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50 Years of the Adelaide / Lincoln
Race
Compiled in 1999 for the 50th Celebrations
Sailing has always been part of Port Lincoln's
way of life. Regattas have been recorded
back in the middle 1800's. Early fishing
boats were the main competitors. The First
World War and then the Depression closed
the Port Lincoln Sailing Club and the Port
Lincoln Regatta Club.
Boats including some from Adelaide continued
to cruise the area in the 1920's including
the late Frank Verco from the R.S.A.Y.S.
in his 52 foot yacht, the "Nautilus".
In 1930 a public meeting was held in the
Port Lincoln Civic Hall supper room. The
meeting was called to consider forming a
Yacht Club again. The Royal South Australian
Yacht Squadron was represented at that meeting
by Frank Verco. The Port Lincoln Yacht Club
as we now it was opened in 1931. From the
earliest days of the club a race from Adelaide
had been considered. Years before the Port
Lincoln Sailing and Regatta Club had run
an annual Regatta before they had closed.
There
was no Clubhouse in those days, and speedboats
and heavyweight sharpies were the strength
of the sailing community. The fishing boat
racing era had passed. The race began through
the efforts of Brian Verco and Alan Payze
and others.
Brian Verco (Frank's son) now lived in Port
Lincoln and was Commodore of the Club. He
owned the yacht "Fifinnela". Allan
Payze, a foundation member and secretary
of the Club was a great friend of Brian's.
They were wondering how to create more activity
in the Lincoln area for the ocean going
yachts from Adelaide.
They saw the need to create a reason for
Adelaide boats to come around the "corner"
(as the bottom of Yorke Peninsula was known
in those days) and to stay on visiting Port
Lincoln. Port Lincoln's population in the
1950's was around 4,000 people.
Allan and Brian came up with the idea of
an Outer Harbour to Port Lincoln race, and
it was on! In 1950, 19 years after the new
Club was born, the first Outer Harbour to
Port Lincoln Yacht Race was sailed. The
fastest time for the inaugural race was
the Squadron's "Seevogel" owned
by W. Harris with the time of 19 hours 39
minutes and 36 seconds. The next year it
was Lincoln's "Pavana" owned by
George Mayne. Frank was critically ill,
but lived to see the first race.
Brian Verco presented the original, significant
trophy, a silver tray with a chart on it
which was allowed with special Government
permission. It was originally silver, but
as it began to "wear" over the
years, Brian's family had it gold plated.
They were disappointed that this spoiled
the finer details of the chart a little.
In recent times, Brian commissioned Dean
Palm to fit a jarrah surround made from
wood from the old Brennans Jetty, so that
it could hold more plaques. Brian presented
the trophy in memory of his father who had
been a good supporter of the club and one
of the people instrumental in the formation
of the club and to say thanks for tall the
good times his father and family had had
sailing here.
The second trophy named the "Pier Trophy"
was presented by the Rundles who owned the
Pier Hotel. There was also a third trophy.
Over the past fifty years the Race has created
some outstanding memories. Today it is one
of the greatest ocean races in Australia.
It leads into the "Lincoln Week Regatta"
which is now an established. popular event
attracting some of Australia's top competitors
as well as providing a top social occasion
for all. It also generates income for the
community thus helping the local economy.
It truly fits the Port Lincoln Yacht Club's
number one objective which is to "Foster
a love of the sea.....". |
