Photos: David Richards.
BY LYNLEY VINTON
On March 27th 2022 there were 30 boats racing in Race 3 of the Manly Combined Clubs series, and 23 of those boats also participated in the 10th Annual Big Lap/Peter Beard Memorial Trophy.
This sailing event raises much-needed funds for research into the rare condition Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), at the University of New South Wales.
In 2010, Pete Beard was diagnosed with MSA, passing away five years later. MSA is a rare degenerative neurological condition that affects approximately 2,500 people in Australia. There is currently no cure. Pete raised awareness by competing in the 2014 International Championship for Disabled Sailors (IFDS) in Halifax, Canada, and by donating his brain to MSA Research.
The Peter Beard Perpetual Trophy was presented at the Inaugural Big Lap Race in 2012, to recognise Pete’s contribution to club sailing. Now in its 10th Year, this fundraising yacht race around Peel and Green Islands has become a tradition at the Manly Combined Series.
On the day we had 181 people on the water and raised $1840. To date we have raised over $22,000 in donations for the research into MSA.
In other news, local sailors also participated in the 74th Brisbane to Gladstone race.
On Good Friday there were many boats leaving their berths in Manly and heading up to Sandgate to compete in the 74th Brisbane to Gladstone yacht race.
The conditions were not as windy as predicted for the start, although that changed during the race with boats recording gale force conditions.
Photos featured here are from the start of the race, thanks to David Richards.
The 74th Brisbane to Gladstone race was won by Black Jack in record time.
