Boxing Day Dash - 26/12/10

NOR and online entry now live.

The Boxing Day Dash is available for these new divisions - Trailable, Classics, Cruising and Sportboats, as well as the traditional Racing classes.

You would know it in the past as the Cock of the Bay, but these days SPAM filters and the like just don't tolerate that sort of language. My how things change...

At any rate, traditionally, just over 100 boats square up on the one line at Port Melbourne on Boxing Day morning for the annual dash to our wonderful hosts at the Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron. Last year it was just that - a dash - and the result was that the RP penned, Composites Constructions 52, known as Scarlet Runner took 10 minutes off the old record, which in turn had been set by a VO60 called Merit. Worst part of it all was that her owner, Rob Date, dd not even get to drive. He was busy with Wild Thing at the time. Toyota Hilux or what!!!

For the 2010 Boxing Day Dash, the Committee are very pleased to announce a Trailable, Sportsboat, Cruising and Classics Divisions. The exact framework of the latter is being developed in conjunction Peter Lloyd of the Classic Yacht Association of Australia, so we'll keep you posted, but it simply is a wonderful opportunity to showcase these magnificent vessels.

As to the former, well in the right conditions T8s or the like would be keen to give it all a shake and wouldn't that be something! If you are a little slower than that, then you can join the traditional Division Three vessels and finish at the delightful Mornington Yacht Club.

The main thing for everyone is to let us know if you are interested, so we can devise a race plan that incorporates you. By the time the SIs arrive, you will have the complete picture of how you can be involved in the best thing to do on Boxing Day.

Click HERE for the NOR

Click HERE to go and enter online for all of the following divisions:

• Racing
• Cruising
• Trailable
• Sportboats
• Classics

Of course, one has to wonder who will be out to play this year? The new Gusto, the former Open 60 (presently the MBD penned vessel is 66) and best known as Xena (or Magna Data), is around and is an M2HW starter. Of course, the Division Zero boats have been talking about ganging together and doing the Westcoaster, thereby having a red hot go at Shortwave's record (she's a Judel Vrolijk penned TP52). Who knows... but we may not hold our breath, eh!

Above: Scarlet Runner stormed over the finish line at BYS.

Below: Dave Eichmeyer got the great job of driving the very comfortable sled on the day.

By John Curnow