The Island

Lion Island is a magical place. Considered sacred by the local Indigenous peoples, it has borne witness to human activity in the area for around 45,000 years.

When Governor Arthur Phillip turned up around 1788, he called it Mount Elliot Island, supposedly because he thought it looked like Gibraltar. His mate Elliot had thwarted a whole rake of French and Spaniards there, hence the new namesake. I don't know why he didn't just call it Gibraltar - I doubt anyone would have confused the two.

Then, in 1920, for reasons unknown (to Wikipedia), it was renamed Lion Island because they thought it looked like a Lion. I don't know who 'they' are.

But what I do know is that last Sunday (2nd February), the island bore witness to the BYRA 75th Anniversary Lion Island Race and that a stonkingly good time was had by all.

Even the briefing looks fun! And check out that view!

The Race

The Lion Island Race is part of BYRA folklore. In fact, it is the race that started it all. Way back in the mists of 1949, a couple of local sailors - Dalton and Williams - decided to have a race around it. Dalton even put up a trophy. Which Williams promptly won.

No matter, such a fabulous time was had by all, it was decided that a yacht club should be formed - the Bayview Yacht Racing Association, to be exact. Or BYRA for short. And so, each year, BYRA celebrates its auspicious founding with a commemorative race. The original trophy is even up for grabs - the succinctly named Dalton Lion Island Perpetual Challenge Cup...

The Entrants

Some events are just designed to be fun with a capital F, and this is one of them. We don't care what boat you sail - as long as it has an engine, which three entrants did not. It would appear that the term 'auxiliary yacht' is no longer in fashion... We promise we will 're-describe' for the next '2025 race' (yes, this is supposed to be a November race, so there will be TWO this year - save the date 23.11.25 in your calendars now!).

Overlooking this minor detail, and with the biggest fleet ever to remember Dalton and Williams (12!), there was an absolute smorgasbord of craft on the start line - cruising yachts, quite a few classic timber boats keeping their finely polished decks out of trouble, an Etchell, an absolute beauty of a Brenta sporting a crew of matching red t-shirts, and a VX One to round out the random.

The entrants in alphabetical name order.

The Excitement!

The countdown began, the yachts weaving and ducking in a relatively tight space of water (all adds to the drama). There may or may not have been a rule infringement by Boongown to Theory, but the latter protest they doth not! The Theory crew were clearly not intimated by Boongown's recent win with the CYCA!

And then the horn went, and they were off!

Were some craft over the start line? Rumours abound, but Race Officer Barry isn't talking. Any possibility of individual recalls evaporated as the contenders disappeared over the horizon, Mak Mak gliding through the azure sea like an elegant swan chased by the nimble Alpha Crucis. Fatal Attraction nipped at the heels of Pinta Bay while Sylvena and it's 'almost the same name' rival Sylphine (with their newly installed crew courtesy of the BYRA match-making service) fought it out mid-fleet. Meanwhile, others sailed straight into big holes, dreams of holding the Dalton Lion Island Perpetual Challenge Cup aloft fading like the wisps of wind teasing their sails. Out O The Blue, it should be noted, was skippered by a sailor considerably older than the actual race...

Yet smiles abounded, and rightly so. All in all, the conditions were mint! Blue skies and sunshine, a flat sea, and an oft fickle light easterly breeze to keep the participants on their toes - to choose the western shore or the eastern shore to launch your campaign? That was the big question of the day. The great news is that this year, all entrants made it around Lion Island in the correct direction - anti-clockwise; taken to port; with the big rock on your LEFT when facing the pointy end of your craft. 

By the time the forerunners had rounded the island, the fleet was spread far and wide across Pittwater. Mak Mak was a speck in the distance with Alpha Crucis still chasing; Pinta Bay sailed in perpetual fear of Jacana finding 'secret breeze', both yachts abeam of each other on completely opposing shores, while The Slug brazenly hoisted their spinnaker, thus creating a third unofficial division as it screamed (I exaggerate) down Pittwater. Fatal Attraction followed closely, with Sylvena hunting them down. Theory was mere minutes off the pace of Sylphine, with Out O the Blue pipping Boongown at the post to round out the race.

All yachts were finished by 15:30, making it a most perfectly timed race to seamlessly move into burgers, beers, and the forming of new friendships back at the BYRA clubhouse.

The Results!

Huge congratulations to Stephen Hosking and the Mak Mak crew for their win, plus thanks for offering to fund your own winning plaque on the trophy - that's the spirit!

Well done to Frank Milner of Pinta Bay (who I may or may not have crewed for) and Ian & Caroline Ward from Jacana - that was quite a duel for second and third!

Congrats also to Martin Cross of Alpha Crucis - just remember to pack the engine next time!

The Full Results!

If anyone reading wants to give working out handicap results a crack, feel free to get in touch!

The Thank Yous

On behalf of BYRA, I would like to thank all those who took part, the Quays Marina for enabling seamless crew pick-up, Woody Point Yacht Club for such enthusiastic support, and all of BYRA's volunteers for prepping and running the day; everything from event planning to food shopping to helping on the day.

Barry & Henry having the time of their lives - winners aren't the only grinners!

We had an absolute blast, and we sincerely hope you and your sailing comrades will join us for the next one!

Leah Singer

BYRA Commodore