FINAL BOW...NO ENCORE...

Setting Up Temporary Bar on Deck...Hinchinbrook Island Resort (Me on right...black dress)

The fellow on the left had been part of the Australia II, 1983 winner of the America's Cup. On 26 September 1983, the yacht Australia II made history when the oldest sporting trophy in the world, the America's Cup, was wrested from the Americans after 132 years.  He and the young fellow on the right were part of the crew on one of the yachts in the Townsville-Hinchinbrook Yacht race as described below

With some of my staff getting ready for the evening fun...before the hordes descended!

Cape Richards Resort's Jetty...Hinchinbrook Island

My final post for 2019....

With the annual Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race over for another year.....(for those not familiar with the legendary race...every Boxing Day, the yachts set sail from Sydney en route south to Hobart, Tasmania)..... I have had cause to fondly reflect upon my first experience with the Townsville to Hinchinbrook Island Yacht Race, which was conducted while I was managing the resort in the mid-Eighties.

Sadly, the island’s resort, as I’ve mentioned in previous posts, no longer exists. The buildings became the defenceless, innocent victims of a devastating cyclone, as well as victims of senseless vandalism by senseless humans...if the latter can be called “human”!

During my tenure as manager, the resort, at Cape Richards on Hinchinbrook Island, catered for 30 guests, 45 maximum, if more than two guests occupied a cabin.  Fifteen free-standing cabins were dotted in among the tropical growth bordering the foreshore along Orchid Beach.

The resort’s advertising logo..."a million miles from everywhere"...showed lone footprints along a deserted beach.  

The only telephone on the island was in my office, with an extension to my little island abode.   

There were no televisions in the cabins, or in the main area/restaurant-bar area. The only television sets on the island was one in the staff quarters...in the staff’s communal area; and one in my private residence.  I very rarely watched TV...because I was very rarely at home, other than to sleep, shower and change clothes!  The majority of my time was spent in the main building and its surrounds, “taking care of business”.

The air throbbed with excitement as the commencement of the Townsville to Hinchinbrook Island race drew near.

The participating yachts set sail from Townsville late on the Friday afternoon. All night long I remained close to the two-way radio in my office situated behind the cocktail bar.  There, I received regular updates regarding the whereabouts of the yachts.

I received word the first yacht was due to arrive around 2.30am.

With much fanfare and elation, I greeted the winning yacht, while inviting the crew to join me in the restaurant.  

When offered refreshments, they all chose beer, or rum (Bundaberg rum, of course) over coffee or tea.  Who could blame them?

One by one, further boats arrived.  I spent the early hours of the morning greeting, meeting and attending to their avid thirsts.  

As 7am approached, the first of my staff began to wander downm bleary-eyed.   Their eyes popped open wide when they saw the crowds of happy sailors and the 'dead-marines' (aka 'empties').

At one table, empty cans of beer had been piled high by the proud sea-faring yachties in a pyramid of glory and achievement.

My chefs and other staff members fired up the large barbecue on the deck surrounding the pool to serve a welcome hot breakfast to our resort guests, and to the yachtsmen and women.

Arriving from Cardwell, the resort’s contracted boat – the “Reef Venture”, as usual, docked around 9am with further guests. The seaplane arrived at mid-day depositing even more. The island was swaying under its buoyant, lively load!

Yachts kept arriving throughout the day. By mid-afternoon, I’d lost count of the numbers of boats, crew and resort guests.   Go with the flow, I decided.  It would all work out...somehow!

A massive celebration was planned for the evening.  I had ordered enough provisions to feed the combined Defence Forces...and enough liquid refreshments to sink the whole naval fleet, and down the Air Force, too!

My resort guests were warned about the abnormal crowd.  None were upset.

Ripples of excitement flowed contagiously among everyone, guests and staff alike.

My staff members were well-prepared for the long day and night ahead. At that stage, I had 12-14 staff at most!

Everyone was on 'board' ...ready to pitch in.  Those not normally utilised as bar people quickly became in tune with serving behind a bar. They had no other choice!  

Laughter and much noise filled the air. The island wallabies viewed the unusual proceedings from afar, wondering what the hell was happening to their normally peaceful surroundings.

Late afternoon everyone...yachties and guests alike...congregated on the deck around the pool. They spilled out from the restaurant/bar area, and hugged the gardens to the side of the main building.

Presentations were made to the winners of the race, and to the handicappers, before a barbecue feast was laid out.  The festive mood heightened rapidly as the music grew louder, and the constant merry-go-round of refreshments flowed freely.  

The high-spirited, happy crowd, of which I estimated to be around 250-300...give or take...were flushed with good cheer. The night was alive with rollicking, playful antics.

Around midnight the pool became a temptation to many, of course.  I could see by the looks on their faces, and from the twinkles in their eyes mischief was being planned with me to be the chosen victim.   But I wasn’t born yesterday...then or now!

That night I wore an off-the-shoulder, flowing black cotton dress.  I had had four of similar style made especially as part of my restaurant wardrobe....one in black, two white, and another a sunny yellow. The design suited the tropics as it was cool, loose and tiered, down to my ankles.

Always liking to be 'one step ahead', I went to the pool's edge.  I jumped in without assistance, feet first, much to the dismay of the good-natured conspirators!  

My black dress went up in the air, floating on the pool's surface like a huge black butterfly, or moth!

Satisfied I had short-circuited their evil plan, I swam across the pool amidst cheers and applause, .  Then, wasting little time, I raced across to my house, and changed into dry clothes, re-emerging to continue on with the fun and games.

The party continued until dawn, and thereafter.  

A champagne breakfast/brunch followed.  People came and went; some looking the worse for wear, but not caring.

I had had no sleep since the Thursday night.  I knew none was coming my way until later that night, Sunday...late Sunday night/early Monday morn.  I survived on adrenaline. There was no time to even think about sleep.  Anyway, much more fun was had being awake.

I had no idea who were my resort guests, or who were off the yachts.  I decided the best thing to do was just wait until the yachts left to answer the question.  The majority of yachts were to leave sometime during the Sunday; others on the Monday.  Most of the people left over would be guests of the resort...paying guests, staying in cabins.

To add to the mayhem, the sea plane made its normal delivery, dropping off another few people around mid-day.

Somehow, everything worked out...don't ask me how, but it did. I don't believe in panicking in such situations as panic only makes matters worse. Things work out...one way or the other.  If handled with good humour, and a touch of insanity, all the better!

It was a great weekend full of hilarious, memorable moments.  Through it all, there was not one hassle, not one unhappy, complaining soul, not one body lost (that I was aware of, anyway). 

Happy memories.... 

An acrylic painting painted by me of Orchid Beach...the main beach at Cape Richards Resort, Hinchinbrook Island