Billabong 2010

Friday saw the arrival of the usual early birds. Some people always like to get there a bit early
to secure their favorite camp site, and start soaking up the scerenity a day early.  The forecast for
this years Billabong looked to be just that bit cooler and windier than previous years.

11 AM on the Saturday saw the now famous SA President declare the Billabong regatta and thanked Phillippa for her
splendid work so far and asked the Billabong owner Dean Schubert to say a few words.  Dean obliged with a
terrific speach about the river and water levels and grape prices.  Away we went with a few quick races to establish
some handicaps and get the feel for the event.  Wind was really gusty and tested all the competitors.  There was only
one unlucky boat that afternoon who went for a swim after being knocked down flat on the work by a sudden gust, Parrot Fever.
Their mast was stuck fast in the mud, but Adrian soon realized he could stand up and just lift the mast out of the mud while
tipped over in the middle of the lake.  Rebecca had to keep swimming - only 2 inches too short ! 

It was great to see so many newies to the Billabong cope so well with the conditions, and no other Tips.  Lots of great
action reaches as you caught a gust and hung on ! The first few races gave us the basis for some handicap places.
The winners that day were Jon and Angus Ward, Phil Smith and Maddie Hughes, Peter and Patrick Royle, Sean and Frank Hackett,
Craig and Phillippa (The scorer ? What was going on here ?) and Gavin and Karen Church.  Well that's enough for the sailing
what goes on around the campfire afterwards.  Well first things first - cocktails and canopies.  Each Tasar had to bring
the gear to make a delicious cocktail with a matching nibbly.  What a great idea this was !  There were Melon flavours,
fantastic Asian Flavours, Liquorich Liquers, Mexican Coffee's and more oh so much more.  They just kept coming all night long.
The Tasar Assoc put on champagne as well.  Things may have got a bit excited in anticipation of the after dinner games.

 Later that night.... around the campfire... 3 teams were formed, and with each team having a toilet roll holder, a roll of
toilet paper, steady wadling ability and a keen accurate eye a great game was formed.  Needless to say the less alcohol
affected team won ! And what a riotus event that was.  You had to be there.

Next morning, saw calmer conditions, sunny and a few sore heads.  First race was the Easter Egg Hunt.  All boats had to
sail around the lake and collect as many wooden pop sticks as possible, which were quiet tricky to spot.  Then race
back to base for the official count off.  The winner, Toddy and Brett and Hughie and Lewie.  Next the stern chaser.
Karen and Gavin Church set off and proved very hard to catch, but they were overhaulled just before the finish.
Even though it was a stern chaser handicaps were still applied to ensure an unbiased result.  Last race was 'soccer'
which sort of became a pass the ball between the 4 boats in your team after rounding every mark then a race to the finish
line.  Talk about a lot of fun and complicated trying to pass a ball between 4 boats.  Great fun and a great training
exercise.  And make sure no one nicks your ball - Melissa and Dave !  A close race to the finish saw the Parrot Team only
just win over the Hackett Team - thanks to Rebecca's ability to pund through the muddy river bank to the judges.

That night, after more canopies and Champagne saw the famous Iron Chef competition.  David and Karen were red, Colleen and
Megan with flashing neon black and Alan and Tina were Blue. Have a look at the great photo's and there is a video available
as well.  This is a great night and after some very careful consideration by the Iron Chef Judges, Kym, Phillippa and Adrian
everybody was declared a winner. We all Feasted.

Later that night around the campfire..... what happens when you have several young boys, a campfire, a few packets of sparklers

and a plentiful supply of Marshmallows - obvious .... stick the marshmallows on the sparklers and light em up !

What a splendid game that is.

Next Morning, sore heads, and 2 more races. A close quarters follow the leader which would have looked lovely from the
shore. The final race was the twice around the course but having one of the marks being the gum tree on the shore. So
each time round you had to stop, hold the boat, run around the tree and get back in and go again. What an exciting
event for the spectators and what a way to get your boat dirty !!  Sean and Frank did a terrific job here to win this one.

The results worked out by dedicated Danny and Phillippa and presentations held by Supa Prez Dave.

Congratulations to this years winners Phil and Maddie who just scrapped home from Jon and Angus Ward.