Melbourne's Classic Yacht Cup Regatta begins
by Peter Costolloe 28 Oct 2022 23:34 BST
29-31 October 2022
Yvonne in the farmer's shed © Classic Yacht Association of Australia
Melbourne's Classic Yacht fleet begins three days of full on Classic Yacht Cup Regatta racing from this Saturday 29th October.
Over seventeen years of classic yacht regatta racing, the theme has been constant: Something old something new. This year the regatta theme is wrapped up in one word - YVONNE.
Since her 1938 launch for Joe White of Acrospire fame, the Knud Reimers designed Tumlaren, Yvonne, never put a foot wrong during her years of one design racing at the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron. Never less than second place in seven years, plus a host of class and State titles, gave her a yachting pedigree that is second to none.
Now, after twenty of so years in a farmer's shed, and then a six-year restoration led by that professor of all things Tumlaren, Roger Dundas, who led a team of three hearties and four helpers, Yvonne, now under the helm of Dave Allen, ace Tumlaren skipper and also of No Limit fame, is all set to restart her tradition as the top performing Tumlaren on Port Phillip.
Competing with Yvonne of overall Cup Regatta performance honours will be six other Tumalrens, plus Mercedes III with her never to be repeated 1967 Admirals Cup record, and the Joe White Acrospire III. A fleet of ex-Sydney to Hobart campaigners is also in this competitive mix. A fleet wild card for Cup Regatta silver is the Philip Rhodes designed Scimitar that was built over three generations of the Geelong based Purcell family.
On the one design side of the Cup Regatta, we will see a seven strong fleet of Tumlarens competing for the Digby family trophy used to recognise the restricted 21 foot one design racing on Port Phillip. Another first time happening for the Classic Yacht Cup Regatta.
The Cup Regatta social scene kicks off on Friday evening with the traditional welcome to the Cup Regatta skippers and crews, and our long standing supporters from the Classic Yacht Association of New Zealand, plus our interstate visitors. The feature trophy for the CYAA Cup Regatta is the Tony Blake trophy. This trophy was donated by New Zealand's Marine Artist Tony Blake that depicts the1907 Sayonara Cup battle between Sayonara and Rawhiti.
To bring the on water action alive Alex McKinnon that dynamic marine photographer will be on the water to record all the close quarter classic yacht action.