Past Commodores Cup 2025 Navigation event

The 13th anniversary of the Past Commodores Cup Navigation event was held on the 17th of May in calm and overcast conditions. This event is open to any member and attracted 11 vessels to compete in either the GPS or Traditional division as they navigated around Green and St Helena Island, before returning to RQYS club house for lunch and presentations upstairs in the scenic Flags Function room. Mike Middleton took some amazing photos of the vessels during the competition and these were playing as a slideshow during lunch.

The length of both the GPS and Traditional courses was 9.74nm, GPS had 30 check point gates and Traditional had 8 gates.

The GPS division was tightly contested with a tie for first and only 4 points separating 3rd, 4th and 5th. The Traditional division was also a tough battle, with only 8 points separating 1st and 2nd. In this division they utilise only hand bearing compasses and speed through the water. The Wallace Bishop memorial prize for first on handicap in the GPS division was also presented to Grant Somerville on Catchcry I. Traditional first on handicap was presented to Jim Ohare on Fortitude. Wals Corner, the prize for best score at turn 6 was jointly won by Craig Black on Odyssey and Jim Ohare on Fortitude. Thanks to the Wallace Bishop group for these prizes, they are a highly sought after prize.

GPS

1st Knot Home – Geoff O’Connor 8 points

2nd Aquamac – Chris Land 8 points

3rd Cdr Curtis Skinner – Black Betty 30 points

4th Grant Somerville – Catchcry I 32 points

5th Mark Althaus – Atlantis 34 points

6th Andrew Woodforth – Rose Bay- 144 points

Traditional

1st Craig Black – Odyssey 57 points

2nd Jim Ohare – Fortitude 65 points

3rd James Tapp – Olive J 182 points

4th Craig Sharp – Rush 2 186 points

5th Nocturn – Charles Kirby 750 points

There is a great amount of help and assistance available for anyone who would like to get into Navigation events, just reach out to any member of the Powerboat committee and assistance in setting up your course to steer and even entering the waypoints into your GPS unit is there. Next navigation event is the Goodwill cup in November when we will try and retain the trophy from Southport.

A very big thanks to our sponsors, Trymax Marine Electronics, Gold Coast City Marina and Lion. Without their generous support these events wouldn’t be so successfully. Also, thanks to the Power Cruising Group committee and volunteers for their assistance.

Chris Land