Royal Geelong Yacht Club - Good Wind, Good Sailing
02-Mar-2010
Another great afternoon on the bay with an oscillating wind both in direction and strength, giving lifts to some and knocks to others which is one of the ingredients that make for good racing!
In Division 1, Valiant (Gerry O'Brien), Juno (Kym Murphy) and Larriken 2 (Darren Pickering) sailed in company for most of the race finishing within one minute of each other while Ocean Skins (Tony Fowler) and eXtasea (Paul Buchholz) cleared off showing the way. Further back, Boundary Rider (Kim Clarke) and Peregrine (Barry Walker) fought between themselves for supremacy. At the finish it was Ocean Skins ahead of eXtasea by 4 minutes more than 20 minutes ahead of the next finisher. On handicap it was Ocean Skins 1st, eXtasea 2nd and Valiant 3rd.
Division 2 had some fun before the start with a bit of a bingle between Braveheart and Cadence, spoiling the day for both of them as the fleet cleared away leaving Jack and Paul to sort out the pieces.
The 20 to 28 knot wind made spinnaker use a tad dicey but, keen to show off their new blue and white kite, Reverie (Reverie Syn) hoisted it whilst boisterously singing, We Are Geelong! Coromandel (Roger McLennan) found new ways of getting in a mess with a spinnaker while many decided against the risk.
Vitesse (David Farrimond), Reverie’ Spirit of Rani (Ian Robottom) and French Connection (Brian Marshman) were sailing in close competition for most of the day each trying to get the better of the others but it was Spirit of Rani who got home first in that group.
Further ahead, Jimmy Blacksmith (John Sykes/Bob Umhauer) got home first although, somewhere along the way, Jimmy and Mirage (Fergus McPherson) may have had reason for an inquiry. However, Gentleman Jim decided against protesting. What a nice gesture! But, perhaps they should have as Mirage came 2nd on handicap and 'Gentleman Jim 3rd!! Never-the-less, there's a good outcome, they're still friends! The winner on handicap was Vitesse after sailing a very competitive race.
In Division3, Fleurieu Warrior (Trevor Brown) and Murphy's Law (Harry Farnell) were within seconds of each other most of the day but it was Catalyst (Shannon Dixon) who gained line honours ahead of Murphy's Law and Fleurieu Warrior. Aided by his diminutive crew, Val, Murphy's Law ruled the roost to take 1st. place on handicap from Champion (Steve Williams) and Lucky Lady (Ray Goodwin) was 3rd.
Final results as follows:-
Division 1. Line honours and 1st place to Ocean Skins’ 2nd over the line and on handicap, eXtasea (Paul Buchholz) and Valiant (Gerry O'Brien) was 3rd.
Division 2. Line honours once more to Jimmy Blacksmith who was 3rd on handicap. 1st. place went to Vitesse (David Farrimond) and 2nd place to Mirage (Fergus McPherson).
Division 3. Line honours went to Catalyst (Shannon Dixon) but it was Murphy's Law (Harry Farnell), 2nd home taking 1st. place on handicap. Champion (Steve Williams) was 2nd and Lucky Lady (Ray Goodwin) was 3rd.
Etchells. 1st. The Archer (Mike Kelly), Free Advice (Mary Hanna), was 2nd and Urban Gorilla (Michael Shanahan) was 3rd.
Senior Members Dinghy Race.
Held on Sunday and the highlights include Commodore John Kint, armed with water pistols and tastefully dressed to match his boat, Starlight Express. Past Commodore Mike Kelly, dressed in a blue and white striped sailor’s shirt with colour co-ordinated shorts, while his crew, son Will, also in a sailor’s outfit fitted the part.
The race was a pursuit event over 6 legs. Following fun and capsizes, not to mention water fights, Plane Sailing (James & Matthew Fitzpatrick) were 1st followed by Swiftsure (Fraser Rudland/Callum Butler) and Snake Bite (Sue Harmon/Ian Lee) was 3rd. All proceeds went to assisting the cadet boat Snake Bite and her crew of Ian Lee and Alex Brzoska to compete in the cadet world titles to be held in Poland later this year.
Next Weekend. Sat & Sun. Whyte, Just & Moore Wooden Boat Festival of Geelong. DO NOT MISS IT!!.
Next Race. Sat. 13th March. Early Start for Div. 1, 2, 3 & Etchells. Double header WL. First signal 1255.
Bravo Course, Cadets,
In good sailing conditions, and a wind of 15 to 18 knots, 17 boats started in the WL course. Plane Sailing lost its mainsail with only 4 minutes to go forcing frantic efforts to rehoist!
Most of the fleet picked the committee boat end to start and Snake Bite was wearing Xciten like a glove! At the gun’ Xciten won the start followed by Midnight Magic’ Sure Thing and White Missile. Snake Bite ended up being boxed in taking some time to get clear air. Plane Sailing started in the middle of the fleet because of the mainsail problem but picked a gap, got clear air and worked into 3rd spot behind Snake Bite and White Missile.
Further back, an interesting battle developed between Hectic’ Skeeta and Midnight Magic’ all trying to be first home in red division. It was Hectic who held on to finish ahead of Skeeta by 18 secs and Midnight Magic another 97 secs. Meanwhile Snake Bite was being challenged by White Missile closely followed by Tempest. At the finish, it was Snake Bite who crossed the line 9 secs ahead of White Missile and Tempest.
Race 17 was another closely sailed race. Snake Bite continued its dominance by leading the fleet all the way to cross the line in 1st. place followed by Tempest and White Missile.
Single Handed Race.
Conducted on Sunday and 18 boats sailed a windward leeward course in 12-18 knot breeze. Once again Snake Bite lead away from Sure Thing’ White Missile and Plane Sailing but in the back ground, Tempest picked the last leg to move through the fleet into second position behind Snake Bite. She worked the wind shifts and the result was: Tempest in first place and Snake Bite next by 1 sec. A close finish.
Bravo Course, Results, Race 16.
Cadets Blue Div. Championship. 1st, Snakebite (Ian Lee/Alex Brzoska). 2nd White Missile (James Armstrong/Olivia Neilson) and 3rd. Tempest (Nikola Dixon/Nicola Armstrong).
Cadets Red Div. Championship. 1st, Hectic (Liam Robinson/Riley Mulgrew). 2nd Skeeta (Oliver Friend/Will Townson). 3rd Midnight Magic (Charlie Friend/Billy Goodfellow).
Cadets Blue Div. Handicap. 1st. White Missile’ 2nd Sure Thing (William Kelly/Joel Lay) 3rd Tempest’
Cadets Red Div. Handicap. 1st. Hectic’ 2nd, Brothers In Arms (Darcy Baronowski/Lachlan Hill) and Skeeta was 3rd.
Race 17.
Cadets Blue Div. Championship. 1st, Snakebite. 2nd Tempest and 3rd White Missile.
Cadets Red Div. Championship. 1st, Midnight Magic’ 2nd Hectic and Skeeta was 3rd.
Cadets Blue Div. Handicap. 1st. Black Pearl (Ruby Altermatt/Jessica Fitzpatrick), 2nd Starlight Express (Emma Woods/Claire Townson) and Sure Thing was 3rd.
Cadets Red Div. Handicap. 1st. Frantic (Sam Stephens/Jack Thornton), 2nd Midnight Magic and Viking II (Lucy Stephens/Georgia Crowley) was 3rd.
Miscellaneous division sailed Race 17 and 10 boats lined up for the start. Magic Moments won the start from Vires Veritas and Bulletproof. Katana XX took control of the race followed by Vires Veritas and The Mach 5.
Off The Beach Results.
Championship Race 17. The Mach 5 (David Warren/Michael Bagnara) 1st. Magic Moments (James & Peter Short) 2nd and Katana XX (Campbell Kennedy/Thomas Stuchbery) was 3rd.
Handicap. 1st. Katana XX’ 2nd Fly By Wire (Andrew Butler), and The Mach 5 was 3rd.
Single handed Results- Blue division. 1st Tempest (Nikola Dixon), 2nd Snake Bite (Ian Lee), and 3rd Sure Thing (Will Kelly).
Red division 1st Hectic (Liam Robinson), 2nd Midnight Magic (Charlie Friend) and 3rd Flying Dutchman (Lewis Butler).
Next Saturday & Sunday, Whyte, Just & Moore Wooden Boat Festival of Geelong. DO NOT MISS IT!!
Next Race. Bravo course, Sat. 13th. March. WL first signal 1355.
Bob Appleton
For more information:
www.rgyc.com.au
tempest@ncable.net.au |
