Winds of change ideal for Inverloch yachts

THE sun finally broke through after a week of rain in Inverloch on Sunday and with it came a stiff breeze blowing across Anderson Inlet making for ideal conditions for the South Gippsland Yacht Club’s Commodore Series of races.

And among those enjoying the consistent wind was new state Impulse champion, Matt Keily.

Matt came out on top at the State titles at Chelsea on the weekend of the 12th and 13th of November, at an event where all four South Gippsland yachties competing came away with something.

Toby Leppin won the Masters event and Geoff Rippingale won the Grand Masters and 

Henry Mueller was second in the Masters.

“I’ve finished second before and had placings but that’s the first time I’ve won the State title in an Impulse,” said Matt.

There are quite a few Impulse boats at Inverloch, according to Matt, because they suit the changing conditions in the inlet.

“The nationals are on between Christmas and New Year at Lake Albert in South Australia, a fresh water lake near the mouth of the Murray River.

“I’d like to go but we’ll just have to wait and see,” said Matt.

SGYC Commodore Simon Wilson was pleased to see a lot of boats out on the water.

“We opened the season on the last weekend of October but it’s been a pretty mixed season so far, with the weather, but today is the best we’ve had. Terrific.”

Some of the yachts are making 20 knots ahead of the wind with the Mosquitoes and Typhoons regularly getting up on one hull and the monohulls also making good time around the course.

“We’ve usually got one series or another going, plus there’s individual races like the Tarwin marathon which is on one day.

“We’ve also got the Wood Dinghy Festival in February. That’s a good one,” said Simon.

“We race every Sunday.”