The annual Rudder Shield regatta for the Jubilee class was hosted by the Jubilee Yacht Association of Victoria and the Ballarat Yacht Club at Lake Wendoree on 4 May. Conditions varied throughout the day from flukey breezes to strong winds and a rain shower, with the temperature never climbing above a chilly 9C !
SSCBC and Ballarat both fielded two teams, which contested against teams representing Albert Park, Royal Brighton, Cairn Curran YC and from interstate, Cronulla Sydney. The unique format saw each team rotate boats each race on boats provided by Ballarat Yacht Club members, with a rule that the boat owner was not to skipper their own boat.
The Jubilee fleet at Ballarat is very active and Ballarat Yacht Club ran the regatta very professionally.
Racing was close in all seven races. The eventual winner was a Ballarat team, followed by the Albert Park YC team, with Cronulla, Sydney being third. The Sorrento team of Michael Cantwell, Darryn Hartnett and Stephen Davies finished fourth. The second Sorrento team led by Bob McDonald and John Cameron finished sixth.
Many former Sorrento Jubilees are now based at Ballarat where they are actively sailed. It was great for the Sorrento sailors to see so many familiar boats and I personally enjoyed sailing on Jubilees that I last raced on as a teenager when they were based at Sorrento, such as the ex David Long and Noel Drayton owned “Elizabeth”/ “Golden Girl”. In fact, the very first Jubilee, J1 “Freydis”, which was launched in 1935, is based at Ballarat where it is undergoing a major restoration.
We thank Ballarat YC for hosting the event and for their warm hospitality. The racing was keenly supported and those on shore had a great view of the racing.
Darryn Hartnett
