4:06 PM Tue 13 Apr 2010 GMT
What's not to love about the crew of Lu Lu Belle at Sail Port Stephens?
With their colourful matching crew shirts, "one for every mood and moment in our lives," according to owner Peter Lewis, mascot Wilson - a netball with his own wardrobe who races on the boat and attends all the dinners and parties, pirate flag from the British Virgin Islands chapter of the pirate hood, wine cellar - reputed to be the largest on board cellar on the east Australian coast, and Buddhist saying on the binnacle, they are the epitome of a good time, which is what this growing regatta is all about.
The outrageous Lewis and his crew of one, school mate David Kendall from Brisbane sailed two up yesterday - and flew a kite. "We were heroes," Lewis humbly admitted.
Today they pirated two British holiday makers. "We were walking along the marina and felt a club over the back of the head, then woke up on the boat," joked Londoner Sam Pemberton. "We are supposed to be enjoying a 12 month holiday in Australia, but after today our flights home are booked."
Including the famous Wilson, who is still recovering after being kidnapped at last night's Commodore's Cup official welcome party, there were five on the boat today. Things are looking up for the Middle Harbour Yacht Club entry with at least eight more crew arriving to take their places aboard the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 37 for the remainder of the week-long regatta that will come to a close this Sunday.
A clearly shocked Lewis recounted last night's ordeal "Wilson was abducted from the function by two wenches from Antipodes. There was a ransom of two Lu Lu Belle bandanas paid later in the evening in a secret hand-over."
To pay homage to their boat mascot, Wilson features on one of the many multi-coloured crew shirts, the embroidery reading, 'Cruising and racing with Wilson, Port Stephens 2010'. Displaying the crew's caring side, a soft pink polo from last year's regatta, which has had another airing this year, reads 'Cruising and racing and sharing and cruising 2009'.
Lu Lu Belle is also famous in its own right. It's the boat that Colin, the hungry baby humpback whale suckled up to in Pittwater in August last year, believing the boat's hull was its missing mother.
Team Lu Lu Belle is taking their Aussie humour abroad in a couple of month's time. Lewis is chartering a boat for Ireland's Cork Week regatta in July and in honour of his charge he's named the chartered boat 'Lu Lu Belle Un Corked' - and they already have the merchandise to match.
Lu Lu Belle is a division two entry in the Commodore's Cup PHS series which will wrap up tomorrow with the third, deciding race.
Thursday is a lay day for crews, and Friday will see the recommencement of racing with the Yachting NSW IRC Championship and SB3 Class Australian Championship and the Performance Racing, Performance Cruising and Super 30 Class series.
In late breaking news, Wilson was reportedly abducted again this afternoon during the Commodore's Cup prizegiving and was seen sharing a beer with strangers.
For further information, please visit:
www.sailportstephens.com.au
by Sail Port Stephens Media
Click on thumbnails to enlarge and find more photos:
|
