March 12, 2025 - East Fremantle

Last Saturday, EFYC had the privilege of celebrating one of our own, Olympian Zoe Thomson, as she presented Commodore Steve McWhirter with a framed Olympic sailing training t-shirt—a special piece of memorabilia from her incredible journey.

Zoe recently competed in her first Olympics at the Paris 2024 Games, finishing 20th overall in the ILCA 6 class. Now, she’s already setting her sights on qualifying for the 2028 Olympics, and we couldn’t be prouder to support her on this journey!

From EFYC to the Olympic Stage

Zoe’s connection to EFYC runs deep—her sailing journey began right here, crewing in a Pelican. Since then, she has built an impressive sailing career, including:

🏆 2016 – ILCA Youth World Champion (Ireland)
🏅 2018 – Laser Nationals: Radial Women’s Australian National Champion (Brisbane)
⛵ 2019 – Named WA Female Sailor of the Year
⛔ 2020-2021 – COVID restrictions paused competition
🥈 2023 – Silver medal at the prestigious Sofia Trophy Regatta (Spain)
🇫🇷 2024 – Paris Olympics – Finished 20th overall in her first Olympic Games

Zoe’s dedication and achievements are an inspiration to all young sailors, and we are incredibly grateful for her thoughtful gift to the club. We’ll be cheering her on every step of the way as she works toward the 2028 Olympics!

Thank you, Zoe, and best of luck—we’ll be watching! 🌟⛵

Saturday’s D’Arcy Race delivered a tactical challenge for all sailors, with a soft 5-knot southwesterly breeze keeping crews on their toes. The light conditions made boat speed, positioning, and sail trim the key factors in securing a podium finish.

As the fleet set out on Course C1, early gains were crucial, with minimal opportunities to recover from slow starts. Those who picked the right shifts and stayed in clear air managed to pull ahead, while others found themselves battling to maintain momentum.

Race Highlights & Results

⛵ D’Arcy Cup 1 (Start: 10:00 AM)

🏆 Winner on Handicap: Code Z – S. Bilston (4:13:31 corrected)
🥈 2nd Place: Turkish Delight – B. Wilkinson (4:14:44 corrected)
🔹 Turkish Delight was first over the line in 4:09:38, showing great boat speed despite the conditions.

⛵ D’Arcy Cup 2 (Start: 10:05 AM)

🏆 Winner on Handicap: Hyperion – P. Van Bilsen (3:50:23 corrected)
🥈 2nd Place: Jack – T. Guard (3:53:04 corrected)
🔹 Jack led across the finish at 14:12:58, but Hyperion’s impressive corrected time secured the handicap win.

⛵ D’Arcy Cup 3 (Start: 10:10 AM)

🏆 Winner on Handicap: Flying Fox – K. Young (4:06:42 corrected)
🥈 2nd Place: Smooth Operator – P. Halliday (4:07:39 corrected)
🔹 Flying Fox sailed a well-paced race, staying ahead of the competition in both elapsed and corrected time.

⛵ D’Arcy Cup 4 (Start: 10:15 AM)

🏆 Winner on Handicap: Spritzig – J. Jacka (3:04:42 corrected)
🥈 2nd Place: Greenroom – B. Roper (3:28:59 corrected)
🔹 Spritzig dominated with a convincing handicap victory, handling the tricky conditions with skill.

A Well-Fought Race Despite the Light Breeze

The light air kept tacticians working hard, and those who could squeeze every bit of speed from their boats were rewarded. B. Wilkinson on Turkish Delight put in an outstanding performance, leading the fleet over the line in both the D’Arcy Cup and Inshore Series.

A massive thank you to our race officials, volunteers, and everyone who took part—we look forward to seeing you back on the water for the next race! ⛵⚓

Daily Archives: March 12, 2025

Honouring Olympian Zoe Thomson at EFYC