Last weekend saw another successful Performance Boating Jeanneau Rendezvous.
This year the fleet cruised and raced on Pittwater before heading to the stunning new San Martin function centre at d’Albora Marina, Akuna Bay.
Yachts gathered off the Royal Motor Yacht Club, Newport, many having spent the evening there, while some cruised up from Sydney Harbour and spent the previous night at The Basin.
Primary sponsors The Quays Marina were kind enough to once again provide their 13m RIB to be used as a start boat, while Pantaenius Insurance came along with their RIB for the photographer.
A 10 knot Westerly looked promising, but unfortunately the forecast proved correct and the breeze progressively died. The clear and mild autumn day with lots of sunshine did however make it fabulous to be out on the water. The cruising division headed of at 11.45 with Division 2 starting at midday with a straightforward course around West Head with a finish off Challenger Head at America’s Bay.
Division 1 with a longer course around Lion Island started at 12.05 and quickly caught the previous starters as the breeze backed into the South and then South-East. Those flying spinnakers capitalised and quickly moved into the lead.
The sailing instructions had a provision for a shortened course at West Head, but after an hour and a half of sailing it became apparent that even this was going to be ambitious, so a decision was made to finish the yachts at Soldiers Point. From there the fleet made its way under motor to Akuna Bay where most had opted to take a berth at the marina, with some anchoring close by and ready to be shuttled ashore at function time.
The upstairs function room at Akuna Bay was completely renovated 6 months ago and is simply superb, so at 6.30 over 70 guests arrived for the evening function. As has become tradition a host of companies that work with PBS to commission and service NSW customers generously offer prizes for our Rendezvous Rally (see below) and for this we are extremely grateful.
While everyone enjoyed canapes courtesy of The Quays Marina, all guests had a chance to win a ‘lucky door’ prizes donated by Pantaenius Insurance. We then had the skippers draw with prizes from $100 gift vouchers, to two $1500 antifouling packages from The Quays!
For the Cruising Division two participants were the lucky winners of a bottle of Mumm Champagne and Pantaenius gift pack, those being Bill & Lyn Keighran with the Jeanneau 54 “Raiatea” and Bill & Kerrie Davis with the Sun Odyssey 440 “Wings”.
With a DJ providing background music guests then enjoyed a superb meal during which the results of the racing were announced and trophies awarded:
Division 1:
1st – Sun Odyssey 349 “Pinta Bay” Frank Milner
2nd – Sun Odyssey 419 “Shell” Ben Spannenberg
3rd – Sun Fast 37 “Midnight Promise” Peter & Tanya Graham
Division 2:
1st – Sun Odyssey 349 “Luna Fernando” Marco Tapia
2nd – Sun Odyssey 349 “Eau Well” Lee Hawkesley
3rd – Sun Odyssey 349 “Elysium” John de Meur & Aki Hirata
The Perpetual Line Honours award, generously donated by Jeanneau 53 owner Willie Whyte some years ago, went to the Sun Odyssey 349 “Pinta Bay” for an outstanding effort to lead the fleet.
PBS Director Lee Condell handed over the prizes and spoke about recent activity at PBS, the recent launch of the Jeanneau Yachts 60, and next months release of the new model to replace the Sun Odyssey 389.
Once again a great day on the water and fabulous evening spent with like minded people enjoying each others company and sharing experiences and pleasures of owning their Jeanneau yachts!
Performance Boating would like to thank all Rendezvous participants for making the day and evening a lot of fun, and would also to especially thank our supporters.