36 Breeze Magazine to teach the less-than-tech-savvy participants how to play the game, so they could take part in the Havana Club Rum Race and the Doyle Sails eSailing competitions, plus the RNZYS eSailing Open Regatta and Club Championship. Laurie: “We used Virtual Regatta, the online web browser sailing race simulator. Although gaming isn’t for everyone, we have a hard-core group who eSail regularly. We did, however, encourage those who are usually mid-fleet to step up to the top, with an evening of ‘Tips from the Top’ from top eSailor Aiden Gordon. “We are planning to make eSailing a permanent fixture, alongside our regular normal racing on the Sailing Office calendar and are thinking about running an annual club championship and open regatta, probably during the winter season.” The best-dressed annual event at the Squadron is always the Melbourne Cup, but this year it was a fashionable online affair. Members
were offered a GH Mumm Picnic Box to enjoy while they watched the race at home, a virtual sweepstake kept members trackside, while partners Pernod Ricard provided prizes for the fashion-in-the-livingroom competitions, with brand ambassador Rémy Jaboulet as judge. “Taking the Melbourne Cup online for member participation was something we hadn’t expected to do, however, we are well versed in quickly taking various events online now,“ said Membership Director Kim Bond. “A reason to dress up for this annual race, enjoy canapes and champagne in our own homes was quite different to the party atmosphere we usually enjoy at the club. But it was great to see so many members embrace this with us.” Rémy Jaboulet, who judged the four competition categories – best dressed female, best dressed gentleman, best dressed couple and best fascinator – said he had not seen such a high level of fashion since Paris Fashion Week.
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