Nearly 30 sailors take to Quindalup for inaugural WA Day regatta

The Quindalup shore was decorated with sails over the weekend, as the inaugural WA Day Weekend Regatta took place at Dunsborough Bay Yacht Club.

Conquering the mild winter weather and gentle breezes, 27 dinghy and catamaran sailors from clubs across the State took part.

The fleet included eight Sabre dinghies from the East Fremantle Sailing Club.

Other participating clubs included Busselton’s Geographe Bay Yacht Club, Shelley Sailing Club and Koombana Bay Sailing Club from Bunbury, with Sabres, Windrush 14s and Lasers the dominant classes.

DBYC vice-commodore Craig Saunders described the weekend as an “outstanding success,” and committed to making it an annual affair.

“We have a wonderful facility here for off-the-beach sailing and our visitors really appreciated what we have to offer,” he said.

“I expect that when word gets out about how well it went, and what a great little club we have here, that entries for 2023 will be well up on this year — and we were already thrilled by the numbers competing.”

East Fremantle sailor Peter Johnstone, at the helm of On Fire, claimed first place in the monohull division for the eight-race regatta, proving his Sabre’s name was no idle boast.

Busselton yachtsman Cliff Rolfe on his Windrush 14 Cliff Hanger took home the prize for first place in the multihull division, with other prizes donated by local businesses Board Store and Eagle Bay Brewing.

The highest placed local in monohulls was Laser skipper Klaus Schmechtig, who came in fourth on Formosa.

Saunders was second in the multihull division racing his new Windrush 14 Sea Saw.

Later this year, DBYC will be hosting a four-regatta Polar Bear Series over winter before the summer sailing season recommences in October.