Beneteau Regatta
Our around-the-cans sailor, Allan Whiting, reports on the annual Peugeot-Beneteau Regatta and its record fleet of Beneteaus on Sydney HarbourBeneteau v Beneteau
The 15th annual Peugeot Regatta/Beneteau Cup event was held in light airs on Sydney Harbour in early November. A record 43 boats entered the French-Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FACCI) two-day soiree that's well known for combining competition with great fun and hospitality. The host club was none other than the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.
Along with the big fleet of Beneteau yacht owners and a string of back-up sponsors, Trade-a-Boat had an entry this year by way of resident sailor Allan Whiting's First 21.7 trailerable yacht. Captain Whiting reckoned his yacht looked the part flying a blue asymmetric spinnaker in the first day's racing, but the light conditions kept this minnow at the back of the fleet.
Dubbed Benny, Whiting's yacht picked up a handicap fourth in the second day's non-spinnaker race. He and his crew of Keryn Williams, and Lesley and Steve Kiely reckon they'll be back next year.
Day One racing was split into IRC, spinnaker and non-spinnaker races, with the IRC doing three races and the other boats two.
Day Two was a social sail, with many FACCI members and guests welcomed aboard the fleet of Beneteaus. And as to be expected, there was a real sense of joie de vivre or love of life and camaraderie about the Beneteau crew.
THE BENETEAU CUP
The Beneteau Cup is an accolade quite separate from the regatta and its results, awarded to someone that Vicsail - the importers of Beneteau yachts in Australia - considers is an outstanding member of the Beneteau family.
In the past, the Cup has been presented to Hobart Race winners and to owners that have been present at every Beneteau event. Ivor Burgess won the coveted Beneteau Cup this year because of his continual support for sailing in the last eight years including sponsoring the Metal Mesh Cup (Beneteau's Pittwater Regatta).
Burgess retired last year, supposedly to relax, but rushed back from Hamilton Island Race Week to participate and the Peugeot Regatta in Sydney. Suffice to say, sailing is in his veins.
| IRC DIVISION RESULTS |
| First: Imagination |
| Second: Pretty Fly |
| Third: Honeysuckle |
| Fourth: Trecento |
| Fifth: Big Kahoona |
| Sixth: Brilliant |
| NON SPINNAKER DIVISION RESULTS |
| First: Vivacity First 44.7 |
| Second: Callista First 47.7 |
| Third: Magique First 45.5 |
| Fourth: Rox First 31.7 |
| Fifth: Liesel First 40.7 |
| Sixth: Argo Blue Oceanis 50 |
| SPINNAKER DIVISION RESULTS |
| First: Reviery First 40.7 |
| Second: Jewel Oceanis 343 |
| Third: Lucette First 45.4 |
| Fourth: Antipodes Oceanis 52 |
| Fifth: Rattle & Hum First 31.7 |
| Sixth: Shiralee Oceanis 473 |
Tags
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
