Sailing with Richard and Alice Ekberg – Ragnar (Beneteau First 36)

I began sailing with Richard and Alice Ekberg aboard Ragnar during the Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron summer twilight series. This provided a relaxed but competitive environment to become familiar with the yacht and the crew dynamic, racing regularly in local club conditions on Port Phillip.

Following the conclusion of the summer season at Blairgowrie, Richard and Alice relocated Ragnar to Sandringham Yacht Club, where I continued sailing with them through the winter series. This shift introduced a different style of racing, with stronger fleets, more variable weather and colder, heavier conditions that demanded a higher level of consistency and focus on boat handling.

In addition to club racing, we competed together in a number of ORCV races around the bay. These events added a further layer of experience, requiring longer race management, offshore-style preparation and an increased emphasis on navigation, sail changes and crew coordination beyond short-course racing.

Sailing aboard Ragnar was a step change in performance sailing for me. Experiencing sustained double-digit speeds in full control highlighted how modern yacht design, efficient deck layouts and precise steering systems translate directly into confidence, safety and performance—particularly downwind and in fresh conditions. These characteristics encouraged active helming, accurate sail trim and constant communication between helm and trimmers.

The campaign with Richard and Alice offered valuable exposure to different yacht clubs, varied racing formats and a modern approach to both fully crewed and short-handed sailing. It was an enjoyable and highly rewarding experience that strengthened my understanding of contemporary performance yachts, refined my racing instincts, and reinforced the importance of good crew culture across both competitive and social sailing environments.