The elusive and prized T-shirt is a weekly goal and a high priority for both Monohull and Multihull fleets. Presentation is now at 17:00 along with a sausage sizzle prepared by more of our fantastic Volunteers and sponsored by The Yacht Sales Co. The prizes are awesome because of the amazing group of sponsors to which we are all grateful. n WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON GO SAILING — the best way to spend a Wednesday arvo! EKKA Wednesday 2026 WAGS: Blackadder’s crew also in very cheery spirits. Pic: Spikey Mikey BBQ pic below: Matt Tesch BACKGROUND PIC: Spikey Mikey Middleton Proudly supporting WAGS @ RQYS! Phone: 0419 793 654 Email: adamthediver@bigpond.com 17 www.rqys.com.au mainsheet Flash Back THE BIRTH OF WAGS finished together. This often led to cheering and derision as handicaps were read out each week and kept the friendly rivalries alive and kicking. Mike Thurlow created the handicap system based on his knowledge and experience of those competing and was often quoted as saying ‘if you win, it is not because you are a good sailor, but because I made a bad call.’ WAGS eventually brought in so many multi-hulls that they presented a unique problem, and as numbers grew, a separate division was eventually created. In the beginning, the prizes were simple, the winner shouted the bar! As the fleet grew, so too did the number of boats zigzagging around the course to avoid winning. Lindsay Wall became the first sponsor of WAGS when his Manly Marine business presented a $10 - voucher to the winner. This simple prize changed the dynamics of the game and a new tradition was born, The Squadron or other benefactors put up a bottle of Bundaberg Rum for the winner each week. To this day, the rum is often seen in the prize line up. As time went by, WAGS grew exponentially and to this day we now see 40 boats out on the bay every Wednesday of the year, weather permitting. The event has become a significant feature within the Squadron scene, if there is a Wednesday in the week, WAGS is on. Who could have predicted that on that day in 1978, the decision to wag an afternoon working and race across the bay would have created a 33 year old tradition that is continuing to grow with every year? Top Left & Right - copied from Mainsheet - 1980 Below: reproduction of ‘The birth of WAGS’ feature in MAINSHEET Spring 2011 WAGS Report
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