Third annual Bay Regatta is 'biggest and best yet'

Dunsborough Bay Yacht Club hosted its third annual Bay Regatta last weekend, putting the event on the map as one of regional WA’s biggest and best meets for off-the-beach sailors.

More than 50 boats competed over two days, with serious racing among the Windrush 14 competitors providing an ideal “tune-up” for yachties heading north to Carnarvon over Easter for the State titles.

The regatta started in 2023 and has grown each year. This year saw over fifty catamarans and monohulls sailing in three fleets: thirty cats (Nacra F18s, Windrush 14s and a Maricat 4.3), twelve monohulls (Lasers and Sabre Sharks) and, for the first time, a junior fleet comprising nine Minnows and 125’s.

Competitors came from as far as Carnavon to race on Dunn Bay in what proved to be ideal conditions, despite early rain on Saturday that cleared in time for the first of eight individual races over the two days.

The fleets were made up of DBYC sailors and visitors from Busselton, Augusta, Albany, Perth and Carnarvon. Of special note were the thirteen local Windrush 14 catamarans doing battle in this hotly contested class. Having started with one Windrush back in 2021, the DBYC fleet has grown to be the largest Windrush 14 fleet in Australia (and possibly the world).

The racing was supported by two start boats, six safety boats and a small army of local volunteers.

Some very brisk easterly winds on Saturday saw challenging yet marvellous conditions. Most of the catamarans were “flying hulls” and there were some spectacular capsizes and retirements due to gear breakage among all the classes.

Sunday morning saw slightly less challenging (but highly enjoyable) conditions before racing was wound up and sailors, support crews and spectators retired to the clubhouse for refreshments and presentations.

DBYC Commodore, Craig Saunders, thanked sailors, volunteers, sponsors and spectators. “This is just the beginning…wait until next year, it will be even bigger.”