The TS16 sailors from Drummoyne Sailing Club have won the Lake Macquarie Challenge. The race was held on March 5th at the Speers Point Club, and was contested by DSC, Speers Point ASC and Saratoga SC. The race was first held in 1984 and has been held most years since then. DSC last won the Challenge two years ago.
Ten boats raced in a moderate north-easterly breeze.
Eric Partland and Garry Wills, representing DSC in Extremely Sinister were first over the line. Eric and Garry are long term champions at Drummoyne, racing in Uncle Norm, Uncle Roy and Uncle Bob. Both have sailed at DSC since they were boys.
Eric and Garry retired last year, but Eric has done some guest skippering since. At Speers Point they sailed Extremely Sinister, which until recently was owned and raced by John Gilliard. It has been purchased by Ron Johnston. Ron decided to retire at the end of last season, but with his shoulder surgery declared a success, he decided to get back on the water.
Extremely Sinister was built by TS16 sailor and master carpenter Neil Bilsborough, as were the second and third place getters, V Sinister from Saratoga, Paul and Natalie Pritchard, and Ultimately Sinister from Lake Macquarie, Andrew Crisp and Dianne Harvey. Is this a record, to have the first three place getters built by the same man?
Vinca, from DSC, Russell and Luke Johnston, came third, and Annette, David Johnston and Ben Speed, also from DSC, came 7th.
Pic L to R: David Johnston, Ben Speed, Garry Wills, Russell Johnston, Eric Partland, Luke Johnston.
By Asa Wahlquist
