The anticipation was incredibly high leading into the first weekend of the Summer of Sailing. With Saturday’s forecast pushing into the high 30s and a strong westerly set to pump through — followed by a solid southerly buster on Sunday — every boat was rigged in full heavy-air mode.
This year, five Hobie 16s lined up for their State Championships, a drop from previous seasons, while a healthy number of Hobie 18s joined the Big Boat Regatta for the very first time — many experiencing what could only be described as a baptism of fire. Among them were Henry Makin & Jessica Brown, who had purchased their very first Hobie 16 only weeks earlier and were racing their first-ever regatta as a team.
A few days out, the entire mixed fleet of big cats knew they were in for one of the most challenging weekends of the season so far. The westerly filled in early and brought with it the sensation of a giant hair dryer blowing straight out of Morisset.
Racing began shortly after 1pm, with the F18s and a few F16s starting first for three laps, followed by the Nacra 5.8s and Taipans, and finally the Hobie 16s and Hobie 18s.
From the first gun, the battle was on between the top three 16s, with MB & Court, Dave & Ainslie, and Soph & myself trading places up and down the racetrack. In a race that felt like a giant game of snakes and ladders, the breeze pumped hard down the bottom of the course but turned flat and puffy at the top, causing constant shifts in order.
Sophie and I managed to claim the first two wins of the day, while Dave & Ainslie remained ultra consistent with a pair of seconds. But it was Race 3 where the conditions truly escalated. Halfway down the final run of Race 2, a cool puff wafted in from the nor’east, carrying the faint smell of bushfire smoke. Moments later, the last beat to the finish became a screaming reach as the seabreeze slammed into the dying westerly.
The transition rapidly evolved into a full-blown black nor’easter pushing well above 25 knots. In the final race of the day, MB & Court rounded the top mark first and held their lead to the finish, with Dave & Ainslie close behind. Upu & Lincoln — a young local grom racing a H16 at home for the first time — crossed in a heroic third place. Sophie and I weren’t so lucky, blasted inside Summer Point and capsizing Munyunga for the first time in three years.
In the 18s, John & Bronte opened their State Title campaign with two cool, calm, collected wins in scorching conditions. Their long-time rivals Jake & Mark followed with two thirds. When the nor’easter arrived for the final race of the afternoon, Jake & Mark struck back, taking the win as the breeze pulsed well into the high 20s.
After a long, testing day, sailors were treated to a sensationally delicious roast dinner prepared by the incredible Mannering Park volunteers. Many called it an early night — wisely.
The fleet awoke to a cooler, oddly calm morning on the shores of Lake Macquarie. But the peace didn’t last. The southerly change arrived suddenly and with force, blasting through for the first few hours of the day. After a long start delay — and several boats dropping rigs or choosing to retire — the breeze eventually settled into a manageable range, and the fleet launched for three final races.
John & Bronte dominated the day, winning all three races and securing back-to-back 18-Foot State Championships in commanding style. Jake & Mark wrapped up the weekend with two seconds and a third, while Scott & Elena finished their regatta on a high with a season-best second place.
The 16s entered the day with everything up for grabs. Sophie and I opened with a win, rolling the dice and taking the morning’s first round of snakes and ladders. MB & Court responded immediately with two dominant victories, hauling themselves from third overall into serious contention for the title. Dave & Ainslie remained rock-solid throughout the day, keeping constant pressure on the leading pair.
Heading into the final race, MB & Court were only two points behind us, while Dave & Ainslie needed some serious reshuffling from the Butlers to climb higher. A huge windshift caught both us and Dave & Ainslie off guard, allowing MB & Court to storm into a massive lead at the top mark. The rest of the race played out as a tense match race between our two boats, with the entire championship coming down to the final bottom mark rounding.
In the end, MB & Court snatched the title on countback, finishing with the exact same score as Sophie & me. Dave & Ainslie secured third overall and also claimed the Masters category on Yardstick. MB & Court won the Grand Masters title, while Upu — quite possibly the oldest skipper on the water racing with one of the youngest crews — continued to prove himself as one of the great grand masters of all time.
Henry & Jessica claimed the Rookie Award as the best-placed first-time competitors at a State Championship, celebrating an impressive debut regatta together. Gav “The Dog” Luxton took home the infamous Bottoms Up Award after managing to stack it before even making it onto the water. A big thank you goes to Marine Outlet for supplying vouchers for the event winners.
A massive thank you to Mannering Park Amateur Sailing Club and its phenomenal volunteer team for hosting another excellent regatta on Lake Macquarie.
The next NSW State Championships are scheduled for 14–15 February 2026 at Wangi Wangi, featuring the Hobie 14 Cat Rig, Hobie 18/16 Women & Youth, Dragoons and Waves.
We look forward to seeing you all there.
