A week out from the third edition of the Vincentia Sailing Club’s Jervis Bay Classic, we couldn’t have anticipated the weather, numbers, and absolute energy on the Moona Moona over the ANZAC long weekend, marking the conclusion of the regular sailing season. A grand total of 71 boats of all shapes and sizes hit the water, racing in pure champagne sailing conditions.
A huge shoutout and thank you to the amazing volunteers from the VSC, who once again put on a show like no other. We cannot wait for the Nationals.
There was plenty on over the weekend. It was the Australian Championships for the F16s, with 11 boats competing in the series. Additionally, the NSW Hobie Cat Association was concluding its 25/26 Traveller Series after nine events throughout the season, of which the opening event was the WaveGP Championships at the VSC back in September.
Saturday
As always, the regatta commenced on ANZAC Day with the Round the Bay Rally — a long-distance, passage-style race around the cardinal marks within the Moona Moona. With a blissful nor’east seabreeze forecast, the “Callala Run” was the only suitable option.
With two-thirds of the fleet having completed the course at last year’s event, the likelihood of the lead boats sailing off course was at an all-time low. The 14s started off strong, with the not-so-young-gun Bryn Robinson-Mills rounding the windward mark first after a solid start, with the new young gun Emma Webb just behind. The pair were soon followed by Bridget Bolewski, Andrew Spinelli, and Darren Schmidt, who all powered up for the reach down to Husky.
As the lead boat, Cozican, headed north with the 14s, the rest of the fleet continued with the rolling start. Scott & Elena led the charge on the Hobie 18, closely followed by Jake & Clare, whilst the F18 crewed by the Abbotts sent it ahead of the locals Egbert & Helen.
However, it was Jarrod Spencer on the foiling A-Class who soon began to lead the charge, smoking his way across the Moona Moona and reaching the Callala mark well ahead of his opponents. As the rest of the fleet made their way up to the cardinal mark off Callala, the breeze had filled in for the screaming reach across to Long Beach.
All while the big cats were hooning around the north end of the bay, the monos and small cats were battling it out on the short course right in front of Huskisson, providing a full-on spectator experience to the masses enjoying the summer-like conditions in the midst of autumn.
The Sharpies led from the get-go; however, it was Edward Alexander on the ILCA who cleaned up on yardstick, setting the tone for the racing throughout the weekend. Leading the small cats over the line were River & Syd on the Dragoon, but it was Jocelyn Hood on the Wave who managed to beat the Green duo on yardstick in the overall results.
As the fleet began their descent to Plantation Point with the nor’easter well and truly filled in, it wasn’t long before sailors headed to Husky, converging at the Jervis Bay Brewing Co. to catch up on all the action from the first race of the series.
Sunday
It was a slow start to the first day of short course racing, with the north-westerly blowing moderately as the sun rose over Point Perpendicular. The RO in chief, the VSC’s very own Mick Butler, made the call for the first heat to start as close to 10 am as possible in the light northerly.
Bridgy took the bullet in the first heat in the 14s, slipping past the author of this yarn on the final downwind stretch. Jake & Clare took a win back from Scott & Elena in the H16/H18 fleet, whilst Steve Swinburg on the Hobie 17 took a bullet in the mixed fleet ahead of Egbert & Helen and Zoe Kershaw on the Classic A. The legendary Jimmy “Six Guns” Butler took out the Vipers ahead of Emma & Beau, as Ed on the ILCA finished ahead of Sam & Harry on the 505.
The third race of the series saw the seabreeze finally fill in and gradually build throughout the race. With a pearler of a start, I took the bullet ahead of Bryn, Bridgy, and Spinelli. Scott & Elena on the H18 took out the next race ahead of Jake & Clare, with Emily & Lily finishing third. Sam Bylett took the bullet in the mixed fleet ahead of the two F18s of the Makins in second and the Abbotts in third.
Emma & Beau took out the Vipers ahead of Niall & Anthony, whilst Ed on the ILCA took out Ed on the Finn, with the Kebab Run Sharpie (Flyn on the helm) in third.
The second-last race of the day was dominated by Hot Rod Waterhouse, who felt right at home in the breeze. Bryn and I were neck and neck as we raced around the track trying to catch Warty. The battle between Scott & Elena and Jake & Clare continued, with the former claiming another bullet, whilst Courtney & Soph on the Hobie 16 could finally loosen things up as the breeze built, finishing third.
Jarrod was able to fly full-time on the A-Class, snagging himself a bullet ahead of Sam and Egbert & Helen. Meanwhile, Beau & Emma extended their lead in the Vipers with another bullet in the blow.
Likewise, Ed on the ILCA extended his lead in Division Five, with the boys on the Sharpie finishing second, whilst the highlight of the fleet went to River & Jackson for completing their first cartwheel capsize on the Dragoon.
The final race of the day saw capsizes across the race track, with a few solo warriors coming untethered from their Vipers. A huge shoutout to the rescue crews from the VSC, along with the two RIBs from Canberra Yacht Club, for staying vigilant at all times.
In borderline cowboy sailing conditions, the battle between the Hobie 14s was tighter than ever, but after a clean start at the boat end, I was able to extend on Bryn and Warty to take the final race of the day.
Henry & Jess claimed their first bullet of the series with pure boat speed on the Yellow Submarine Hobie 16, smashing the Hobie 18s at the top of the table on yardstick. Sam took a bullet on the Classic A, as Jarrod went down the mine shaft one too many times.
Lewis & James were the happiest at the end of the day, stealing a bullet off Emma & Beau in the F16s. Finally, Ed on the ILCA finished his day with a picket fence ahead of Ed on the Finn and Dan and the boys on the Sharpie.
Monday
It was a slow start to the final day of racing. With a lighter nor’easter forecast compared to the first two days, it was no surprise when it eventually filled in around midday.
MB, Hooper, and the rest of the volunteer team at the VSC were able to lock in two high-quality races to finish the series — the first in around 5 knots, and the final heat in around 10 knots.
With racing tight across all divisions, the final races provided ample opportunity for gains and losses from the front to the back of the fleet.
In Division One, the results were solidified after the author snagged two bullets on Monday. Bryn Robinson-Mills finished second, nine points behind, with Hot Rod Waterhouse two points further back in third. Bridget Bolewski was the first-placed female helm, finishing fourth overall, whilst Emma Webb claimed the highest-placed youth title, just one point ahead of Sam Dalton.
Division Two saw Scott & Elena clean up on the Hobie 18, claiming their first overall win. Jake & Clare were four points behind in second, with Emily & Lily finishing third as the top-placed female and youth team. Courtney & Sophie were the top-placed Hobie 16, just two points behind in fourth overall on yardstick.
The mixed cat fleet in Division Three was incredibly tight, with Jarrod Spencer on the foiling A-Class taking the win two points ahead of Samy Bylett on the Classic A-Class. The Abbotts on the F18 finished third overall, beating Egbert & Helen on countback.
In Division Four, and for the F16 Australian Championships, Emma & Beau solidified their dominance, finishing on 10 points — five ahead of Lewis & James. Niall & Anthony finished on 18 points, with the standings coming down to the final day. Jimmy “Six Guns” Butler finished fourth overall and first in the single-handed fleet.
In Division Five, Edward Alexander ripped into the JB Classic with a near picket fence, finishing first overall ahead of Edward Louis on the Finn. Daniel and the Canberra crew on the Sharpie were third, just three points behind. Joel Hodder was the top local on the Hobie Wave, finishing sixth overall, whilst the Dragoons finished just a point apart.
On behalf of the VSC and the NSWHCA, I’d like to thank everyone for coming down south and ripping in for the JB Classic, closing the sailing season in style.
The 26/27 NSW Hobie Cat Association Traveller Series will kick off again at the VSC on 12–13 September with the Hobie Wave Grand Prix Championships, followed by the 54th Hobie Cat Nationals from 31 December through to 10 January 2027.
We look forward to seeing you all back in Jervis Bay at the Vincentia Sailing Club soon.
Photos taken by VSC member John Quinn are attached.
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