HILLARYS Yacht Club has declared its inaugural Sail Easter coaching regatta a resounding success with 64 registered entries and eight classes hitting the water over the three-day event.
Held in one to 1.5m seas and winds ranging from 5 knots to 25 knots, the event has been described by the club as its largest and most successful regatta to date.
“It was fantastic to see so many boats and sailors of all ages competing between the marina and Little Island,” commodore Neil Harrison said.
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READ NOW“Although Saturday afternoon became a little too boisterous for safe sailing with gusts in the 25-knot to 30-knot range, the remainder of the weekend gave every class an opportunity to practise and perform to their best in a variety of conditions.”
Classes and divisions involved in the regatta included Optimist bronze, silver and gold, Laser 4.7, radial and standard, Mirror, 125, Tasar, 29ers, 420 and BIC.
Mr Harrison said the coaching element of the regatta proved a major drawcard with 420 Olympic gold medallist and WA Institute of Sport head sailing coach Belinda Stowell and fellow coach Ryan Palk helping sailors on all three days.
A further drawcard was the Open Bic Worlds team and the earlier decision by the Optimist Association to make the event a ranking regatta.
Mr Harrison said the club hoped to mount a bigger and better regatta in 2019.
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