HILLARYS Yacht Club had its opening day on October 9 amid a kaleidoscope of colour and fun, including comic superheroes, face painting, an animal farm and bouncy castle.
Hundreds of members, fellow flag officers and sponsors attended as commodore Simon Davenport invited Joondalup Mayor Troy Pickard to open the 2016-17 season.
The mayor praised the initiatives of the tackers program, stand-up paddle boarding and opportunities for sailing, diving, angling and powerboating that makes the club an important family, social and recreational outlet in the northern suburbs.
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In the presence of patron Jim Clarko JP and vice-patron Hillarys MLA Rob Johnson, the firing of the cannon and flag-raising sent crews to boats for the colourful sail-past and salute.
The best dressed yacht was Ron Marian’s First Impression and best dressed powerboat was Bill Barclay’s Ambassador.
Despite the reprieve from the rain the 18-knot westerly created drama for the sailors on the high seas with dinghies staying at home and the catamaran of Ian Walker, Sally Malay, retiring with a broken daggerboard after ploughing into a 3m wave.
It didn’t stop Roric Smith testing his recently acquired Pogo 12.5 Surfer Rosa, nor Todd Giraudo in Kraken who will start favourite in the double-handed division of the Fremantle to Geraldton Race next weekend.
Accolades to the HYC Youth Squad who in their first outing in Xtreme were second in division two.
The Commodore’s Cup was won by Jack Tar (Bill Gilbert) in division one, Covert Operation (Graham Atkinson and Bart Brouwer) in division two and Sublime (John Newman) in jib and main (division three).
Let’s hope the mayor’s wish for fair winds and calm seas greets sailors next weekend.
RESULTS: Commodore’s Cup
Div1: 1. Jack Tar (B Gilbert); 2. First Impression (R Marian); 3. Vaya Con Dios (C Blackney); Fastest Kraken (T Giraudo). Div2: 1. and Fastest Covert Operation (G Atkinson & Bart Brouwer); 2. Xtreme (HYC Youth Squad); 3. Tropical itch (T Brooke). IRC: 1. and Fastest Kraken (T Giraudo); 2. Mulberry (M Pitt); 3. Surfer Rosa (R Smith). Div3: 1. Sublime (J Newman); 2. and Fastest Comfortably Numb (S Okeefe);