Australian National Title
RS Quest Three Crew Youth Series
(Stonehaven Cup)
Stonehaven Cup 2022 winners skipper Hamish Gilsenan-Rawlings with crew of Mietta
Rael, Maddy Crawshaw and Scarlett Zerbe from Albert Sailing Club
The Stonehaven Cup is a very long running 3-crew dinghy racing event for teenagers, with the first event having been held in 1924. Since then, it has been held every year except during World War 2, and more recently during the COVID pandemic. It now uses the RS Quest dinghy as its platform, with crews of either three or four.
The Stonehaven Cup itself is won by an individual boat. However, clubs may also nominate a team of boats to contest the Otto A. Meik Perpetual Teams Trophy. Scores for the teams event are calculated from the placings of the team boats in the Stonehaven Cup races, including the invitation races.
The Stonehaven Cup Regatta also includes an RS Quest Three Crew Open Series, to provide opportunities for less experienced young people to participate in the event under the guidance of one or more adults.
The regatta is held in January each year.
Why 3 crew dinghy sailing for teenagers?
Three crew dinghy sailing is the signature differentiator of the Stonehaven Cup regatta.
Why three crew?
Provides opportunities for social interaction - a key attractor for teenagers
Demands and reinforces cooperation and teamwork
Requires development of team management and leadership skills, particularly of skippers
Facilitates supported learning opportunities in all roles
Provides substantial flexibility to re-arrange crews to cope with temporary absences and new starters
Minimises equipment costs per participant
Prepares participants for one design and combined keelboat racing
Trophies
Equipment Rules
Refer to “RS Quest Class Equipment Rules (Australia)” under “RS Quest Dinghy”, and also to the additional equipment restrictions applying to this event, below:
Additional equipment restrictions applying to Stonehaven Cup Series
Stonehaven Cup Sub-committee
Memorandum of Understanding
This document summarizes currently agreed practice re the governance and management of the Stonehaven Cup Regatta, and clarifies the Stonehaven Cup Sub-committee's expectations of all parties involved in the event.
Minutes of Stonehaven Cup Sub-committee’s meetings
Archives
Dive into the history of the Stonehaven Cup and the previous equipment platform - the Australian 12 Foot Cadet Dinghy here: