Sail Brisbane 2024 kicked off with six eager Hobie teams and a building southeast breeze. The enthusiasm was evident, with Lachy, Pelican, and Bella all being OCS (on course side) at the first start. Despite this, the close racing that followed for the opening race set the tone for an exciting regatta. Team Bates continued their stellar form from the Queensland State Titles at Lake Cootharaba, taking home four out of four bullets on the first day.
The tricky southeast conditions made tactical decisions critical, as small errors could result in significant gains or losses. By the end of the first day, Team Bates held a clear lead, while only a few points separated second through fifth positions, highlighting the tight competition among the rest of the fleet.
Day two brought a complete wind shift, with the breeze doing a full 180 overnight. However, the new direction brought little additional strength, and combined with a strong tide, it made hitting the laylines particularly challenging. Several boats struggled at the top mark, leading to dramatic changes in position.
The day began where the previous one had ended, with Team Bates getting out in front early. Christian had a standout start in the first race of the day, holding onto second place for most of the race. Pelican and Maddie secured a fourth-place finish in that race, keeping the battle for second to fourth positions wide open.
In the final race of the regatta, Pelican and Maddie got away well at the start, leading to a tight race with Team Bates and managing to prevent their clean sweep. Close racing continued throughout the fleet, but as the northeast breeze tried to establish itself, the course turned into a bit of “follow the leader” after the first lap.
The regatta ended with plenty of sore heads from the challenge of reading the breeze, but the camaraderie and competitive spirit were evident. Team Bates claimed first place overall, with Maddie and Pelican taking second. Bella and Helen finished close behind in third, followed by Lachy and Jess in fourth, Christian and Emma in fifth, and Libby and Jess in sixth.
