QCYC 2024-25 Season Opens with Goorangai and Eliza Ramsden Trophy Race

Queenscliff Cruising Yacht Club’s annual HMAS Goorangai Trophy Race and Eliza Ramsden Trophy female helm division run on Saturday 2 November as a passage race from RBYC to QCYC, delivering boats to QCYC as a prelude to their 63rd Opening Day on Sunday 3 November.

Saturday saw gentle Easterly wind for the 0930hrs start off RBYC with kites being deployed early. With a fading patchy breeze, boats drifted in different directions seeking a failing wind and were becalmed before picking up a welcome NNE which saw all 7 boats converge at the Transit 1 Melbourne Channel mark, mimicking a second start. The winds continued to build to 20kn for a great downhill ride to the West Channel pile mark and then softened in the West Channel dropping to a drift through the finish line at Swan Spit.

QCYC’s Rob Dott and crew aboard Cavalier 30 Kioni were out to defend their title of winners of the 2023 Goorangai Trophy and jumped the start with spinnaker deployed to lead the fleet almost all day. Sailing an exemplary race, they held out Ian Staley’s C&C 41 Dream Catcher by 12 seconds at the finish to take out both Line Honours and first PHS on corrected time. Post race, in the true custom of the sea and looking after your mates, “hero” of the day also went to Kioni for towing in their fellow sailors when Dream Catcher’s engine failed to fire, enabling them to safely navigate The Cut to QCYC. 

Three of the seven boats in the fleet, opted to also participate in the female helm division. The Eliza Ramsden Trophy was established three years ago to provide inclusion of women in on water events in lead roles and attracted female graduates from the KISS 2024 program onboard Boomaroo and Encore practising their new found skills.

Heidi Middleton (Metung Yacht Club) undertook a maiden ”learn to steer under kite” helming role on Rosie Colahan’s Northshore 340 Encore, mentored by Gippsland Lakes YC Vice Commodore Anne Delahay and took out ER PHS Honours.

Gina Chamberlain helming S&S 34 Boomaroo mentored by Tom Hinton and Alison Roberts-Wray placed second.

Third place went to Madeline McCarty on the helm of QCYC Vice Commodore Stuart Dickson’s Adams 40 Patternmaker.

Thanks to QCYC Club Captain Mike Phelan and RBYC for their support providing start and results handicapping.

Full results for the Goorangai Trophy are available on the RBYC website.

After a great day on the water, all boats were safely tucked up at the QCYC wharf when the forecast westerly cold front came through early Sunday morning, causing some rock ‘n roll amongst the boats.

By midday it was clear skies and sunshine for Opening Day ceremonies for the 2024-2025 season with a large crowd attending for firing of the cannon and Blessing of the Fleet and a complimentary Luncheon for all in attendance.