Classics (Non) Racing Report - Sunday 7 August

by Peter Costolloe
​
Nineteen Classics showed up in hope as the forecast said 10 knots. ​A 5 knot northerly at 1025 allowed for the start sequence to begin. One Classic, the Tumlaren Zephyr helmed by Anne Batson and crewed by Kath Solly, threw out the anchor to hold position in the hope that a southeast zephyr would spring up. Not to be; at 1040 the race was abandoned after the starters drifted back over the line due to heavy river outflow.

HBYC waited till 1130, Still no wind. So with 3 whistles we all went home.
So, two firsts for the Classics: a mid-race abandonment for a restart and a boat throwing out an anchor to hold position.

On the bright side is a Windward II story:

Some time ago Jim Woods received a Windward II plaque from an old crewman from her racing days on Sydney Harbour. At the time Jim described his thoughts on receiving this plaque. "Up there with best birthday present and it will go back on Windward II where it belongs" was Jim's comment. So take a look at the plaque after being restored by Scotia Engraving.

We also have a story on the Uira Trophy and the yacht Uira, currently under restoration by a CYAA member in Melbourne, Peter Denniston. One year, 1988-89, when the Uira Trophy for Tumlarens was active it was won by Aclorean, then raced by Phil Atkins. Being a perpetual trophy, the winner always received a take-home trophy. This was in the form of an inscribed crystal bowl. Phil recently passed this take-home trophy over to Peter Denniston to help the story of Uira and her time at RMYS to be more than a memory. One day Uira will return to racing at RMYS as she did in the 1880s and 1890s.