Australia Day Regatta 2023

(Photo by Karen Rogers)

Day 1 - Thursday 26th January

The Wollongong Yacht Club's Australia Day Regatta got off to an exhilarating start with the first race taking place on Australia Day. The light winds didn't dampen the spirits of the 9 boats that participated, and the competition was fierce as they battled for the top spot.

The race was a nail-biter, with only 4 seconds separating the top two boats on corrected time. In third place was Boss Ross, the club's training vessel, but the real showdown was between Big Blue and Bella. The two boats were neck and neck for the entire race, but in the end, it was Bella who crossed the finish line first, winning by the slimmest of margins.

The competition is far from over, with 4 more races scheduled for the weekend, and more boats expected to join in the action. The race for the top spot is heating up, and sailors are pushing themselves to the limit to come out victorious. 

Day 2 - Saturday 28th January

The regatta is proving to be a thrilling and intense event as the competition heats up. On Saturday, the winds were up and the waves were choppy, making for a thrilling experience for both the sailors and spectators.

The second and third races of the day were nothing short of exhilarating, as the boats battled for the top spot in the face of challenging conditions. In the second race of the regatta, Legaleze emerged victorious, but only by the narrowest of margins, with Big Blue coming in a close second and Puffin in third. But the real drama came in the third race, when Puffin, who made a wrong turn, made a last-minute surge to claim first place, leaving Legaleze and Wolf to fight for second and third.

With 2 more races scheduled for the weekend, the competition is still wide open. Sailors are going all out in their pursuit of victory, and tensions are running high as they strive for glory.

Day 3 - Sunday 29th January

The regatta reached a fever pitch on Sunday as 10 boats hit the water for another day of heart-pounding action. The fourth race was was tightly contested with the light breeze building to a brisk 15 knots, sending the fleet racing to the finish line. Big Blue emerged victorious, followed by Bella then Boss Ross but the real drama came in the middle of the pack Legaleze, who fought tooth and nail to beat Aphrodite by just a hair-raising 16 seconds and Puffin by 25 seconds on corrected time.

The final race proved to be a test of endurance as the wind faded away, leaving Bella, Big Blue, Boss Ross & Legaleze to push their boats to the limit. Despite their valiant efforts, they were unable to complete the race within the time limit, and the race was ultimately abandoned.

Final Results

The Wollongong Yacht Club's Australia Day Regatta has come to a close, and what a thrilling event it was!

After three days of sailing with intense competition and a mixture of challenging conditions, the overall results are in, and we are proud to announce that Big Blue has taken first place, followed by Bella in second and Legaleze in third.

The club would like to extend our thanks to City of Wollongong for their sponsorship of this exciting event. We would also like to thank all the skippers, crew, and volunteers who made this regatta a resounding success. Your dedication, hard work, and passion are what make events like this possible.

Thank you to all who participated and made this a memorable Australia Day Weekend Regatta. We look forward to seeing you all at the next event! 

Click here for Full Results : 

(Photo by Peter Rozmeta)