Saturday 21st April saw over 40 yachts participating in the 2018 NSW Jeanneau Rendezvous with crews sailing from up and down the East Coast to participate.
This annual event, organised and hosted by local dealer Performance Boating Sales, is one of the most popular events on their calendar which includes the Jeanneau Division at Sail Port Stephens, the Jeanneau Cup, and for June 2018 a one class regatta for the bestselling Sun Odyssey 349.
The rendezvous is held at different locations each year and Sydney Harbour provided the 2018 participants with a brilliant day of sunshine and an average 10 knots of wind. Many yachts made the trip to the harbour the day before and local clubs extended friendly hospitality with berths and support for the visitors.
The Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron provided a stunning central location for the morning briefing with efficient and friendly staff always at hand to help 37 of the participating yachts come alongside. One of the generous sponsors of the event, The Quays Marina, provided the morning tea in the Squadron’s beautiful Carabella dining room where the skippers and crew were taken through the days schedule by Lee Condell, Director of Performance Boating Sales.
Four divisions were needed this year, spinnaker, non-spinnaker, cruising and a separate division for the Sun Odyssey 349 model as eleven of the twenty plus examples in NSW were sailing. Setting off from Athol Bay with a backdrop of Taronga Zoo, all yachts were sent on their way by the committee boat which was the brand new Sun Odyssey 440.
The wind was kind and increased slightly to make the sailing easier against the tide as the fleet crossed the harbour to Clark Island before heading up to glance at the South Head, round the Lady Bay Mark and return around Clark Island to be greeted once again at the finish by the crew on the SO440.
The evenings function was being held at the Blackbird Restaurant in Darling Harbour and with 40 yachts, virtually the entire marina had been booked. Co-ordination was needed as the yachts had to pass through the swing opening Pyrmont Bridge and be berthed. The bulk of the yachts came through at the 3pm opening and marina staff and the Performance Boating team were on hand to secure all yachts with the minimum of fuss.
Time to relax before dinner was taken up by sundowners provided by sponsor Rogue Wines, tall stories, and a stream of sailors wanting to give the multi award winning Sun Odyssey 440 a closer inspection. Over 165 sailors then were off to dinner where spot prizes were awarded.
Performance Boating Sales and Jeanneau Australia would like to thank White Bay 6 Marine Park for their generous support.