we took on a bit of water and the first task was cleaning that up and drying out the cushions etc.
The next day while still cleaning up we found that our bilge pump was not working (the joys of boat ownership) so we dinghied into shore and visited the chandlery where the owner recommended an electrician up on the main road. We walked up there but he was too busy and suggested we ring George at Astros Yachting across the road from the marina. It was changeover day for the charter boats and he was too busy so we did a big shop up, had some lunch and an ice-cream in the Old Town followed by a rest, a swim and dinner on board.
The next morning two workmen from Astros Yachring came out to Jemmaroo but could not work out how to fix the bilge pump and suggested we wait for Graeme, a Scottish electrician who works for Astros and lives on Paros who we had met several years before. Bob was due in by plane from Athens so we dinghied in to meet him. We all found each other and gathered his luggage together and went around to load the dinghy when this furtive looking character approached us and said “hello”. It was Jack Didyk who we had thought could not make it but Bob rang him and said to “get over there” and they organised to meet at the airport in Athens and surprise us. Well, it was a surprise but a good one so back to the boat with two sets of luggage and four on board the dinghy. It was Spritz’s all round before they both lay down to have some sleep, particularly Jack. We had booked at our favourite restaurant in Paroikia, Dionysus, for dinner and it was up to its usual standard, excellent.
We rang Astros and Graeme the Scot said he would be out shortly. While Bob and Jack set off to buy some more outboard fuel Graeme and I got some extra stocks. Graeme came out and fixed the old pump and put in the secondary one and all was good. We were going over old ground but Bob had not
been there so we set off for Plati Yialos on Sifinos and had dinner at the Stezi Taverna on shore. The next day we caught the bus into Appollina, the capital of Sifnos and the Chora or Old Town. After a wander around we found somewhere to have lunch, caught the 14.30 bus back to the anchorage, had a swim and dinner on board.
It had been a bit of a bouncy night and the wind was blowing around 20 knots but with the main with one reef and the small headsail it was a good sail across to Milos. We had dinner on shore at a great seafood restaurant and spent a comfortable night at anchor.
We decided to do a ticky tour of the island so hired the last car available on the island, meaning it wasn’t that great, and set off. The island of Milos is basically one big mine with Kaolin and Barium the main minerals mined. Bob was driving and decided to take a short cut to get back and we had an exciting and scary drive on a dirt road until we found the main road again. You seem to be forever resupplying when you go into shore, mainly liquids of course, but such is the cruising life.
We set off to go around to the south coast of the island and were about half way out of the bay when I remembered we had not checked in with the Port Police so back we went and did the right thing. There was quite a large sea running but fortunately it was mostly behind us so we put out the small headsail and eventually turned the corner into calmer seas.
We took Bob and Jack close into shore along the south coast to see the caves which were quite spectacular. Our anchorage was called Ormos Provatas near the south eastern corner of the island and it was very comfortable.
We made our way south with a mixture of motor and sail around to Ormos Karavostosi on the island of Folegandros. I was doubtful as it is a fairly rocky anchorage but we got the anchor down and all appeared okay. A walk was required to stretch our legs and was followed by a rest on board before getting back in the dinghy for dinner at a real mum and dad taverna. The food was good and we could not resist the orange cake dessert and over indulged a bit. Graeme had swum over the anchor and sure enough, it was hooked onto a large rock but the weather had calmed so we left it.
After our morning coffee we up-anchored with great care and skill by Graeme and Bob and set off for Nisos Ios to a bay on the south coast called Ormos Manganari where we anchored in the western side of the bay along with several other boats. The wind was gusting down the slopes and made for an unpleasant night. At around 11.00 the next morning we decided to test the weather across to Amorgos. We were getting gusts of 30 knots plus off the land and when we came out of the lea of the island it was definitely not good so we turned back and anchored further out and to the east in the anchorage to alleviate the effect of the gusts.
We left Ios around 11.00 bound for Amorgos and the wind came and went but as we got nearer to the island it picked up and we were hooting. We were debating about anchoring off or going on the wall and as there was a spot available we readied Jemmaroo to go stern to on the town wall. Bob did the anchor, Jack threw the ropes, I caught them back and Graeme manoeuvered us in with some difficulty but expertly. A large ferry was berthing at the same time so it was a bit of a competition to get tied up. We were due for some land time so we had drinks at a bar across the street before cleaning both the boat and us up before drinks and dinner at the next door restaurant and were very grateful for a peaceful night’s sleep.
It was time to report into the Port Police about our whereabouts and that done, we caught the bus up to the Chora or Old Town and what a ride it was! While up at the Chora Graeme went to the medical centre and after listening to his lungs the doctor declared he had an infection so prescribed Augmentum for 10 days to clear it up. Back at the port we gave Jemmaroo a bit of a tub, the fuel man finally arrived so we filled up, I did some shopping, Graeme filled his scrip and we had another good meal ashore.
Astipalaia, or as we call it, the butterfly island, was our next destination some 45 miles south. The breeze was good to start off with but got a bit fluky along the way and we anchored in the bay to the south of the Chora and castle called Ormos Livhadi. There was a catamaran anchored forward of us which was slowly dragging towards us so around 18.00 we called out to them and they put out some more chain. The owner, Ann, an American lady, came across in her dinghy for a chat. I invited her to stay for dinner so she went back and picked up her crewman and her small dog. Ann had some interesting tales to tell and we had a rollicking time as we ate, drank and talked. The weather forecast was not looking good for the next few days so we did a bit of a ticky tour around the bays of Astipalaia to show Bob some of the island and then set off for Kos to Ormos Kamares on its south-western end. We sailed under mainsail and small headsail initially, eventually bringing out the large headsail and we flew. Ormos Kamares was a good anchorage for the conditions and we dinghied into shore for dinner at the Sydney Restaurant followed by a peaceful night.
Given that in a few days the wind was predicated to be 30+ knots we kept moving in order to reach the our marina at Lakki on Leros for that. We travelled east along the southern coast of Kos to Kardamena and anchored off together with many other yachts. There were new rules in force from our last visit and you now can only anchor past the last building to the east of the town so we had to up-anchor and move. Lunch in shore and a walk around town then Graeme and I went to the supermarket while Bob and Jack wandered a bit more. We met back at the dinghy but a surf break had developed and it was quite messy getting out but we negotiated it successfully and returned to the boat for dinner.
We continued east along the south coast of Kos and had a good sail but when we turned the corner and headed north on went the motor. I checked out the anchorages and found a new island with an anchorage which was new to us. The island was Nisos Pserimos and the anchorage on the eastern coast called Ormos Vathi was described in the ‘bible’ as good in a meltemi with a sandy bottom. It didn’t look or feel so good until you got in much closer and it was as described, excellent. Home was calling so we made our way along the south coast of Kalymnos then turned north to go to Emborios where we have been many times and had moorings. We arrived to find not a single mooring in sight so anchored in a bay to the north
west of where the moorings were. We dinghied in to Captain Costas to have dinner and found out that the moorings were actually illegal and one of the other taverna owners who only had a couple of moorings cut them all off right at the beginning of the season – nice guy!! Captain Costas was in the process of trying to legally resurrect the moorings but bureaucracy in Greece moves very slowly. We had a bit of a shock in the middle of the night when we dragged and nudged the boat behind us. Its bow post took our boarding ladder off the side of the boat but other than that there was no damage. We re-anchored and settled again but were very anxious about the holding.
There was a liveaboard couple on a catamaran anchored nearby with every conceivable tool on board and he used his scuba gear to retrieve our ladder so a bottle of liqueur for him and a bottle of Scotch for the yacht we nudged later, we set off for Lakki to anchor in the bay on Leros. We anchored safely and settled down for a quiet night. The next day was predicted to have the only calm weather for the sails to be taken off so it was a good decision. The sailmaker, Satories, came out to measure for a bag for the ladder and extensions to the sunshade. Graeme went into shore and picked up Sebastian from the sailmakers at 08.00 and we anchored well clear of other boats and proceeded to take the sails off for storage on land. Two hours later it was all done and we made our way into the marina with the knowledge of several days of 35+ knots of wind to come. We all enjoyed a great shower at the marina facilities, had the car delivered, did some shopping and had dinner at Skippers, the restaurant at the marina.
Jack caught the overnight ferry back to Pireaus to continue his travels to visit family and friends in Ukraine and Graeme, Bob and I put Jemmaroo to bed and she went up on the hard on Saturday 20 September.
THE BEYOND BIT...
Bob sailed with us while his wife Liz walked a large part of the Pilgrim Trail in Spain. It was Bob’s 80th birthday on 29 September so we arranged to meet up with Liz in Porto in Portugal, do some travelling around the countryside and celebrate his birthday in Lisbon before Graeme and I flew across to London for a couple of days to attend some meetings.
Typical Greek cat at rest outside a taverna
We arrived in Porto around 22.00 and caught a taxi to our accommodation and Liz surprised Bob by already being there. Porto is a fascinating old city and, as the name suggests, is the home of port wine. Liz’s maiden name was Taylor and there was much debate about the virtues of Taylors Port versus Grahams Port but no decision was reached. We organised a tour to take us up to the Duro Valley where all the major vineyards are. It was spectacular with the vines terraced down the slopes with the grapes having to be hand picked. We talked to our guide about where else to go and he suggested we go to Coimbra.
We got an Uber to take us from Porto to Coimbra up in the hills which took about three hours. Coimbra is a very old university town with a lot of history and we took a tour of the university and its church which was fascinating. Walking around the old town down by the river was great and we had dinner at a restaurant where the waitress convinced the boys they were drinking rum, which is what they wanted, when in fact it was brandy so we had a good laugh over that.
Our accommodation in Porto and Coimbra was so-so but we hit the jackpot with the Lx Boutique Hotel in Lisbon which was fantastic. We used an Uber again to get from Coimbra to Lisbon and after we had settled in went for a walk (and a drink) down near the river. The next day we caught the tourist bus for a good look around Lisbon which covered nearly all the sights and then found a food market with all sorts of stalls where we had dinner.
Graeme and Liz had asked around about somewhere to celebrate Bob’s birthday and settled on a restaurant on the banks of the river which was superb.
It was time for Graeme and I to leave for London so we left Bob and Liz enjoying another day in Lisbon while we flew into Gatwick for three days of meetings before flying out of Gatwick to wing our way back to Oz.
Gay Footer
Jemmaroo at anchor
Bob’s 80th celebration
Vines on the slopes
Ornate organ at Coimbra
From sunset beach parties to challenging race conditions, our cruisers once again made summer count.
Cruisers Sea Breeze Bash, Kangaroo Island
Strong and persistent winds didn’t deter our cruisers this year. With a keen desire to get away and an ideal weather window, an impressive fleet pointed their compass toward Kangaroo Island - “absolutely perfect,” as Carol would say.
Our passage plan ensured yachts enjoyed a lunch stop at Kingscote to sample some of the local produce. The township buzzed with activity with locals excitedly commenting that they hadn’t seen such a large turnout of yachts for many years. A great atmosphere all round.
Waking up at Beatrice Islet, just two nautical miles east of Kingscote, in mirror calm conditions was a highlight for many. First declared a protected area in 1909, the islet’s birdlife continues to thrive.
The CYCSA New Year’s Eve Beach Party saw 25 yachts anchored at Rocky Point. Special guest, Salty Pete (Pete Chambers), welcomed sailors with live music as the sun set for the last time in 2025 and it was a priceless and thoroughly enjoyable experience. A couple of yachts embraced LED lighting displays creating an impressive night-time spectacle. As a result, this year’s theme will be ‘Light It Up’. Congratulations to Nick Chapman (Okelani) for winning this year’s New Year’s Eve photo competition.
The Ballast Head Cup attracted 11 yachts racing around Eastern Cove in strong and challenging conditions. Congratulations to Stephen Madigan ( Moncoeur, Glenelg Yacht Club) for taking out first place and to Derek Morrison (Sintara) for being first across the line. A special thank you to Andrew Saies, Adrian Wotton and the many volunteers who worked together to deliver this event. Next year marks the 25th Ballast Head Cup so be sure to pencil the date into your calendar.
WHAT’S COMING UP...
ANZAC Day, Port Vincent 25 April 2026
Please join us for the dawn service followed by a gunfire breakfast at the Port Vincent Bowling Club. A BYO dinner BBQ will be held in the CYCSA’s Port Vincent Marina Clubhouse from 5pm.
The Cruising Association has a number of events currently in planning. Thank you to the many Club members who participate and help build our community and to the volunteers who generously donate their time to keep these events running. If you would like to play a more active role in the Club we would warmly welcome you to reach out to one of our committee members.
Thank you to our sponsors
We gratefully acknowledge Charlesworth Nuts and Heynen Planning Consultants for their continued support of the Cruising Association and their commitment to our Club community.
Darren Harvey Chair, CYCSA Cruising Association
Stay connected – Scan the QR code to join our Facebook Cruising group.
photo by Nick Chapman
photo by Jillian Smith
Ballast Head Cup
200,000 Nautical Miles of Adventure
A special Boating Conversations was held late in December where our Canadians friends and members for the year, Kasper and Trish Schibli, with their magnificent 53 foot teak yawl Starfire, presented a snapshot of 200,000nm of voyaging and 30 years of world travel. A big crowd heard about sailing travels to all corners of the world. It was difficult to cover so many places and experiences in a short time but this said, Kasper and Trish left the audience with stories of racing from Los Angeles to Japan, cruising up the Suez Canal, months exploring the Mediterranean, Norway, Scotland, wandering Patagonia and so much more.
Kasper and Trish have spent most of 2025 in the Western Basin at the CYCSA, their Buchanan 53 standing out amongst much newer yachts. Starfire is a magnificent carvel teak yacht built in the United Kingdom nearly 60 years ago and with thousands of nautical miles under its full-length keel and traditional lines, is a great example of the capability of such traditional yachts.
They were recipients of the prestigious Cruising Club of America ‘Far Horizons Award' in 2015 for their extensive offshore and multi-ocean cruising exploits, a well deserved recognition celebrating lives devoted to exploration under sail.
The CYCSA proved an ideal stopover for essential maintenance following Starfire’s earlier voyage from Cape Town. Works included reconditioning the gearbox and attending to other important tasks in preparation for the next major passage, home to Canada.
Departing the Club in January Starfire set sail eastward via Tasmania and New Zealand before crossing the Pacific Ocean on a north-easterly course toward Vancouver Island. It was a genuine pleasure to have Kasper and Trish as members for the year. We wish them fair winds and safe seas and are delighted that their remarkable journey included a stop at the CYCSA in 2025.
Rod Hunter
BOATS AT THE CLUB
This is another in the series of articles aimed at providing you with an insight into new boats and other boats of interest at the Club. Contact Patricia Catley through the Club if you are interested in having your boat featured here.
In October 2025 Club member Holly Byron purchased a sailing boat named Dixie from a neighbouring yacht club but decided that our Club was the perfect place to keep her. She found everyone in the Club so helpful and friendly and had done a few courses and was aware of the facilities so there was no question that Dixie’s new home would be at the CYCSA in Marina East.
Holly hasn’t been sailing for long but once she got the bug she threw herself into everything available. Before considering having a boat of her own she enrolled for several courses through the CYCSA Marine Academy with excellent tuition from Rod Hunter. She completed Power Boating in 2021, Start Yachting in 2022 and Competent Crew in 2023. She then took part in some twilight races that really injected the sea into her blood and that was topped off by a quick jaunt around the Mediterranean with Rod Hunter and Sally Geddes in August 2025.
Feeling she had enough exposure to take the leap and with a desire to change her busy lifestyle, Holly looked for a boat to buy and discovered that Dixie was for sale. Knowing she was the right choice the purchase was made. In early 2026 she had excellent coaching from Mark Hutton and Pete Chambers with private tuition and by completing a Day Skipper course. Once she has developed more competence and confidence with time on the water she will think about future sailing adventures. She finds that each time she goes out she learns something new. Ultimately she would like to cruise in company around the South Australian waters and eventually explore Tasmania. After that we will have to see what eventuates.
Dixie is a Hanse 342 that has a reputation for being a very comfortable yacht. It was designed by Judel & Vrolijk and built by Hanse in 2007. She is a great boat for cruising around Gulf St Vincent or further. The boat is especially good for short-handed sailing. The self-tacking jib makes manoeuvring easy while the nonslip deck and teak cockpit ensures comfort and safety for all on
board. She has wheel steering with good visibility all around, a bimini with solar panels, a spray dodger and a boom bag. The boat is made of fibreglass and draws 1.58m, her LOA is 10.35m with a 3.4m beam. She has a Yanmar 30hp engine with a fuel capacity of 79 litres and sail drive propulsion. Raymarine instruments give the necessary data for navigation and communication.
Below deck there is plenty of storage space alongside a generously sized wet room on the port side. A hatch on deck opens into the wet room and is the perfect place to drop wet weather clothing thereby keeping the saloon nice and dry. The compact galley is equipped with modern amenities including hot and cold water in the double sinks, a chest style fridge and a three burner stove and oven. Easy access to the pantry means everything is within reach. There are two double cabins, one aft with a comfortable double bed and storage space and the other is a spacious forward V-berth with good storage and can be closed off for privacy. A hot and cold shower is included in the head.
Amidship in the saloon comfortable seating curves around the table that is opposite a two-seater navigation table. The cabin gives off a warm glow with varnished wood and dark blue cushions. It is a truly comfortable vessel in which to relax and sip champagne while at anchor.
When Holly bought the boat Dixie was the registered name but that will change in the near future when she reverts back to Miss V, her original name.
Thank you Holly for allowing me to write about Miss V and also your own story of how she became yours. I wish you safe travels and many adventures to share with us in the future.
Pat Catley
What a day
for the CYCSA’s Children’s Christmas Party...
As the children arrived each was given a bubble wand and soon the air was filled with shimmering bubbles drifting across the Club BBQ area. The kids raced around trying to catch them before they touched the grass, much to the amusement of parents, grandparents and care givers.
After Magic Mike’s unfortunate accident Aces Magic stepped in to save the day. He amazed the children with tricks that made objects disappear right before their eyes, keeping everyone thoroughly entertained. His balloon creations were a huge hit with all types of animals and sabres crafted for the children to play with.
Lunch was a treat for all. The children enjoyed hot pies and sausage rolls along with a selection of wraps, donuts and fresh fruit generously supplied (at a discounted rate) by Drakes North Haven. A special thank you to Chef Camillo for kindly plating up the food. Popcorn and drinks rounded out the feast.
Although the weather prevented Santa from arriving by boat as planned, he made a grand entrance in a highly tinselled golf cart driven by ‘Elf’ Marty. The excitement was instant as the children gathered around to greet them.
Santa carried a very heavy sack of gifts which were distributed to every child and it seemed Santa knew exactly what gift to give as everyone was happy and excited. There was a photo opportunity for families to have their photo taken with Santa before he headed back to the North Pole and there were lots of smiling faces and great family moments.
After receiving their presents and having photos with Santa the children were treated to ice creams, the perfect sweet ending to a wonderful celebration.
Many thanks to Mellissa Vahoumis, Erin Labadas, Jacqueline Heffernan and Pam Wilson for their help in making the day a great success. It was also lovely to see many families head into the Bistro afterwards for lunch and respite.
Another great day at the CYCSA.
Adrian Wilson Chair, Social Association
UPCOMING
Don’t miss out! Book now for our next children’s event, the Kids’ Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday 29 March. We look forward to seeing you there!
Stay connected – Scan the QR code to join our Social Association group on Facebook.
The 24th Ballast Head Cup went ahead as planned on New Year's Day 2026 with a fantastic turnout and plenty of fun on the water. Held in the pristine waters of Eastern Cove, Kangaroo Island, this year's Ballast Head Cup Race was, as usual, fiercely contested. As in the previous Cups the course consisted of two triangle laps passing through marker buoys at Rocky Point, Ballast Head and the American River entrance.
The race start was interesting with boats spread out over a large area and a long way from the start line. Sintara was first across the start line with Swish, working on their tactics, crossing the line last nine minutes 59 seconds after the starting horn. Shifty strong winds kept everyone fully engaged and focused during the race. At the half-way point three boats appeared to be in contention for the coveted prize; Destree Bay, Free Fallin and Rogue. The flukey winds played a big part in the results however with the boats who handled the gusts the best pulling ahead on corrected time. Moncoeur, a Spencer 30, had a brilliant race never letting the bigger boats get too far ahead.
After the race the crews gathered on Island Beach for a cold drink, celebrations, the telling of tall tales and prize giving.
Special thanks to –
• Adrian Wotton for travelling by road and ferry to act as Primary Race Officer
• Andrew Saies for his continued encouragement, support and behind-the-scenes work
• Scott Gurner, Peter Donovan and Ryan Stark for course setting
• Billy Low for assisting with marker retrieval
• Tim Jolly for the drone footage
• Roger Flint and Di Buck for generously providing Spirit of Inyati as the start boat
• and all the volunteers who helped make the day a success.
Huge congratulations to all competitors and thank you to everyone involved for making the first race of the year such a memorable event.
Darren Harvey
BALLAST HEAD CUP
1st Moncoeur (Stephen Madigan - Glenelg Sailing Club)
2nd Bellatrix (Scott Gurner - CYCSA)
3rd True Blue (Andrew Saies - CYCSA)
ACROSS THE LINE
1st Sintara (Derek Morrison - CYCSA)
MULTI-HULL
Destree Bay (David Harris - CYCSA)
OTHER BOATS COMPETING WERE
Free Fallin’ (Darren Harvey – CYCSA)
Marnico (Graeme Footer – CYCSA)
Rogue (Steve O’Brien – CYCSA)
Swish (Paul Judge – CYCSA)
Photos thanks to Di Buck
The Festival of Sails Regatta in Geelong had been on my wish list for quite a while. This year the time was right – I had no other commitments, the crew were really keen and the timing felt perfect. The regatta and delivery would take out about two weeks, during which we packed a lot in.
Delivery of School's Out to Melbourne with Mark Moore (PASC) and Suz Davidson (CYCSA). The weather forecast was good for our passage but unfortunately it didn’t live up to predictions. Strong winds, gusting to 35 kts on the nose, were much higher than anticipated, and saw us have a very uncomfortable two days of sailing. During the second night at sea we ducked into the shelter of Rivoli Bay (Southend) which was a huge relief. The night at anchor was bliss. We departed early in the morning in much better conditions and dodged cray pots most of the day. The next day, we pulled into the delightful town of Port Fairy for rest, hot showers, and some excellent food ashore. Another night at sea had us traversing the notorious Rip early in the morning. We arrived at the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron in St Kilda later that day.
The Festival of Sails – what a fun regatta, on and off the water! We kicked off the event with a crew welcome and party the night before the first race, at the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria. Racing commenced the next day consisting of a passage race from Melbourne (Williamstown) to Geelong, followed by two days of racing in the waters off Geelong. There was chaos on the water at times, with over 200 boats sailing the same course but the sailing was held in flat conditions with good winds. Our division had 19 entrants so racing was crowded and challenging. However, our crew work was flawless throughout the event and we were chuffed with our best result of eighth.
The onshore entertainment was brilliant with music, food trucks and lots of other entertainment.
The delivery home was near perfect with slight seas and good winds behind us. The new crew consisted of Leila Robinson (RSAYS), Paul Williams (CYCSA) and Vicky Vejo (CYCSA). We had one layover on the way back with another lovely overnighter in Port Fairy. On our return journey, to avoid the cray pots, we set course along the shipping lanes which worked perfectly. Thank goodness for AIS, especially at night.
In summary, the two weeks away, exceeded all expectations. The delivery had some challenges but the crew gained a lot of experience in a short amount of time. The Festival of Sails was a great experience and a lot of fun. It is right up there as one of the best regattas in Australia.
Adrian Wotton Skipper, School’s Out
Image credit: Salty Dingo
Leaving Adelaide late October our first challenge was to complete a qualifying race and we chose the Rudder Cup, starting at Queenscliff (VIC) and finishing at Devonport (TAS). Who would ever have expected a Bass Straight crossing to have light winds and a glassed-out sea. The 192-mile race should have taken 24 hours but turned into a gruelling test of patience and a sunrise finish after 37 hours.
Thanks goes to our delivery crew and to Paul Senior from the CYCSA, Louis Dunn from Melbourne and Brendan Savage from Sydney who joined us for the race.
A quick celebration and a four-hour turnaround in Devonport saw us on our way to Sydney. We were joined by Jacqui Webb who we met at SAWKR and Kali Holmes from Sydney. It was a bit lumpy from the start and once across Bass Straight we had to battle some serious southerly currents. Passing Monterey Island against four knots of current with light winds saw the motor on at full speed and we were making three knots of speed over the ground.
We tried some fishing for two days of the trip with not even a bite, though we were pretty amazed to see a great white shark following us for some time.
Passing through the Sydney Harbour heads at night, we were happy to see the brilliant lights of Sydney and happily tucked into Rushcutters Bay for some well-earned rest.
The next six weeks were packed with racing and preparation. With a crew list eventually exceeding 60 people across the campaign, Clockwork was kept busy.
Mary Ann took the helm for Tuesday Twilights, alongside a weekend women’s regatta hosted by the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron. We raced in Wednesday Twilights and the Cabbage Tree Island series with the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA), and Friday Twilights with the Royal Australian Naval Sailing Association (RANSA).
The Sydney Short Offshore Series delivered one of the tougher weekends, a race to Pittwater and back in gusts up to 45 knots, followed by two windward-leeward races through the Sydney Heads. Clockwork and crew were well and truly tested with plenty of minor breakages to repair before the big race.
Sydney also brought significant media attention including live crosses with Fox Sports, Nine Network and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Christmas lunch in the CYCA Race Village was a highlight with Clockwork celebrating alongside fellow competitors Cool C4ts, Inukshuk and XX Factor along with about ten other sailors enjoying beautiful food, music and company.
After months of paperwork and compliance checks with the CYCA sailing office, our entry into the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race was formally accepted on the morning of Boxing Day, a huge relief. Now it was time for the big race.
It was a massive Rolex Sydney Hobart for Clockwork and our crew was made up from the CYCSA, PLYC and our new navigator from the UK. Unfortunately, due to the late arrival of our updated certification, we were unable to compete under IRC so it was PHS for us.
A typically interesting start with spinnakers up and a fast reach to the first turning mark, we arrived along with 20 other yachts all jockeying for position and managed to round the mark cleanly (except for one boat - name withheld that bumped our stern with their prodder). The first 24 hours were brutal, beating upwind in 20–30 knots, followed by 30–40 knots for the next 18 hours. Nearly 30% of the fleet retired but we hung in. Lots of fatigue and seasickness saw us go from a third reef to just sailing under headsail for most of the second night.
By the morning of the 28th the breeze eased giving us a sunny, calm Bass Strait crossing with flat-water running in 5–10 knots toward Flinders Island, helped by a 1.5 knot southerly current. There was twenty-four hours of that before conditions turned again.
The final push was full noise, fractional kite up in 25–30 knots with gusts higher and a challenging sea state. Another sail change (probably our 30th for the race) as we saw 55 knots of wind being recorded just ahead of us. We rounded Tasman Island early on the 30th, not far behind our Sydney 38 fleet and were relieved when it was only 35 knots.
Half an hour later we considered dropping the anchor as the breeze disappeared and we were going backward. Two hours trying to inch ahead until an easterly finally settled in and we launched our kite and headed for Hobart. We had lots of sail changes all race and with the final stretch dead downwind in lightening breezes saw our masthead kite and lots of gybes all the way to the finish.
Out of 128 starters only 93 yachts finished. Clockwork placed 54th on Line Honours, 11th on PHS and fifth out of seven Sydney 38s.
With motor on and sails down we prepared to sail past the crowd on the dock but the prop was fouled with kelp and we needed assistance to get in. Local Adelaide legend, Mark Homes, was in Hobart watching his daughter compete in the Laser champs, came to the rescue in his RIB.
It was a demanding race, great competition and one we all enjoyed. We are so proud of our wonderful crew: Andrew Lloyd, Mary Ann Harvey, Michael Burvill, Paul Hicks, Laoise King, Peter Palm, Rowan Edwards, Sam Wilksch, Matt Stephens (Port Lincoln) and Patrick Whelan (UK).
A big thanks to our sponsors: Renown Lending, Marshall & Brougham Constructions and Bravo Sails.
Andrew Llyod
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MARINA EAST NORTH HAVEN
CYCSA Marina East has berthing for 240 vessels up to 22 metres and 150 hardstanding berths up to 12 metres.
(Note: ‘s’ denotes single berth, ‘tw’ denotes twin berth and ‘T’ denotes berth at T Head). All prices include GST.
BERTHS FOR SALE - MARINA EAST
8m tw: F01, F02 – from $35,000, C11 – $35,000 all offers considered C12 – $6,000 all offered considered C08 – $10,000 all offers considered, C13 – $33,000
10m tw: A09, A10 from $30,000, A14 – $20,000 offers considered A35 – $5,000 ono, A37 –$2,000, A28, A38, F09, F28 – all offers considered, A40 – $9,000 all offers considered A21 – $12,000, F14 – $18,000 – all offers considered, F18 – $20,000, F25 – $15,000, F26 – $10,000, A20 – Reduced to $20,000, F34 – all offers considered A32 – $10,000 all reasonable offers considered
10m s: A12 – from $73,000, A05 – $35,000 – all offers considered A25 – all offers considered, A03 – $30,000 reduced F08 – $25,000
11m tw: A41 – $35,000
12m tw: D20, D35 from $29,000, D28 – $35,000 all offers considered D19 – $22,000, D36 – $15,000 offers considered D37 – $20,000 all offers considered URGENT SALE E13 – All offers considered E26, E27, E30, E31 – $35,000 all offers considered 12m s: D08, D17, E07 – from $60,000 D03 – $55,000 offers considered D04, D21, E03, E04, E05, E22, E23 – all offers considered D18 – Reduced to $40,000 – All offers considered E10 – all reasonable offers considered E32 – $30,000 – all offers considered, E33 – $40,000
13m tw: C23 – Reduced to $40,000 all offers considered A44 – Reduced to $25,000 – all offers considered
13m s: D40 – $60,000
14m s: A46 – $65,000, C24 – $120,000, C29 – $100,000 offers considered
15m s: C35 – from $145,000, B32 – $65,000 offers considered B26 – $115,000, B31 – all offers considered 16m s: B20 –$159,000, B16 – $110,000 – Offers Considered B22 – $150,000 – all offers considered
HARDSTANDS FOR SALE
9m: HS54 from $3,500, HS22 – $3,400, HS81 $3,300 HS82 – $2,000, HS64 – $3,200 ono, HS72, HS90 – $3,000 HS10- by negotiation – contact the Club for information
10m: HS147 – $4,200
12m: HS123 – $5,500, HS124 – $5,500, HS06 – $5,500
MARINA WEST NORTH HAVEN
It is the larger berths that make Marina West appealing to many potential buyers. Berths range from 11m to 35m, (Note: all berths in Marina West are single berths).
BERTHS FOR SALE - MARINA WEST
11m: M03 – Reduced to $60,000 – all offers considered suitable for a catamaran
14m: M07 – $40,000 – all offers considered 15m: N03 – under offer, M08 – all offers considered 17m: J19, J20 – from $150,000, J09 – reasonable offers considered J08, J10 – all offers considered
18m: M10 – $99,000 – offers considered 20m: K07, K08 – from $135,000 K05 – all reasonable offers considered, K10 – all offers considered L02 – $195,000
25m: M14 – $290,000, M15 – $249,000
27m: M16 – all offers considered
30m: K16 – $475,000
BERTHS FOR SALE AT PORT VINCENT MARINA
10m tw: A02, A05, A17, A18, A21, A23 – from $15,000 A20 – $12,000 A08 – $10,000 A10 – all offers considered 12m tw: C53, C63 – from $28,000 B29, B33 – $5,000 offers considered C60 – Reduced to $20,000 B34, C61 – all offers considered
12m s: B44, C47 – from $29,000
B25 – $25,000 – all offers considered 14m s: D70 – $40,000 – offers considered D78 – from $45,000
D77– Offers invited D73 – $25,000 C29 – $100,000 offers considered 15m s: D84 – $39,000, D85 – $45,000 – ONO 20m T: A12 – $200,000, B35 – $125,000
24m T: C58 – All offers considered
All berth sales and leasing enquiries to Eryn: Ph: (08) 8248 4222 | berthing@cycsa.com.au
Information correct at time of printing and subject to change.
Located in the heart of the city, the Club sets the standard for exemplary customer service and hospitality. The Club is also proud of the reciprocal relationships that it has established with similar clubs located in Australia and overseas, including the Cruising Yacht Club of SA. Find out more... (08) 8223 2422 | navmil.com.au 111 Hutt St, Adelaide SA 5000
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