Commodore’s Cup keelboat winners: Commodore Neil Harrison, Steve Okeefe, Chelsea Bradford, Alan Peacham with keel captain Marshall Fox.
Camera IconCommodore’s Cup keelboat winners: Commodore Neil Harrison, Steve Okeefe, Chelsea Bradford, Alan Peacham with keel captain Marshall Fox. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Hillarys Yacht Club celebrates opening of summer sailing season

John BirdJoondalup Times

HILLARYS Yacht Club Patron and Joondalup Mayor Albert Jacob opened the season for sailors on Sunday.

Commodore Neil Harrison welcomed guests, flag officers, visitors, sponsors and families before outlining success stories of the past year in the angling, diving, power and sailing sections.

The crew of Sure Shot won best dressed power boat.
Camera IconThe crew of Sure Shot won best dressed power boat. Credit: Supplied/Supplied
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The highlight was the success of Todd Giraudo and David White who sailed Kraken into second place in the Melbourne to Osaka double-handed race in March.

The dinghy section conducted a successful Easter Regatta which included coaching by Olympic Gold medallist Belinda Stowell.

Marcus Fisk was ninth in the Laser Nationals and a large number of the junior sailors were invited to join a development squad, Westsail.

Reaching out to the community, the club conducted learn to sail courses at various levels beginning with the “come and try sailing” day held in the Hillarys Marina for 250 participants.

The traditional sail-past and salute with a pirate theme saw sail and power boats look as though they came straight from the set of Pirates of the Caribbean.

Best dressed boat honours were shared by Sheer Magic for sail and Sure Shot for power.

Sure Shot fires off as best dressed power boat.
Camera IconSure Shot fires off as best dressed power boat. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Several yachts from the Ocean Reef Sea Sports Club joined in with the keelboats for the afternoon’s racing of the Commodore’s Cup.

The division one fleet swelled to 16 yachts with the visitors and in a challenging 15 knot sou-wester Whispering Jack prevailed with emerging young, talented sailor Chelsea Bradford at the helm.

There was success for Alan Peacham skippering Feelin Free in division two and Steve Okeefe on Comfortably Numb in division three.

Presentations for dinghy and keelboat sailors and best-dressed boat winners concluded a successful opening day.

Whispering Jack in the sail-past before winning the Commodore’s Cup.
Camera IconWhispering Jack in the sail-past before winning the Commodore’s Cup. Credit: Supplied/Supplied