Vic Tasars go to Metung for Easter
17 April 2017
Five Tasar crews participated in the annual Easter Regatta at Metung Sailing Club. The regatta is held over the Easter weekend between the Metung and Sandringham Yacht Club. The regatta engages the Off the Beach communities of the Clubs and has been running continuously for 56 years.
The regatta involves three days of short and long course racing on the ideal waters of Lake King and Bancroft Bay in the Western end of the Gippsland Lakes.
For those road cycling enthusiast there is also a daily early morning ride on the undulating country roads.
The first activity is the Good Friday ride to Bruthen followed by the welcome presentation at midday and afternoon short course racing on Bancroft Bay. Al and Tracey Murray were the best in the gusty 15 to 25 knot Southerly breeze to win a majority of the six or so races around the marks. That evening a barbeque was hosted by the local Metung bush fire brigade at their station.
Saturday is the long course race to the Barrier Landing. About a ten nautical mile race to the Landing near Lakes Entrance. There is a picnic lunch and wander over the foreshore reserve to the Ninety Mile Beach. The return race to Metung begins with a Gran Prix start. Dave Elmslie and Phil Potter showed the rest of the fleet a clean set of heels and deft knowledge of the light and variable breeze to take out both halves of this classic long course race.
The Easter Sunday race is from Bancroft Bay, around Shaving Point. There is a meetings with the Easter Bunny off the Metung back beach before a leg or two across Lake King to the finish. Lunch is at the Metung back beach and the return in the afternoon is followed by the Trophy Presentation and Presentation Dinner hosted by the Metung Yacht Club. This year the winds were light and Dean and Sue picked the ghost like breeze to finish well ahead of the fleet.
Partners who don't wish to sail have a variety of options on shore sightseeing or local attractions. Alternative there are on water activities hosted by a range of watercraft supplied by the yacht club members.
This year Al and Tracey Murray took out the awards using local knowledge and superior racing skills. They were followed closely by Dave Elmslie and Phil Potter and Dean Robson and Sue Lary.
Our thanks to the Commodore of Metung Yacht Club, Mary Rowe for hosting the event including the myriad of club members, the Off the Beach community and volunteer helpers including the joint Race Officers' Damien Daniels (Metung) and Phil Strong (Sandringham).
The regatta is part of Tasar Association of Victoria's travelers trophy. All Tasar Association members are invited to the 57th regatta which is on next Easter at end of March 2018. So get your accommodation bookings in early and be prepared for a fun Easter Break. You can get more information on the link https://syc.com.au/otb-easter-pilgrimage-metung-14-17-april-2017/ and this will be updated early next year. Contact TAV from more details.
The long course racing is a totally different and challenging experience on the waters of the Gippsland Lakes. There is something for everyone in this regatta. It is thoroughly enjoyable way to spend the Easter break, sailing and enjoying the company of young and old off the beach sailors.