Trilogy
Sailing with Barry Fitzpatrick & Peter Fitzgerald – Trilogy (Dehler 42C)
I sailed as a crew member aboard Trilogy with Barry Fitzpatrick and Peter Fitzgerald at Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron, taking part in club racing and regular bay sailing. Blairgowrie offers a distinctive sailing environment on Port Phillip, where conditions can change quickly and reward crews who sail accurately and work well together.
Sailing with Barry and Peter provided the opportunity to be part of a well-run and disciplined program. The emphasis onboard was on preparation, clear communication and consistent execution—qualities that translate directly into better results on the water and a more enjoyable experience for the entire crew.
Trilogy is a performance-oriented Dehler 42C, and sailing her in a club racing environment highlighted the importance of precision rather than brute force. The yacht rewards good helming, clean sail trim and coordinated manoeuvres, particularly as conditions build. The deeper keel and responsive rudder give confidence when pressed, making her a solid platform for learning how to keep speed on while staying balanced and controlled.
Time spent aboard Trilogy reinforced the value of sailing with experienced owners who understand both their boat and their crew. Racing from Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron with Barry and Peter strengthened my appreciation for disciplined club racing, dependable boat handling in variable bay conditions, and the quieter skills that underpin good racing—anticipation, teamwork and attention to detail.
This campaign added depth to my experience sailing performance monohulls in competitive club fleets and contributed to my broader development as a reliable and adaptable crew member.
Blogs
Wings
The 1,100nm delivery of Wings from Hamilton Island to Sydney was a lesson in persistence. Most of the trip was spent punched into 18 to 25-knot headwinds and heavy seas. It was a great chance to get some serious hours on the helm at night and see how offshore routing actually works in the real world.
Unprecedented
Sailing out of Safety Beach on this modern Jeanneau Sun Fast 3300 was a shift in perspective. Lighter and more responsive than most cruiser-racers, the boat is purpose-built for efficiency. Managing the running backstays and highly loaded rig highlighted the technical precision needed to keep such a performance-focused platform moving at its best.
Airlie Beach Race Week 2024
The Whitsundays definitely showed their teeth during the 2024 regatta. Working the bow on a Hanse 430E, I spent the week wrestling with 30-knot gusts and complex island tides. It was all about staying one step ahead of the next sail change while navigating the narrow, choppy channels that define racing in this part of the world.
Hot Chipps
Club racing on Port Phillip Bay provided the perfect introduction to the Dehler 46 platform. Spending time on this versatile yacht was great preparation for a later coastal delivery, offering hands-on experience with its systems and deck layout. Assisting with a new mainsail setup also gave me a more technical look at the boat’s performance beyond just pulling ropes during a race.
Arcadia
Sailing on this Archambault 40RC across club and ORCV races has been a masterclass in team efficiency. PJ and the crew operate with a calm, quiet precision that makes even complex sail changes look routine. It’s a great environment to observe how a cohesive team relies on clear roles and consistent repetition rather than noise to maintain performance under pressure.
Adams 10.6
Sailing aboard Cloud 10, an Adams 10.6, provided a classic club racing experience out of RMYS. This 35-foot Australian design is a staple of the local fleet, known for its one-design competition. Getting time on this platform was a practical way to broaden my experience across a different style of local yacht.
RYCV Lipton Cup
The Lipton CupNorthern Port Phillip’s Premier RegattaIf there is one weekend that perfectly captures the spirit of sailing in Melbourne, it’s the Lipton Cup. Held annually at the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria, this regatta is a massive multi-class celebration that...
Melbourne to King Island 2025
ORCV Melbourne to King Island 202554th Melbourne to King Island Ocean RaceThe 54th Melbourne to King Island Ocean Race was one of those events where the conditions aligned, the fleet was competitive, and the crossing of Bass Strait did everything it was supposed to...
It’s not just sailing
Racing the Dufour 40 near the Yarra River mouth keeps us on our toes. Beyond the technical challenges of Port Phillip Bay, sailing with Peter’s team highlights the social side of the sport. Post-race drinks in the galley are as vital as the racing, cementing the camaraderie that makes club sailing worthwhile.
Jarkan 925
Short-course racing at SYC on this 30-foot cruiser-racer. Handling the Jarkan 925 in a tight fleet provided plenty of practice with various spinnaker pole setups and quick sail changes. It was a solid, hands-on way to refine timing and coordination on a more traditional deck layout.
Ragnar – Beneteau First 36
Sailing with Richard and Alice Ekberg across both Blairgowrie and Sandringham offered a great look at this modern design. Moving from relaxed summer twilights to more competitive winter series at SYC highlighted the boat’s versatility. It was a practical way to experience how modern layouts handle different club environments and varied racing formats.
Junior Sailing at RYCV
The Gateway to the BayJunior Sailing at RYCVIf you’re looking for a place where the city skyline meets the open water, Royals is it. The club has a long-standing reputation for nurturing young sailors, from their very first time on a boat to competing in state and...