Commodore's Weekend

Published 3:40pm on 28 Sep 2026

The forecast all week for the Commodores Fun Day on Saturday 12th September had been pretty awful, 15 mph gusting 35 mph with heavy rain.  Having been involved with Kids Week for over 20 years, my bank of experience of fun things to do in extreme conditions is pretty extensive, so we had a few ideas!

Over 25 hardy sailors of all ages turned up and, while we waited for everyone to arrive, we had a competition to see who could draw the best duck. It turns out drawing a duck is surprisingly difficult, with Sandy eventually declared the winner.

By the time we'd finished, the rain had stopped, the wind had settled down to a comfortable 15 mph with none of the nasty gusts we'd been promised and, from there, it gradually dropped all afternoon with no more rain.

So the inaugural Reefed Three Peaks Quackathlon went ahead. With some fairly complicated rules, it was basically the Commodores version of the Three Peaks Race, but with the added challenge of finding a duck.

Andy and Jacob Leeson were the overall winners after finding the duck, with Jack and Sandy an honourable second and first to complete the Three Peaks.

Sunday was the more serious Commodores Regatta and very much a day of two halves. We had some great racing in the morning, but by the afternoon the wind had completely disappeared and racing was abandoned.

Congratulations to Pete H, who finished first and won the Commodores Plate, with Robert second and Phil third.

The Commodores Cup, awarded to the first under 18, was won by Beth Bratherton.

Thanks to everyone who came along over the weekend, helped out, sailed, ran up hills, looked for a duck or just joined in.

Last updated 5:20pm on 1 October 2026