Louis, the Blues Point Hotel Manager wins Sailing Medal in the Pub Challenge at the Balmain Regatta, 28th October 2018

In a first, the Blues Point Hotel entered the Balmain Regatta’s Pub Challenge. And we, collectively, came a very creditable 2nd against strong competition. Cap’n Carl reports:

“The Balmain Sailing Club invited the BPYC to enter a yacht into this years Balmain Pub Race held annually this years Sunday 28th October.  The concept behind the race is for each yacht to represent a pub and have pub employees as crew for the race. 

The BPYC committee decided this was a good event to promote both the club and the Blues Point Hotel.  The fairest approach to deciding which boat was to race in the event was to work down the handicap list fastest boat to slowest and Blue Sky readily accepted the offer and we secured Louis from the Blues Point Hotel as a key crew member. 

On race day it was strong blustery southerly in the low twenties with start time at 1.30pm with Blue Sky starting scratch with nine other much larger and very fast yachts starting at one minute intervals. The course was around Schnapper, Spectacle and Cockatoo Islands then clockwise around Goat Island back to a mark off Woolwich, around Goat again and back to the start/finish line off the Balmain Sailing club. 

It was a non-spinnaker pursuit race and by the rounding of Cockatoo Island we were fending off a 40.7 on our immediate stern.  The wind abated during the race and we were passed by Khaleesi a gun DK46 as we left Goat for the second time.  It was then a sprint to the finish with a number of other boats hot on our stern.  We kept the door closed on the boats behind us and trimmed madly to secure a second place. 

With a berth provided by the club it was time to spend a few hours discussing how good we were for the hour and a half on the water whilst enjoying food, beverages and a live band.  Louis accepted the second place medal which now resides at the Blues Point Hotel / BPYC.  A great day was had by all.”

Thanks for the report, Carl. Blue Sky did us proud. And maybe Louis has caught the sailing bug now!

This Certificate and a Medal are now on display at the Blues Point Hotel. Good stuff!