Race Report - Autumn 2 (div 3)

Written by Michelle Dudgeon

Saturday 6 March 2010

Well, the forecast was for 13-18 knots. If it got over 15 knots, I’d be surprised. We had a good roll up for Division 3 with Aragorn, A Fine Balance, Maritime Training School, Janelle and Le Transit Lane presenting for the challenge.

The start was ‘busy’ with Aragorn and Le Transit Lane going back to do it again after the blue and white flag appeared on the deck along with the red flag. This allowed the others some clean air and to skip away. By Searle’s though, Aragorn had reclaimed the lead. Janelle and Le Transit Lane kept getting in each others way, just to keep it interesting. After the top mark, Aragorn made use of their pre-race training and got the spinnaker hoisted. Once we got around the mark, we decided to honour the party in the city scheduled for later that evening and hoisted our big rainbow kite. It’s so pretty! This got us into second position at the bottom mark, chomping on Aragorns’ transom. Maritime Training School and A Fine Balance were right there too.

The run from #5 to #3 can get a bit tight, so we flew our traditional PRSC colours on that occasion. We have been training our newest crew members Davide and Carolina in all things winch oriented (ie headsail trimming and spinnaker trimming), and the conditions last week and again this week have been a real help.

The wind was dying, but off we went to #6 again. By this time, Aragorn was being challenged by A Fine Balance who seemed to have found another gear. We were in third with Maritime Training just behind us. By the time be actually got to #6, there was a bit more puff and with a tight reach up into #3, we settled on our little kite again. We couldn’t catch the two up front, but the first three finished within five minutes of each other. Over the line it was A Fine Balance first and Aragorn second. Poor Janelle didn’t make it to the end. After a trawling incident that went horribly wrong, they limped home with a shredded spinnaker down below. We’ll see if Brownie can resurrect it.

All in all, the handicapper was the winner of the day, with the four finishers within 10 minutes of each other. Le Transit Lane took home the goods and are eager for the next harbour race this week.  

Race Report - Short 3 & 4

Written by Barry Ommundson

Saturday 13 February 2010

The toughest races the club host are the 4 short course races. After finishing the first race you are given a 5 min break between when the last boat completes the course and the next race warning is sounded. Generally you are only half rehydrated by this time, but this series is not for the faint hearted. After finishing 7^th and 4^th in the first 2 heats we find ourselves discussing reasons to avoid the last 2 heats, as rain and southerlies are predicated.

While sitting on the mooring we realise that our first challenge is to actually make the start line, as there is a run out tide and no breeze. A bit of persuasion motivates Jim and Speedo to start paddling. As we round Abbotsford our colleagues on Scandal come and offer us a tow.

Scandal, Hot stuff, A fine Balance, Le Transit Lane and the Axis of Evil are the only starters for today as all others are far too sensible.

We hang around the start line looking for non-existent breeze as we hear the 10 minute horn blast across the river. What are they thinking on the veranda or can they see something happening down the river?

We crack another beer and drift looking for the breeze, at the 5 minute horn we hoist the jib and try to head to the club end of the line. Scandal stays at the Rowers end, along with Hot Stull and A fine Balance runs up the river, Le Transit Lane is sitting off the Wharf at Abbotsford.

The flag drops and we are off, A Fine Balance has drifted over and is recalled. What a Shame, Shame, Shame, we say to each other. Scandal races along the Battersea shore, while we continue to drift across to Banjos point. Whilst Hot stuff and Le Transit Lane are drifting down the river to Bedlam bay, this naturally being the direct inverse to the way that they want to be moving.

Once we escaped the tide we start to make head way across the mouth of Looking Glass Bay by picking the 1 knot zephyr’s that are “blasting” across the surface of the bay. Minute by minute we make our way to the start line. As we cross the start line some 30 minutes into the race the crowd on the veranda erupt in to cry’s of support and joy for us.

Once passed the club we take stock of our position and our competitors, Scandal having done well also out of the tide is now off Newington rowing club and trying to cross the river, good luck boys.  Hot stuff is stuck off Abbotsford, alongside Le Transit Lane and A Fine Balance.

We continue to scan the river and work the tide line, meaning we keep an eye on all of the stuff that has been washed out of the city’s drains in the past week.  We slowly make way to the Glades Bay mark, having worked the northern side of the river.

These days take it out of you, we now know will be a dry boat by the end of this race. Big Jim see’s every mooring being passed as a reason to celebrate so we have another refresher.

Half way across Glades bay we see Scandal and Hot stuff surging past the club. What’s happening back there?  Has the breeze come in? Where is it coming from? All these questions and no answers, time for another beer!

All we have is no breeze and a drying boat, will we be able to hold our lead or will the southerly bring the fleet to us. Moving slowly toward the mark we notice that the surge past the club has ceased and the backward drift of most of the fleet has recommenced.

We round the Glades Bay mark and make a bee line to the middle of the river to pick up the outgoing tide for the run to Hen and Chicken Bay. Half way to the Cabarita we notice the shorten course sign had been put out, another reason for Jim to celebrate, we are have a big day today. 

We decide to exhibit our seamanship (or the power of the tide over wind), by floating effortlessly in reverse across the finish line, surely another first for many years at the PRSC! Sounds of applause come from the balcony and our competitors at our accidental exhibitionism! Regrettably there were no other finishers, although everybody managed to cross the starting line, some as many as three times!

The second race was cancelled, so we dropped the gear to drift to the mooring, when Scandal kindly offers us a tow home. Thank you to everyone who made the effort to race today. Cheers Barry