AS the navy popped its cork over opposition leader Tony Abbott’s repeated references to drunken sailors, Hobsons Bay Yacht Club has been busy celebrating its colourful history.
Williamstown sailors hosted a race day on Saturday, recognising the first race of the 125-year-old club held on May 24, 1888 — Queen Victoria’s birthday.
Winners of Saturday’s race received a two-bottle matched set of fine wines.
Club captain Kevin LeNepveu recalled with amusement a police raid on the Nelson Place establishment in 1947.
The constable of the day testified he saw a dance in progress with men serving beer.
‘‘Apparently the club was running a fund-raiser and there were some beers involved and they were selling raffle tickets for some works of art and there was a policeman in the audience who said that he saw people handing over the raffle ticket and receiving a beer. So, that was in breach of the Licensing Act.’’
Under cross-examination, witnesses confessed there were three empty nine-gallon barrels and two more on tap.
‘‘But it was a case of mistaken identity because those raffle tickets were for a work of art,’’ Mr LeNepveu said. ‘‘It was just a misunderstanding.’’
Mr LeNepveu said the yacht club was the oldest in Victoria — and possibly Australia — continuously occupying its original site.
Capping off a big week, two club crews celebrated the completion of an international race from Williamstown to Osaka, Japan.
Eric Marsh and Paul Neilson, aboard the Turbulence, finished the 5500-nautical-mile journey on Friday, several days behind Escapade’s crew of Robert Bradley and Joey Gough.
