2025 Rudder Shield

The annual Rudder Shield was held on 27April at the Ballaarat Yacht Club on Lake Wendouree. For the first time there were five team entered from Albert Park YC , Ballaarat YC, Cronulla SC, Royal Brighton YC and Sorrento Sailing and Couta Boat Club.

The regatta was held in a generally southerly breeze of around 10 knots over four short races of a triangle and windward-return, then a beat back to windward finishing in front of the yacht club. The simplicity of the course was complicated by variable wind shifts throughout the day.

Ten Jubilee owners made their yachts available which were rigged and lined up along the jetty for when sailors arrived. The allocation of yachts was from names drawn out of a hat and each team were introduced to each Jubilee by their owners who guided them through the various peculiarities of the rigging arrangements as they always vary from boat to boat.

There were two races of about 35 minutes in each of the morning and afternoon sessions so there was no rush but some skippers were caught out in the first race by the three minute starting sequence. This year there was only one changeover of yachts to reduce the complexity of either on water changes or having to return to the jetty. This made the event much safer for both crews and Jubilees.

This years Rudder Shield was the largest in my time with more than 30 sailors with a special mention to Oscar (APYC) and Freddie Cantwell (SSCBS). While everyone enjoyed the competition, there was no smile bigger than 10 year old Freddie’s when he steered Scorpion to first place in Race 4.

Final team placings were:

1st place           Cronulla Sailing Club                  23 Points  2nd place         Ballaarat Yacht Club                  40 Points  3rd place          Sorrento Sailing and Couta Boat Club                                                                                              41 points

4th place          Albert Park Yacht Club             50 points

5th place          Royal Brighton Yacht Club      66  points