Report on the Victorian State Taipan Titles for 2025

by Club Racing Captain Mark Sullivan 

Proud.  So very, very proud of our little country sailing club for what we pulled off over the Victorian Long Weekend in hosting the 2025 Taipan Victorian State Titles.  With our country hospitality, delicious home-baking, relaxed atmosphere, superb race organization, expansive grounds and veritable tribe of friendly, willing volunteers, we sent 25 boats home on the Monday very happy and very impressed.

Two years ago, Anna and I turned up at our first Taipan Victorian State Titles at Altona and came away having been asked if AWSC would be interested in hosting the 2025 State Titles.  It didn’t seem to matter that we didn’t know which end of the Taipan to point forwards at that stage, but we apparently represented a potential location that wasn’t Port Phillip Bay and wasn’t Western Port and was therefore immediately attractive.  And with all the naive exuberance of a 6 week old puppy, I bounced back up the Hume Highway, excited by the prospect of showing off my club. 

The nerves came later.

I’m comfortable to admit now that I’ve found myself lying awake at silly-o’clock on random nights once a week or so for the last two years.  Concerned not for our ability to hold a regatta, but for our wind.  Would our ever-reliable ghost play its part?  Would these catamaran sailors, these sailors who seemingly have no end to their repertoire of ‘it was so windy…’ stories, these sailors who thrive on knife-edge conditions, would these sailors drive 5 hours to an inland lake 400km from the nearest stiff afternoon sea-breeze for their State Titles?  And if they *did* come, would our Tallangatta Ghost look favourably upon us and provide for these newcomers coming from far and wide the ever-reliable 8-10 knot morning southerlies of which I had spoken so eagerly?  Or would our Ghost take umbrage at these newcomers, would he mock and taunt us with breezes that never quite fill and a course axis that could never quite find its home?

I need not have worried.  For whatever reason known only to himself, the Ghost seemed to hesitate a little on the Saturday afternoon, perhaps carefully considering and pondering his options.  Then on Sunday he grinned.  The Ghost smiled a wide toothy grin.  The Ghost indeed smiled upon our regatta and upon us all.

We had attracted 25 boats and the largest fleet to compete for a Taipan Victorian State Titles for some time.  The racing was close all weekend, placings only finalized on the last race of the regatta.  The socializing was relaxed.  The space, the shade and the grassy lawn all highlights.  The Saturday afternoon was particularly relaxing, with kids on bikes, SUPs in the bay, and sleepy bean-bags whiling away the hours in the shade amongst easy conversation.

The support our AWSC volunteers gave to this regatta was truly impressive.  It was definitely noticed and appreciated by our competitors, both during the weekend and since across various media platforms.  The catering was flawless.  The home-made lasagnas on Saturday night a real treat and appreciated by all.

The on-water teams were exemplary.  The efficiency with which courses were laid and re-laid between races truly impressive.

The hours put in by you all, my dear AWSC colleagues, was incredible.  We sent 25 boats home on Monday afternoon and with every one a well-satisfied beaming face.

On behalf of myself, of the competitors, of the families who also enjoyed the weekend and of the Taipan Catamaran Association of Australia, we extend the humblest of thank-yous to you all. 

So proud. So very, very proud!

Mark Sullivan