The following article describes a cruising yacht race from Brisbane to Toorbul Point and back, over the weekend of 8-9 December 1900. Between the two legs of the race, an afternoon and evening were spent at Toorbul Point, where the team-members participated in a cricket match and later an impromptu concert.
Aquatics. Queensland Yacht Club. Cruising Races
Weekend at Toorbul Point
8-9 December 1900
. . . . After finishing the race the boats proceeded across to the residence of the club's commodore, Mr. James Clark, at Toorbul Point, Bribie Passage, where they joined a number of other club boats, which had preceded them. Most of the boats sailed across to Bribie Passage by moonlight, and the sail was described as being a beautiful one.
Next day the Q.G.S. Albatross, with the Hon. E.B. Forrest and a party on board, arrived about 1.30. In the afternoon an interesting and highly-amusing cricket match took place between teams captained by the commodore, Mr. James Clark, and the vice-commodore, Mr. W.A. Douglas.
The vice-commodore’s team batted first, and scored 63, the principal scores being : Fox 17, Douglas 12, Hunt 7, Harvey 7, and Warry 1. The other side only compiled 29, of which 11 were made by Gray, Westaway compiling 6, and O’Beirne 2.
After tea a very pleasant evening was spent on board the Albatross, when an impromptu concert was organised, some very good items being rendered by the following gentlemen : Messrs. D.B. McSwaine, G. Barnett, Gray, Arthur, F.J. Macgillycuddy, G. Warry, and others, while Mr. G.C. O’Beirne accompanied a number of the songs, and gave selections on the banjo.
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| Clianthus cruising yacht |
The following boats anchored at Toorbul Point on Sunday night: Harriette Ann, Viking, Ida, Vixen, Clyanthus, Maroma, Gondolier, and Balmoral.
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| Gondolier cruising yacht |
The second of the cruising races was run, the course being from Toorbul Point to the Pile Light. The wind was very light, from east-north-east, at the start, which took place at about 11 o’clock. The give-flag system was again used for starting, and the start was a perfect one, the boats getting away well … . The wind was very variable, but the boats were enabled to lay the course with eased sheets. … . At the finish the times were : Gondolier, 1h. 34min. 40sec. ; Viking, 1h. 37min. 44sec.; Ida, 1h. 39min. 47sec.; Harriette Ann, 1h. 44min. 2sec. ; Clyanthus, 1h. 47min. After the handicaps had been adjusted, the corrected times order was : Viking ; Gondolier ; Ida ; Clyanthus, Harriette Ann.
All the boats returned to their moorings early, after having spent a most enjoyable outing.
REFERENCES
Aquatics. Queensland Yacht Club. Cruising Races.
Brisbane Courier Tue 11 Dec 1900, p. 7. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/19082818
Sailing as a Pastime in Brisbane.
Sydney Mail and New south Wales Advertiser 28 Jan 1903 p. 217, photos 9. Clianthus 10. Gondolier https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/163777544
FURTHER READING
Government Steamer Albatross
Brisbane Courier 16 Sep 1903 p. 7 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19241952
Obituary for Edward Barrow Forrest (1838-1914)
E.B. Forrest "assisted in the formation of the Royal Queensland Yacht Club, on which he was president for many years."
Telegraph (Brisbane) Tue 31 Mar 1914, p. 8 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article174274105
