RQYS MAINSHEET 2023

WAGS report

A family affair for almost half-a-century The ‘WAGS family’ upholds a weekly Squadron calendar tradition welcoming everyone — with or without a boat! As another year rolls by and, as we move into 2024, WAGS will be moving into its 47th year, note stalwart organisers Paul and Nelly Bolton. Without doubt it is probably the longest-running and most consistent event in the history of RQYS, and the continuing rejuvenation of skippers, crews and guests remains key to its appeal and success.

It began with a few gentlemen sitting around on a Wednesday afternoon looking for something to excite. It’s amazing what genius comes out of boredom — and maybe the inclusion of a couple of rums. Their collective challenge to each other was — funnily enough — for a bottle of rum, a race around Green Island. I’m sure that those particular gentlemen had no idea what an institution they created on that day. We honour one of those founding men with the Ross Jullyan Memorial Trophy every November and we were lucky to have had one of the other founders, John Taylor, join us in the fleet this year. Many people are not aware that the letters WAGS originally meant ‘Wednesday Afternoon Gentlemen’s Sailing’ but, with the advent of contemporary equality, it is now known more inclusively as ‘ Wednesday Afternoon Go Sailing.’

It is very fitting, as we have a number of very good female skippers and crew that join our ‘gentlemen’ weekly, all making up what I like to call our WAGS family. There is much laughter, friendly banter and great camaraderie every Wednesday post race as the day’s events are discussed. Good or bad, all is sorted over a drink. Just the way it was intended to be. In the past number of years the fleet has grown — not only in numbers but also in the size of vessels, with the average boat around forty feet. This also creates a drop-off in numbers in Winter as many take the opportunity to venture away and enjoy the regattas in the beautiful northern part of our state.

But, as they say, you’ve got to come home eventually, and the fleet numbers are back to normal by October.

No job too small / Commercial diving available / Professional team Pre-race yacht cleaning: hull, keel, rudder and prop Props removed and replaced / Fully insured / ADAS-qualified