The 2019 CAPE VLAMINGH RACE forms part of the Ocean Racing WA Offshore Series and the last race in the FSC Captain Stirling Cup. The race was held last Saturday with the fleet starting off North Cottesloe and offering a great spectator opportunity for those who ventured down to the beach to watch and enjoy.
Hosted by Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club (on behalf of East Fremantle Yacht Club) the event is a popular sail for new teams wishing to gain experience in a variety of sea and navigational scenarios. Not to mention it is also well liked by the seasoned die hard’s in the Ocean Racing Circuit.
The race started at 1015hrs and 1005hrs for Division one and two in light South Easterly winds seeing most crews with their weight well down on the low side to preserve some heeling angle. With only one Div 1 break, a tight start by most followed by first of all rounding a yellow day buoy near to the beach in South Cottesloe, then heading back up the beach with spinnakers flying before heading out through the Windmill Gates and around Rottnest Island in a clockwise direction before finishing off South Mole in Fremantle.
Once again two SoPYC member-owned yachts braved the blue water – and not surprising that was Betty and Barry Walsh (Twitch) and Chris Higham (Argo). These two hardened teams are a regular front up on the starting line and are key members of the SoPYC Ocean Racing Committee.
With the breeze steadily building as the fleet rounds Rottnest the downwind flyers pick up their skirts and pull away. Never the less – Argo pulling off a commendable 3rd place in IRC, Twitch taking fourth (2nd on YAH) the day was another great adventure for our sailors. Well done to all who competed and to the race organizers and volunteers for help making another fun offshore sailing adventure yet again a success ~ Chris Hind ~
Photos below courtesy of RFBYC, Iron Bark Photos and Sails on Swan.
Videos and images on social media.
- Use this link to view the Facebook album ‘2019 Cape Vlamingh Race’
- Use this link to view the Facebook album ‘Cape Vlamingh Race’ by Sails On Swan (John Chapman aerial images)
- Ironbark Photos – follow the links below for Lindsay’s videos on Facebook:
Working up to Day Buoy 1 in Cottesloe
