Single Handed Regatta at Big River Sailing Club
by Hariet Woodrow 1 Nov 20:50 NZDT
26-27 October 2024
Single Handed Regatta at Big River Sailing Club © Big River Sailing Club
Tucked away in the cane fields on the northern bank of the Clarence River at Harwood, Northern NSW, lies the beautifully groomed parkland and grounds of the Big River Sailing Club.
The river is wide and clear, easy to rig and launch, camping and catering on site, it's an easy destination event where the "after sailing" is a big part of the story.
As the secret seeps out the club regattas are becoming increasingly popular. The Single Handed regatta on 26/27 October, (for monohulls with a yardstick over 105) attracted 62 entrants.
Dominant classes of Impulse, Finn, ILCA 6, and Sabre, plus 2 miscellaneous divisions including ILCA 7 and 4.7, Scow Moth, RS100, and OK dinghy rounded out the senior fleet. Encouragingly, five Sabots from the Northern Zone (Coffs Harbour) also completed the races on a smaller inner course. Great to see the Coffs folks fostering the next generation into the sport!
Competitors travelled in from Sydney, Lake Macquarie, Tweed heads, Brisbane and Sunshine Coast.
An unseasonably cold SE'er greeted the early arrivals on Friday, with everyone scrambling for jackets and warm gear, and that continued into Saturday.
Racing kicked off at 1.30 in 8 - 10 knots with gusts above, but while wind strength was ideal, it was shifty! The race track was busy and the competition lively. Lots of hero to zero and back again tales recounted around the tables over the "club dinner".
The start and finish and most of the course can be watched from the clubhouse deck, so family and friends get to see all the action at close quarters.
Sunday's forecast looked fairly sketchy so the race committee got 4 races away on Saturday to constitute a series. Just as well as it turned out that the wind disappeared with the cold weather, no sailing was to be had on Sunday.
The club holds its next event, the Bridge to Breakers Regatta on the 9th/10th November with the 70 boat limit fully subscribed. This is an "all boats" event with a river passage marathon race on Saturday and 2 or 3 shorter "long course" races Sunday.
The Clarence River will again be spectacular sight with the colour of Trailer Sailer, Sports boats, and Skiffs kites, the raw speed of A class cats, and everything in between on display.
Visiting sailors and spectators are always welcome, with club sailing every Saturday August to April. Check us out!
Results for all divisions, and loads of photos here