10 April 2025
Army dominated the team event at the annual ADF interservice keelboat championship held on Sydney Harbour last week, but the Air Force managed to secure the best individual boat title in a nail-biting finish decided on a countback.
At the regatta, hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia from March 25 to 28, each service fielded three Elliott 7 boats, each with a crew of four or five.
Despite light winds on the opening day, team Army was first and second in all three races to establish a commanding lead.
On the second day, light winds in the morning picked up speed by the afternoon as Air Force asserted themselves in the rankings.
There was usually only about two minutes separating the first and last boat crossing the line in the 40-minute races.
Stronger conditions swept the fleet on day three and both top Army and RAAF boats finished with three wins, two second places and two thirds.
However, Air Force were awarded the title of best individual results on countback, having the best result in the final race.
Army team leader Major Kevin O’Rourke said it was difficult to separate the two excellent crews as it was ostensibly a draw on the water.
“A mere sailing technicality allowed Air Force to win,” he said.
“The leading Army crew, skippered by Sergeant Patrick Black, were a little frustrated by having one bad race at the end of the competition that cost them the win, but were proud of their achievement overall.”
Despite minor disappointment with the individual result, Major O’Rourke said they were delighted to win the team event.
“It was fantastic as a team to come together and see all 12 crew members focus on making sure their boat scored as best they could,” he said.
“We were very aware that at any time your boat could count. It was very rewarding to beat the Air Force as they usually are the team to beat.”
Despite their underwhelming performance, one of Navy’s helmsmen, Leading Seaman Deryck Edie, said it was good for his team to get more racing experience.
“It was worth it getting out there, putting us against each other in some friendly competition and watching the other services get heated over the rules,” he said.
Leading Seaman Edie’s boat started the week finishing in the middle of the pack, but by the end of the regatta, won the last race.
“We improved over that week, which is a win in anyone’s book,” he said.
An ADF sailing team will participate in the Fred Neil memorial match racing event in South Australia on May 3.
The Army and Navy will also battle it out in December when they both compete in the Sydney-to-Hobart Yacht Race.
