While the annual Sydney to Hobart yacht race attracts the most media attention in Australia, another race off the south Queensland coast attracts many more competitors lured by both the thrill of racing and the camaraderie.
The 87 kilometre Bay to Bay trailable yacht race is held every year on the first weekend in May – Labour Day weekend in Queensland – and is something I always look forward to, despite racing most weekends in a keel boat on Moreton Bay. The Bay to Bay is the second largest race of its type in Australia, regularly attracting over 200 entrants with a record of 230 boats in 1999.
Every year since 1980, boats of all colours, shapes and sizes are loaded on trailers all over Australia and driven to the small town of Tin Can Bay, about two and half hours north of Brisbane. Once the boats are unloaded, the trailers are driven to Hervey Bay for the end of the race while the rest of the crew spends the afternoon rigging and checking the boats.
Saturday morning the fun begins with race officer Colin Verrall briefing the sailors. Colin is an institution with the Bay to Bay, having being involved in it with his wife Sandra since it began 32 years ago. After a few in-jokes and some firm instructions the crews scramble on board their boats and gather at the start line just below the southern tip of Fraser Island, the world largest sand island.
I’m generally racing on Shalimar, a RL28 boat skippered by Phil McQueen. Last year there were four other RL28s, which meant we also got to do some match racing. With the slower divisions often starting first, we can often get a good lead on the other boats, thanks to our red asymmetrical kite. I can then look back and see the myriad of spinnakers rising behind us with nothing in front except sand dunes scattered with paper barks arcing above small beaches and inlets.
But eventually, we’re slowly but surely overtaken. First the multi-hulls often up on one hull with the crew careening over the side, then the other faster monohulls until we’re somewhere in the middle of the pack surrounded by bright colourful kites in the southerly breeze.
The first day is a race from Tin Can Bay to Gary’s Anchorage, a bit less than half way to the finish. There’s no overnight sailing on the Bay to Bay. Instead boats raft up on the shores of Fraser Island or anchor somewhere quieter. Many visit other boats, or go for a stroll on shore or a swim in the still warm waters. On Shalimar, there are nibbles, wine and beer and Phil pulls out a guitar, tambourine and shakers for a sing-a-long with whoever wants to join in.
Last year we sung with particular gusto as we were first across the line in our division, although that was only because one of the sportier boats in our division went the wrong way and missed the finish line and had to come back. Unfortunately, this did not happen on day two but we did beat all the other RL28s across the line and were second on handicap.
The second day sees an early spinnaker start to the race. I am asked to take the helm while Phil and Steve set the spinnaker. I choose the boat end of the start line when suddenly another boat is pushing me up. Phil tells me to keep going so I try not to close my eyes as we’re centimetres away from the start boat’s railing. I breathe a sigh of relief as we pass through unscathed, when the boat pushing us up calls a challenge, claiming an overlap. We decide after a few hundred metres to do a 720 just to be on the safe side, but we’re very pleased when we beat the challenging boat over the line and on handicap.
Sunday night is party time and celebration. And it seems like at least half the competitors get some sort of award at the Hervey Bay Sailing Club, who are now the major sponsor of the regatta. We’re reminded through photos and videos of just how much fun we’ve just had.
But too soon it’s Monday morning, and time to pack up the boats and trailers for another year and head in different directions and wait impatiently for the next Bay to Bay. (1108)