A bay, a shipping channel, a turning mark and me

Saturday was the Inaugural Rivergate River Yacht Race which took 41 entrants from the eastern side of Green Island on Moreton Bay, up the shipping channel of the Brisbane River, under the Gateway Bridge, around a turning mark to port and Brett’s Wharf then back under the Gateway Bridge to the finish line in front of the brand new multimillion dollar Rivergate Marina.

The crew from Quest all met at A/B row at 0800 hours fresh faced and ready to go with the view of reaching Rivergate Marina first. Afterall we had a reputation to uphold after winning the XXXX Gold Cup a few weeks back. The crew that sailed on Saturday are the one travelling north for Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island Race Weeks (minus a few from Sydney).

The race started at 1000 hours on the eastern side of Green Island with a constant 10 to 12 knots from the North East. As the fleet approached St Helena Island the breeze began to oscillate causing all kinds of dramas with one boat even having the bear away so much they ran aground on a shallow bank off the island. We had throw in a few extra tacks just the make it round the first turning mark on the northern point of the island.

Eventually the first mark was reached, and we made our way to the “coffee pots” which is the entrance of the shipping channel of the Brisbane River. As we entered the channel is was time for our first kite set since the XXXX Gold Cup. The entire set was great and we were looking totally famous cruising down the river with the white bag full and propelling us forward and reaching 15 knots at one point. But like any river there are corners and channel markers to obey so eventually we had to gybe. By this time the breeze had swung to the east and we were cruising with the pressure right up our clacker.

“Alright boys, and OG, time for a gybe, let’s go… FFFUUUUUUU$&^%@#*^%”

We lost it… That’s all I’m going to say about that. We recovered well but all learnt a valuable lesson. Still trying to work out what that lesson was, but we learnt it!!!

The rest of the race up the river was pretty much incident free apart from a little blood lost by one crew member, another dropping his beer and a hangover affecting… someone!

As we reached the turning mark at Brett’s Wharf we calculated our approximate ETA to the finish line. There was an option to advise the Race Committee before the start of what time you expected to finish and as we said 1300 hours, we were pretty close to crossing the line right on time.

Around the mark we went, again incident free and just as the tide began to turn assisting our boat speed to the finish line just past the Gateway Bridge and right in front of the Rivergate Marina. We ended up crossing the line at 1250 just 10 minutes out of our ETA. The gun was fired, and again we took line honours this time in the Rivergate River Yacht Race.

The rest of the fleet had to battle with the outgoing tide before rounding the mark at Brett’s Wharf but eventually finished the race with only a light falling of rain hindering a perfect day.

We knew we had had an awesome race, but to be announced as winners of both PHS and IRC shocked us little as the prize was $500 cash and a $2,600 watch donated by Anthony’s Fine Jewellery.

The next time we all get together to race will be in Airlie Beach which is only 24 days away! The excitement is kicking in and I can’t wait to board that plane to set off for the Whitsunday’s for three whole weeks of yacht racing fun.

Well done to everyone who competed – another great day on the water!

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