The Hervey Bay Boat Club Bay To Bay Yacht Race

2 weeks ago

A Bay 2 Bay Limmerick.
Peter York.

There is a race from Tin Can Bay to Hervey Bay
That starts under a Binary Star,
With Angelique and Woody, Tadover, quite moody, Midnight Rain, Pipedream, all ready to run.
A Certain Status sails with flair, Intrigue and Hailstorm pair. Alfina and Betty Boop, In a nautical loop, Their Boat Club adventures compare.
A sailor with A Certain Status Sought winds that would grant him stratus. On 2XS he sped, With Alfina ahead, While ALKIRA gleamed with great apparatus.
ANGELIQUE danced on the tide, And Apache cut waves with pride. Through Araluen's grace, And Artoo's swift pace, At Ataraxia, peace did reside.
The boats all started dreams well in hand. From Madman to Mango Madness, Through Midnight Rain's moonlit gladness, On Nirvana 2, dreams he had planned.
With Missee Lee, wind kissed his cheek, While MIDNIGHT MADNESS made waves unique. But alas, come the toll, He had No Dough at all, Yet his heart still sailed, so to speak!
A sailor set out feeling bold, On Bad Blood, in waters ice-cold. With Betty Boop dancing, And Bullbar advancing, Through tides where adventures unfold.
On Beautiful Day, skies were bright, While Boxer held firm in a fight. Past Beyond 2000's span, Came Bundy Flyer’s grand plan— To chase down the breeze with delight!
A sailor aboard Canuk, Met Coconut Duck with good luck. Through Cool Change they flew, While Costalot knew, That a race could be lost with bad luck.
From Cover to Cover he read, As Crank spun the waves where he sped. With Crosswind so grand, Twice guiding his hand, He sailed where adventure had led!
Now Fuzzy Logic, thoughts ran wild, While Geronimo raced, winds beguiled. On Gizmo they sped, Past Gumnut's homestead, Through waves where adventure had smiled.
Through Hailstorm's roar, skies grew deep, Yet Happy Wanderer dared the leap. With Harmony near, And He's Dreamin sincere, They sailed where the heart dared to keep!
On High Tension, the sails stood tight, As Huey called winds in full might. Past Incy Wincy so small, Through Indigo's thrall, They braved waves from dawn into night.
With Inferno's fire in their wake, And INTRIGUE guiding each break, Though Intriigue loomed near, They had nothing to fear, For adventure was theirs to partake!
Aboard Jeanie, the breeze was fair, As Joint Venture took to the air. With K.D. so keen, And Karloo serene, They sailed with the wind’s gentle care.
Then Lou Lou danced on the tide, With waves rolling deep and wide. Through waters so blue, Their dreams all came true, As adventure called far and untied!
On TadOver, they sailed with zest, While Temeraire X braved each test. Past The Builders House grand, And The Byrd 2 well-planned, Their voyage was truly the best!
With The Stig, speed ruled the day, And Throbbing Plums rocked in the spray. Through Tool Time’s fine craft, They laughed fore and aft, As waves carried dreams far away!
On Scratch, they set sail with flair, Then Second Wind swept through the air. With September Song sweet, And Shiddah’s strong beat, The ocean held wonders so rare.
Through Situation Normal, no fright, And SMOKO brought ease and delight. With Sun Dancer bright, Gliding smooth in the light, Their journey felt perfectly right!
On Numantia strong they set sail, With Pacemaker steady and hale. Past Palomino’s grace, And Patrick's Breeze’s embrace, They rode through the wind without fail.
With Penny Farrthing, they spun, While Pingu slid fast in the sun. Through Pipedream they steered, As horizons appeared, Their journey had only begun!
With Rossgo, the winds felt so free, Past Rubicon III on the sea. Through Rugcutter's pace, And RUN TO PARADISE's grace, Their voyage was thrilling to see!
On Sandpiper, they soared with grace, While Sangria sped in the race. Through Scratch, winds did roar, And Second Wind swore, That speed was their thrilling embrace.
With September Song singing high, And Shiddah streaked fast through the sky. Though Situation Normal held tight, Their pace was pure flight, As waves parted swiftly nearby!
On Touche, they drifted with ease, Through TREASURE ISLAND's soft breeze. With True Blue so grand, And Twocan at hand, They sailed where time seemed to freeze.
Past White Tail, the waters lay wide, While Woody swayed slow with the tide. Through Zanzibar's charm, And Zarafa's warm, Their journey was peaceful, well-tried!
At Tin Can Bay where dreams intertwine, She’s Dreamin’ of Boxer’s bold lines, True Blue sails with grace, Ataraxia’s pace, Endorfin’s a treasure divine.
K D, Intrigue and Zanzibar glide, Apache with Sea Jay beside, Depth Charge Ethel’s charm so grand, Alkira’s at hand, Close to Summer Bay, they all reside.
A boat named Midnight Madness, Whose voyages were filled with gladness. Costalot sailed with flair, Touche danced on the air, While Crank brought a touch of wild radness.
Cool Change drifted with ease, Rubicon III cut through the seas. Fluid Balance stayed true, Scratch and Rossgo too, And Reg Lou Lou sailed with the breeze.
At Garrys where boats find their rest, "The Builder's House" stood out as the best. "Tool Time" and "Feral Harmony," "Nirvana 2" sailed calmly, While "Happy Wanderer" joined the quest.
"Resin Up" shone bright, "Crosswind" took flight, In a sea where dreams interlace.
Out on the sea, ‘twas a Beautiful Day, High Tension rose and sailed away. Palomino took flight, with the Crosswind so light, it was a great day!
A sailor named Ray, Whose boats had the grandest display. High Tension set sail, While Sun Dancer would trail, On a Beautiful Day at the Bay..
Shiddah and Plastique sped past, Rugcutter cut waves just as fast. Crosswind took flight, With Pingu in sight, and the may forecast was right.
On the waves sailed Twocan with ease, Beside Throbbing Plums in the breeze. Fuzzy Logic felt grand, While Incy Wincy was manned, By a crew that drank Bundy with glee.
Temeraire X surged forth through the tide, Penny Farthing took wind on the wild side. Second Wind held its pace, Bullbar joined in the race, With Missee Lee bringing in the pride.
From Araluen's gold-dusted shore, The fleet danced as the sea gave its roar. With a sail and a cheer, They sped far and near, Their adventures forever folklore!
The fleet was now quite divine, With Twocan and Plums in a line. Fuzzy Logic set sail, While Incy Wincy grew pale, As Bundy Flyer zipped past on cloud nine.
And at the end of the race at Urangan Was it end-or-fin, NO it was just a tad over situation normal. ... See MoreSee Less

The Hervey Bay Boat Club Bay To Bay Yacht Race

2 weeks ago

2025 The Hervey Bay Boat Club Bay 2 Bay Yacht Race Report
Col Verrall

44th By to Bay Report - Race Officer Colin Verrall ph 0427 628 511

The 44th Annual Bay to Bay Trailable Yacht Race attracted 101 entries.

There is a mixed bag of reasons why trailable yacht owners participate in the forty four Bay to Bays to date from strictly racing all the way to an organized way to cruise from Tin Can Bay to Hervey Bay through the largely wilderness area of the Tin Can Inlet, Wide Bay Harbour and Great Sandy Strait the details of which will never be fully told, known or understood.

Despite all I have said below, except for a couple of self-interested comments about PBH ratings and combining Careel 18s and Careel 22s for the purpose of inclusivity for the Careel Class trophy all those who have contacted me or I have contacted have heralded the 44th Bay to Bay a success with typical comments such as ‘Great event, brilliantly organised and thanks for the message with my result’ ‘Just wanted to congratulate yourself, volunteers and race committee on a brilliant weekend, in trying conditions.’

Attention was drawn to the hazards that might be faced during a Bay to Bay, the serious uncontrolled consequences and the obligation of the skippers and crew to decide whether to race or continue to race and the absolute obligation to control those risks to an acceptable level, the fact that the Bay to Bay is a passage event through a largely wilderness area, , the requirement for each competitor to wear a personal floatation device adequate for the conditions, the absolute responsibility for the safety of the boat and its crew, the AS Racing Rules of Sailing Basic Principles, AS Special Regulations Part 1 1.02, the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, The Queensland Recreational Boating and Fisheries Guide, etc was clearly made in the Notice of Race, Sailing Instructions and Check List and at the Competitors Meeting. Skippers and crew were specifically asked to personally assess the conditions, adverse or otherwise that might be faced and make their decision whether to start the race or continue to race, if necessary to reduce sail or drop sails in a timely manner taking care to not leave their decision too late.

Make no mistake the circumstances particularly on Leg 1 Saturday certainly challenged the Race Officer’s decision making on whether to abandon or sail Leg 1 in particular and the challenges faced by the fleet and the fleet of no less than 5 HBSC safety patrol boats and 2 Tin Can Bay Coast Guard boats for Leg 1 and Marine Rescue Hervey Leg 2 and 3 Mark rounding surveillance boats on each day as the wind strength varied from about 10 to 15 knots, rising to about 20 knots and gusting to about 25 knots on my wind gauge during the 45 minute starting period and as the fleet approached Mark A, sailed on to Mark B and decreased to about 10 knots or so from Mark C to the finish Leg 1 and less during Leg 2.

Despite some very anxious moments during Leg 1 Saturday according to the Overall finishing sheets of the boats that started Saturday 43 of the 53 Type 1 Monohulls that started Saturday, 13 of the 16 Type 2 Sports Boats and 9 of the 9 Type 3 Multihulls were given a finish time overall.

There was some reasonably consistent sailing within 6 or so percentage of CBH ratings among the first 10 of the Type 1 monohulls, and 7 or so percentage of the first 4 Type 2 Sports Boats CBH ratings and within 8 or so percentage of the OMR ratings of the first 4 Type 3 Multihulls Saturday, Sunday and Overall

The weather forecasts for the 44th, physical fitness and medical challenges of skippers and crew, soundness, fit for the conditions, maintenance challenges of boat’s trailers, hulls, cabins, centreboards, rudders, rigging, sails, equipment safety and generally etc. posed serious, significant decision making challenges with 14 skippers withdrawing from the event before Saturday registration, 4 boats registered but Did Not Start Leg 1 Saturday and 12 boats retired from Leg 1 Saturday.

Illness saw one boat stay on shore at Tin Can Bay, the crew got a ride to Hervey Bay with a HBSC support boat trailer driver, drove back to Tin Can Bay and retrieved the boat.

Illness of the crew of another boat saw an ambulance called to Tin Can Bay, the crew taken to Gympie hospital then transferred to a Sunshine Coast hospital where she stayed for several days. The skipper of that boat elected to sail from Tin Can Bay to Hervey Bay under jib alone.

Uncontrolled broaches in heavy winds in the vicinity of about Inskip point saw the skipper and crew of one boat fall heavily into the boat with the crew sustaining significant injury to the ribs and the skipper a badly bruised bum. That boat returned to Tin Can Bay where the person with rib injuries was taken by ambulance to Gympie hospital then transferred to a Sunshine Coast hospital, with a diagnosis of several fractured ribs and an overnight stay in hospital. The boat was towed in by the Tin Can Bay Chandlery owners Chris and Emma Rippon who arranged a mooring for the boat whilst the crew was transported to Hervey Bay to pickup the tow vehicle and trailer by a HBSC club member.

At about the same time and location the skipper and crew of another boat fell overboard (perhaps due to a broken leaning strap) and were quickly picked up by a nearby Bay to Bay safety patrol boat and returned to the unmanned boat and they retired and sailed on to Garrys Anchorage to spend the night and sail to Hervey Bay Sunday.

One Sports boat had a stay break free from the deck resulting in the mast falling, and in the standard and sports monohull fleet two or more other masts that came down resulting in retirements. Failure of the rudder blade, rudder box and tiller saw three more Type 1 monohulls retire to Tin Can Bay on Saturday.

Several boats probably mainly Type 1 monohulls elected to put reefs in their sails, sail under jib only and either sailed to the finish line or retired to Garrys for the night and return to Tin Can Bay or other convenient landfall or sail on to Hervey Bay Sunday.

Despite all of that with the process of Registration, Sign On Snapper Creek, Sign Off southern Entrance to Garrys, recording boats rounding Mark B, sailing through the Finish line, a couple of hours of making VHF radio calls, phone calls to event mobiles, emergency contact numbers there was a high level of confidence Saturday afternoon, evening that all skippers and crew were accounted for and safe and all boats except the swamped Type 1 monohull that was left overnight on the sand bank on the eastern side of the Tin Can Inlet about opposite the Teebar Creek safely returned to landfall or overnight anchorage Saturday. The owner, crew of that boat admitted they did not have the centreboard pinned down so the boat was not properly ballasted at the time of an uncontrolled broach, knock down, the centre board fell into the boat, the boat did not self right but rolled upside down however the boat remained on the surface due to sufficient, watertight buoyancy, however when the boat was eventually righted the cabin was awash with water in the cabin and cockpit up to the companionway into the cabin, attempts to pump the boat out were unsuccessful. The owner and crew elected to leave the boat anchored on the sandbank overnight. They returned on Sunday, bailed the water out with two two gallon buckets, towed the boat back to Tin Can Bay and the boat was seen in the boat, trailer, car park safely on the trailer on Sunday. The wallets, mobile phones etc. were not in a waterproof satchel resulting in major inconvenience.
Several boats elected to cruise the area before and after the event with one boat returning to Tin Can Bay Yesterday Sunday 11 May.

Despite the inclement weather, only two thirds of the fleet recording a finish and the late relocation of the presentation held at Kondari it was well attended despite the rain. George Duck and Gail Ciavarella from the boat club presented the majority of 66 trophies that were awarded to the winners. There were several highlights one being Harken Kids on boats awards where 4 lucky children from participating boat won a water proof bag containing Harken goodies like sun glasses, gloves, etc. Another highlight was the sportsman ship award presented to 92 year old Felix Napret. Felix was the forward hand on his sons Happy Wanderer during the race. Several volunteers from from the TCBYC and HBSC were presented with whale watch vouchers. The presention ended when the raffle was drawn, a Lismore man Sonny Garady won the Bay City Marine Mercury, he was so excited he kissed the motor. Congratulations to the other Raffle winners.

Until Next Year Col ... See MoreSee Less