| Whitsunday
Multihull Rendezvous 2002 August 17th - 19th |
 |
 |
| The
Inaugural Whitsunday Multihull Rendezvous Carries
On The Tradition |
Rendezvous
- -voused/vousing 1- Appointment made between two
or more people to meet at a fixed place & time.
2- A place fixed for a meeting, esp of troops, ships,
or spacecraft. 3- To meet at an appointed place. |
|
 |
The
Inaugural Whitsunday Multihull Rendezvous went
way beyond the dictionary meaning. For the 50
or so crew involved in this history making event
the words, ‘Revelry, friendly rivalry and
REALLY REALLY GOOD!’ will be tacked onto
the definition forevermore. Rendezvous locations
have been far from ‘fixed’ over the
years but the events timing, coinciding with
the Multi- Free Hamilton Island Race |
Week,
was indelibly marked on every multi calendar
at the Regattas inception!
After skipping its’ way from Laguna Quays and then Bowen, the
Rendezvous has now found it’s way to the Whitsundays - and perfect
conditions were there to greet it. Steady South Easterlies, smooth
seas and generally sunny skies set the stage daily with specifically
designed courses keeping the multi mob extremely happy. Smoky and
Nellie Dawsons’ classic wooden cruiser, SHELAN, made
a wonderful start boat, the pairs extensive experience and jolly
approach much appreciated by all. Free meals every evening at the
Whitsunday Sailing Club, along with $1.50 pots of Carlton Mid Strength
also ensured satisfied smiles on every salty dial! Major sponsorship
from EMULTIHULLS.COM, and CARLTON
UNITED, along with AIRLIE ELECTRONICS, BRUCE
FINLAY, HOME HARDWARE, WHITSUNDAY
RENT A YACHT and N.S.I enabled
an impressive stack of quality prizes to be awarded throughout the
regatta with no -one going home empty handed.( Or thirsty, OR hungry
for that matter!) Graham and Leonie Matthews, crewing on the owner
designed/built 40’ cat, FREYJA, were so impressed with
the whole shebang they made a last minute sponsorship donation from
their business, HOGS BREATH TERRIGAL.
As the saying goes, “You gotta be happy with that!” |
FREYJA has
been home for Don and Cheryl Kitson for the last
two and a half years but despite a liveaboard payload,
the big cat cruised easily into a 1st Overall in
the Cruising Division. Don and Cheryls’ dog,
Jessie, proved an able crew member, barking stern
warnings to any close quarter contenders and sniffing
out wind shifts diligently!
Rendezvous ‘Whitsunday style’ was
relaxed and friendly as every ‘REALLY
GOOD’ regatta should be. Laid back
camaraderie prevailed after the hectic
pace of Hogs Breath with not the slightest
whiff of protest or penalty. The only P
word was PARTY and traditional Rendezvous
|
 |
| social
conditions prevailed for the regattas three day duration
. Being initiated into the Rendezvous experience
were legendary English designer, Derek Kelsall and
wife, Paula. As Rear Commodore, Lochie Wilson said
in his welcome, “If anyone here doesn’t
know who Derek Kelsall is, I suggest they shouldn’t
be sailing a multi!” Derek and Paula enjoyed
sensational Whitsunday sailing aboard ROOM WITH
A VIEW and the E-SERIES, two totally different
boats but equally memorable experiences for the Kelsalls
who nominated the three day Rendezvous a definite
highlight of their Australian holiday. Dereks fascinating
presentation on the last night quietened the multi
crowd as the fleet were treated to the pioneers ideas
on multihull safety, building methods and rigging
considerations. Stories spiced the technical content
of the speech, outlining the brilliant career of
an undeniable design genius and true gentleman in
the annals of multihull history. Cheers broke the
studious silence when Derek praised the events success,
suggesting next years Rendezvous will easily draw
overseas competitors and is destined to become a
celebrated event on the worldwide multi calendar. |
 |
Another
welcomed International guest amongst the ‘troops’ was
the affable Russell Brown on his beautiful proa, JZERRO.
Any doubts on proa performance were obliterated throughout
the Regatta as the liveaboard cruiser stormed start
and finish lines to take All Out Line Honours in
the Cruising Division. |
| The
37 footer of Russells’ own design provided the
fleet with some amazing spectacles as it continually
powered off into the distance, leaving a slightly
unusual wake in its’ track! Russell and crew
member, Mark Lamb worked extremely well together
to pull maximum speed at every opportunity. Within
the first hour of Race One it became obvious JZERRO was
in the wrong Division … Racing definitely more
their league but … shoulda, coulda, woulda … there’s
always next year Russell! Needless to say, their
handicap on the morning of Race Two bore very little
resemblance to the original and popped them out of
the placing picture. Their elapsed times continued
to impress, however, and they would have been chasing
the ‘Big Boys’ for sure (EMULTIHULLS.COM and ROOM)
had they been running the Racing Division. Even David
Mitchell on the speedy Crowther 36’tri, SPIRIT,
was astonished when JZERRO sliced past them
at an awesome rate of knots. “We were registering
17 and they literally flew past us …” David
said. SPIRIT is no stranger to pace setting
itself and has chalked up an impressive local race
record, now topped off with a 2nd Overall in the Whitsunday
Rendezvous 2002 Racing Division. Their consistent
performance of 1,2,2, was no surprise and the resulting
place a well deserved award. Farrier 28’ tri, THRILLNECK,
proved the most consistent placegetter in Racing
with skipper, Ray Cleary fronting up to the podium
for 3rd place at every race presentation. The crew
were thrilled but not too surprised when called yet
again to collect their prize for -yep- 3rd Overall
in the Racing Division! EMULTIHULLS.COM (formerly FLAT
CHAT) faced a hefty handicap straight up which
kept them behind the winning wall but recording the
usual slick times. Line honours in Racing Division
was a given with not one race taking more than three
hours to complete and the final triangle being tackled
in just 1.55. Skipper Steve Halter was delighted
to haul a carton of Mid Strength home along with
a Line Honours certificate to add to the Cat's mountain
of trophies and awards. |
The
array of ‘space craft’ in the Whitsunday
Rendezvous was astounding. Besides Russell Browns’ Proa
and owner designed FREYJA, Farrier, Tennant,
Simpson, Marples,Grainger and Wharram designs featured,
along with a formidable line up of Crowther cats
and tris. Once Crowthers own boat, the Super Shockwave, WAHOO,
was an admirable ambassador with a 2,1,1 performance
earning them 1st Place in the Racing Division overall.
Owner/skipper Neville Hooey and nephew, Wayne enjoyed
an ever changing
|
 |
list
of eager and able crew who thoroughly enjoyed flying
the 40 footer to triumph. Not so enjoyable, however,
was the similarly long list of damage sustained as
the elderly classic returned to racing after years
of gentle cruising. Luckily Nevs’ big booty
of prizes soothed the pain considerably and going
by his ever widening smile during the Rendezvous
duration, you’d never have dreamt he’d
suffered 4 snapped halyards, 2 snapped reefing lines,
a torn No1, torn No 2, broken prodder bracket, broken
traveller outhaul and broken seagull striker!
The other Grand Lady of the Crowther fleet, ROOM WITH A VIEW also
ended up a little worse for wear when a prodder chain plate pulled
through the hull in the last race causing extensive damage. The powerful
pod cat, skippered by Matt Jensen and crewed by Ian Willett and Horst
Annas, made an amazing sight screaming across Funnel Bay just before
the breakage, white water streaming off the bows and the momentum
obvious as spray spumed deckward. The Kelsalls had elected to sail
aboard E-SERIES that day, hence saved a little more excitement
than they probably needed! Other notable Crowthers on the track were
John Tomkinsons 40’ Spindrift, EGRET and Ray Meyers irrepressible
28’ Windspeed, PIGLET. PIGLET has been racing since 1989
- “When there’s a race on - I’m there!” Ray says.
His little pink beauty has almost become a Whitsunday icon, along
with Ray himself whose determination to sail despite hip replacements
is an inspiration for all.
The Cruising Division was definitely a mixed multi bag with all sorts
of cruisers enjoying a taste of racing. Everything from the brand
new E-SERIES through to a Wharram 42 Pahi, (LITTLE BLUE)
and even a Jim Brown 37’ tri, (TRI REALITY), hooted around
the islands, learning lots about their boats and the excitement of
regatta racing. TRI REALITY's liveaboard owner, Len Rippingale
(what a name!!!) rekindled his racing spirit after 20 years absence
and has definitely been bitten by the bug yet again. TRI REALITY is
sure to front up at Rendezvous 2003 - ready to rip along Rendezvous
style! The Tennant Turrismo, GO, also couldn’t resist
the last days triangle track but left everyone wondering just where
they did GO after retiring due to rigging stress. Gavin enjoyed
his brief taste of the Rendezvous and hopefully the excellent example
of Tennant design will lengthen the experience in 2003. Another brief
player was the modified Chris White, PEARLER, who retired
after Race One with gear failure and a suspected bent rudder. (But
we’ll be back!!!) Whitsunday Sailing Club Rear Commodore, All
Round Nice Guy and Rendezvous organiser, Lochie Wilson also managed
to escape shore duties and make it out for Race Three, his little
Farrier tramp escorting the fleet like a favourite mascot. |
Marc
and Sandra Chapman revelled in the Rendezvous conditions,
regularly flying hulls as they tested the new main
on their Marples 28’ tri, FROG. The first
days reef quickly disappeared as they got to know
their massive, roachy new acquisition and by Regattas
end, all apprehension had dissolved - they LOVED
it! FROG's illustrious racing history in the EMIC
regattas, saddled them with a handicap at the
upper end of the scale but their new sail and brilliant
teamwork still saw them take home a 3rd place in
Race 2 and performing to par throughout the regatta.
Just one of the Rendezvous highlights was the Wharram Pahi, LITTLE
BLUE, meeting head on with the Hammo Island Race Week fleet at
White Rock. The huge mono fleet happened to be tearing down Long
Island Sound and rounding the rock in the opposite |
 |
| direction
as LITTLE BLUE approached - a pretty intimidating
sight necessitating some skilful helming to weave
the bright red Pahi successfully through the melee
- twice! Skipper, Col was rightfully awarded the
prize as Best Rendezvous Ambassador for his gallant
march through the maze of big monos’- and what
better colour than red to wave through on…? |
 |
Simpson
37’ WINDSONG was only able to attend
two races as a birthday party kept them from the
start line of Race 2. John and Cheryl have become
regular regatta participants and thoroughly enjoy
putting their floating home through its’ paces.
Hopefully next year will see them with a free social
calendar for the entire Rendezvous which could also
see them earn a place, building upon their successful EMIC
2002 result of 2nd Overall in the Cruising Division.
Third in the Cruising Division was Wayne Dwyers magnificent Tasman
43’, |
SWAVY.
Wayne and crew, along with WAHOO, EMULTIHULLS.com and ROOM
WITH A VIEW had just one day to recover after HOGS
BREATH before fronting up again at the Rendezvous
line. Definitely a commendable effort! SWAVY has
been actively racing at every opportunity while in
the Whitsundays, truly promoting the fact that Cruisers
CAN race AND place! Involving cruising boats is one
of the Rendezvous main objectives. This years Rendezvous,
along with the growing number of Regattas like the EMIC,
has proven there’s plenty of room for cruisers
to compete and enjoy some fun competition while celebrating
multihull design overall. The Rendezvous has always
proved an extremely enjoyable ‘multi - meet’ which
can only grow in popularity and attract an ever widening
group of fast ‘ships’ and cruisey ‘space
craft’ in the future.
2003 will be huge with the fleet sure to double if not triple in
size after this years overwhelming success. Sponsorship is already
following suit with next years prizes even bigger and better. Free
evening meals will definitely continue … and who knows what
gourmet delights may appear with extra sponsorship! Bargain beers
are also a MUST, Carlton United Breweries generous support more than
greatly appreciated! Derek Kelsall may well be back, along with a
number of International entrants, more nationally acclaimed speedsters
in the Racing Division and of course, a bigger fleet of liveaboard ‘space
craft’ in the Cruising Division.
The Inaugural Whitsunday Multihull Rendezvous 2002 : Revelry… friendly
rivalry… a magnificent first meeting at one of the worlds best
appointed meeting spots and the definite beginning of something REALLY
REALLY GOOD….. |
.
| LINE
HONOURS: |
RACING
- EMULTIHULLS.COM - Grainger 40’ cat - Steve & Pat
Halter
CRUISING - JZERRO - Russell Brown 36’ Proa - Russell Brown
RACING:
1
- WAHOO - Crowther Super Shockwave - Neville
Hooey
2 - SPIRIT - Crowther 36’ tri - David Mitchell
3 - THRILLNECK - Farrier 28’ tri - Ray Cleary
CRUISING:
1
- FREYJA - Don Kitson 40’ cat - Don & Cheryl Kitson
2 - SWAVY - Tasman 43’ cat - Wayne Dwyer
3 - E-SERIES - Grainger 36’ cat - Jim Gard, Keith Roberts |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
