With Mark Dingley away on a well-deserved holiday, I’ve had the privilege of stepping in as Acting Sailing Manager, and what a weekend to kick things off! RQYS proudly hosted the Bayside Property Agents International Finn 2025 Australian Winter Championships. Thanks to the unmatched sportsmanship and camaraderie of the Finn fleet, along with our phenomenal volunteer team, it was a truly fantastic regatta.

The event kicked off with high hopes. As the fleet drifted out onto the bay, competitors and race management waited optimistically for the forecast light breeze to fill in. Race 1 got underway, but as conditions deteriorated, the day was ultimately abandoned due to persistently patchy and fading wind.

A crisp, chilly morning greeted sailors on Day 2, sending many to the bistro for a warm coffee before heading out. Fortunately, the wind settled into a light but steady rhythm, allowing the fleet to complete all three scheduled races. Competition was tight, with sailors making the most of the conditions. After racing, sailors returned to shore to enjoy the always-popular Long Lunch (some say the whole reason to attend the regatta!). At the end of the day’s racing, Rob McMillan (AUS2) sat in third place, Brendan Casey (AUS11) held second, and Rafael Trujillo (ESP100) led the regatta.

Day 3 again reminded us why this is called the Winter Championships, with another round of hot drinks and snacks flowing from the café before rigging began. A big shout-out to our wonderful café crew: Talia, Neika, RJ, and Briar – your warmth and energy set the tone for each day.

With close overall points the stage was set for a thrilling final day of tight, competitive racing. After tie-breaks and close finishes, the final standings were:

🥉 Brendan Casey (AUS11) – 18 points

🥈 Rob McMillan (AUS2) – 18 points

🥇 Rafael Trujillo (ESP100) – 12 points

Full Results can be viewed here.

Events like these don’t happen without the dedicated work of our volunteers and officials. Thank you to our incredible regatta team:

• Race Officer: Louise Davis
• Radio Operator: David Kemp
• Start/Finish Crew: Anne-Maree Higgs, Beryl Roberts, Margurite Wood, Pam Watt, Paulla Millar
• Course Layers: Alan Crawford, Arthur Gough, David Hales, Margy Porter, Michael Wood, Mladen Gido, Rodney West
• Jury: David Irvine, Greg Kemp, Jan Kemp, Mark Gallagher
• Volunteer Coordinator: Phil Tooth
• Regatta Administrator: Rose Haynes

We’re already looking forward to welcoming the Finn fleet back to RQYS in February 2026 for the Australian Nationals, Gold Cup, and World Masters. With three major regattas on the calendar, it’s set to be an exciting and action-packed month of world-class Finn racing on Moreton Bay. More information on these regattas can be found here.   

 Austin Sims

Acting Sailing Manager