Thank you to all Couta Boat sailors, partners, familiy members, Committee members, volunteers and staff who attended the Couta Boat season 2022-23 presentation awards lunch on Sunday 7 May 2023. Over 120 people enjoyed a delicious two course lunch and cheese platters amongst friends, talking about the fantastic aggregate season that has come to an end, our beautiful Clubhouse and how nice it is to be able to come together this year in the dining room to celebrate the season. Crews were seated together in their boat groups, expertly pulled together by Jane Morgan who assisted with the table centrepieces again this year, as well as the table seating plan.
The lunch kicked off with stand in Club Captain, Scott Llewleyn (Vice Commodore) as Tim Collett had a work commitment and was unable to attend. We enjoyed an entertaining Q&A with our new General Manager, Gavin Wall, as well as Mike Haig award recipient, Jack Lewis, interviewed by Training Manager David White.
The Mike Haig Memorial Trophy is awarded to the Club Member between the ages 16 – 25 years who has been assessed by the Flag Officers as having proved themselves the best Club Member, in that age group, in that season. Mike Haig was a young Club Member and XY16 catamaran sailor who was tragically killed in an industrial accident in July 1973. His parents wished to donate a trophy to the Club in honour of Mike and it was first awarded in 1973-74. Congratulations to Jack Lewis.
The other Club awards presented were:
Bernie Ross award – Bernie was a passionate fisherman and sailor who was there right at the start. It is given to the person who makes the biggest contribution to the Club and Couta Boat sailing. Sometimes it is about hard work. Sometimes it is about stirring the pot and sometimes it is about creating change. Congratulations to Phil Bainbridge who was awarded the Bernie Ross award this year for his contribution to Couta Boat sailing on the Club’s boat, Ripple, and his work as one of our important volunteers, taking guests and non-members out on Ripple to experience Couta Boat sailing through our Couta Coaching courses.
Ralph Wilson Award – Peter Osbourne orated the awarding of the Trophy for an outstanding on water event. It’s actually viewed as an honour because the recipients are usually those that do the most work and the hardest jobs. The Queenscliff Div 2 Nationals were held in difficult shifty and tidal conditions. Marks were really hard work in the tide and the top course boat bosuns couldn’t move the top mark after a big wind shift and AP holding up racing and their radio wasn’t working. Ben Fels saw this and went up the course, when he recovered the mark, start sequence was recommenced. Ben sped to the new position and quickly and re-laid it before sprinting down to umpire the start. Getting down to the line he thought it was strange that all the boats in the prestart kept looking at him. When relaying the mark in the opposing wind and tide in deep water the anchor rope had floated up and hooked the engine leg, so he raced down the course with the windward mark in tow. It was really funny for all involved. That new floating anchor rope for this season was not a good idea!
Most Improved / Yanmar Trophy: Sue Neales C666 Spitfire
The Couta Boat season 2022-23 results were:
TLC Healthcare CBA States
Div 1: Line Honours (LH) Wagtail C86; Performance Handicap (PH) Sally C82;
Div 2: LH Morning Star C157; PH Lucy C31
Div 2 Nationals
LH Jessamine C1922; PH Tarni C93
carsales CBA Portsea Cup
Div 1: PH and LH – Jocelyn C2014;
Div 2 LH Jessamine C1922; PH Gisella C1789
The Continental Sorrento Cup
Div 1: PH and LH Margarita C97
Div 2: PH and LH Morning Star C157
Heritage Trophy – Mercury C22
Lacco Cup (Div 2) –
LH Jessamine C1922; PH Joan C99
Overall Season Aggregate 2022-23
Passage Aggregate
Div 1: LH Margarita C97; PH Matilda C127
Div 2 LH Morning Star C157; PH Tarni C93
Aggregate
Div 1: LH and PH Margarita C97 (2nd Sally C82; 3rd Matilda C127)
Div 2 LH and PH Morning Star C157 (2nd Tarni C93; 3rd Lucy C31)
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- Club Captain Harry Mighell
