Yacht racing and the Exemplar Clipper Cup, the region’s premier sailing event, are enjoying resurgence in Port Douglas.

A Far North Queensland town with a proud history in the sport, Port's yachting tradition continued at the Carnivale weekend, with 21 competitors across four divisions taking to the waves for the annual Exemplar Clipper Cup Regatta.

As the start time approached for racing on Day One, the fleet faced a gentle breeze and a gentle sea to carry the yachts around the windward leeward course for Race 1 and Race 2. With all divisions starting together, there was plenty of action across the line in both races.

At the end of the first day Ice held the series lead in Division 1 (monohull), with a double win for the day.

In Division 2 (monohull), Ruff Red held the lead with a first and a second, Barefoot held Division 3 (multihull) with a double win, and Port FM Mais Oui also had a double win to hold Division 4 (sports boats).

On Day Two, the course was set for a rounding of Snapper Island and Low Isles; except for Division 4, scheduled for two more windward leeward races. With the start delayed by an hour and the breeze barely reaching above 10 knots, the respective courses put crews’ navigation skills to the test. Dusty Muzzle won Division 1 but remained one point behind Ice, with Lani taking the Division 2 win to move ahead of Ruff Red, with the latter one of five boats in the fleet unable to finish the shortened course. Barefoot secured a third win in Division 3 to place a firm grip on the series lead. In Division 4, Ketchup took the win in Race 3, and Guilty Pleasures claimed the honours for Race 4. But, it was Ketchup that moved to a series lead at the halfway stage.

The next day of the regatta was a lay day, and proved fortuitous weather-wise, with the breeze barely lifting above five knots all day. It was a different story on Day Three, with competitors up against a gusty 20 knots. On the beat towards Low Isles from a mark rounding off Dayman Point, Division 3 leader Barefoot suffered damage to their main beam and was forced to retire from the regatta. With Coast Guard assistance, Barefoot was secured safely in the lee of Snapper Island.

Barefoot’s withdrawal opened the door for Indigo to take the win, but Barefoot still held the series lead by two points. Chalkies Chariot made the most of the conditions to take first in Division 1, with Dusty Muzzle claiming the series lead. Kaos emerged the winner in Division 4, but Ketchup held on to the series lead heading into the final day.

With conditions on Day 4 a complete reversal of those before, the fleet waited for over two hours for sufficient breeze to start the first race. With the wind not lifting above single figures all day, many boats in the fleet struggled to find sufficient motion to steer the course. Conditions on the day would seal the fate of many. The final race was abandoned due to time constraints, and the regatta concluded in a flat sea and calm air.

Ice (5.0) recorded a third win to take out Division 1 ahead of Dusty Muzzle (8.0) and Groove (12.0.), followed by (15.0), Chalkies Chariot (16.0), Ann Sea (16.0) and Now or Never (30.0). Kai Lani (5.0) also recorded a third series win to take out Division 2 ahead of Ruff Red (9.0) and Sea Dove (12.0), followed by Casuarina (13.0) and Miriama Te Rua (17.0). In Division 3, Indigo (6.0) scored a win in the final race to overtake Barefoot (7.0) ahead of Skywalker (15.0).

In Division 4, Guilty Pleasures won the final race, but it wasn’t enough to catch Division winner Ketchup (9.0), with Guilty Pleasures (14.0) holding second overall on a tiebreak from Kaizen2 (14.0), followed by Port FM Mais Oui (16.0), Kaos (18.0) and And Then (29.0).

NB: Many thanks to Mike Burgess for supplying Tournament information.