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Parramatta River Sailing Club - Sydney

Autumn Series Race 3

29/2/2020

The last race in February is significant as one of Sydney's busiest days.
Who will sail today at PRSC? There will be those who will show their true (glittery) colours and have appointments at the hairdressers for the annual BSC service, and will take the day off to watch the exciting racing. And there will be those who stay loyal and true to PRSC.

Autumn Race No. 2

22/2/2020

Second Autumn race and the wind direction was forecast E to SE down the harbour, looking around the river and not much breeze at all.

Autumn Series Race 1

15/2/2020

With a cyclone brewing off Lord Howe Island sucking all the air away from us on the Parramatta river, today could be interesting.

Special Trophies Race 4

8/2/2020

With an East coast low sitting off Sydney, and large wind forecast for Sydney the race is called off on Friday evening.

Summer Series Race 6

1/2/2020

Race 6 of the Summer Series see PRSC sail in 38 degrees with a breeze from the NE. Definitely summery conditions.

Special Trophies Race 3

9/11/2019

We were all waiting for the starter to select the course for today. The weather forecast during the week was for a light SE breeze, but around the club it was much stronger and in all directions.

Spring Series Race 6

2/11/2019

Some one needs to stop Greg the magician from Still Festering, this week he has purchased and installed a new weather station for all at PRSC! Well done Greg and many thanks from all members.

Spring Series Race 5

26/10/2019

A trip Bunnings to purchase a new weather station prior to arriving at PRSC on Saturday, which naturally includes the mandatory sausage sanger, which was perfect with a pile of onions. At last I have nailed Saturday morning. On to PRSC to install the new weather station.

Special Trophies Race 2

19/10/2019

As a parent with growing kids, you always knew to expect the unexpected regarding their behaviour on a windy day. Saturday mornings read of the newspaper weather report does not rest well with me.

The general wind forecast is for 15 kph, wind on Sydney Harbour 25-35 Knott's northwest tending Southwest, one thing that unsettles the big boy with the tiller is a Westerly. This is going to be a bad day in the office, me thinks!

Taking the crew of LOEG, up the river to their mooring we note that the breeze is already a constant 15 knots, from the NW, how early will this breeze swing south and give us another race with 3 tacks in it all the way to Shark island.

During the delivery of crews within Looking Glass Bay, I put the hard word on Pat, skipper of SF, who has a full load, if we on AOE could "borrow" wonder boy David for the afternoon. "If he will sail with you mugs, you will be lucky boys" he says. To my surprise David was up for the challenge, and we welcomed him aboard. Once on board David filled in just like a beer in the hand.

During pre start manoeuvres our barrel chested skipper, has the jitters noticing every breeze shift. Ah what can go wrong provided the breeze remains off our shoulder from the NW.

Today we nail the start, and take the lead rounding Abbotsford Point then Searls,

LOEG have popped the smallest of kites and off they go. This is a major change from 12 foot skiff days when it was a sign of weakness to even pack a "small" kite. We hang on to them and are followed by Still Festering, Black Velvet and Next Light.

In the lee of Wrights point we decide to pop the kite once we get along side Cockatoo island, so we have room to run if a gust comes. Up it goes, and we settle down watching, the men on sOEG sail away a long way in front. As we look about the fleet are all popping their kites.

The boys on sOEG have rounded Long Nose Point, we are in the mouth of the Lane Cove river, with SF just passing the Woolwich marina when they are hit with a big gust.

Watching the gust come down the river, the skipper wants the jib up and spinnaker down, David does a great job and all is settled by the time the gust hits us, and off we go again chasing the the tall mast of LOEG.

We do not know until much later that the gust that hit, took out the spinnaker pole mounting on BV, and in that action a crew was struck on the head who then decided that its safer to jump overboard than fight a
loose pole, leave that to some one who can handle a pole. The good guys on Next light, offer assistance ending the race for both boats, you lucky boys and girls.

Sailing down to Shark island was uneventful with SF taking us at Kirribilli. Rounding Shark LOEG are nowhere in sight, whilst SF have rounded the Island as we round the Wedding Cake mark. Coming around the back of the Island we are now on a hard work, and are hit by 30 Kts as the change decides that its a good time to fully barrel in!

A call for spray jackets comes from the bow, and Mr Wonderful, David goes and retrieves them. This was one of the best calls of the day, as the waves are dropping gallons on our heads, at least we can stay warm now. Etchells in 30kts on the bow are not very "dry" boats. :)

We have the mighty AOE tuned up very tight for the conditions and are sitting very comfortably slicing thru 1 metre waves, the skipper is smiling, he is now in his element, pinching another degree of height with each Gust. We are really in our element, not bagging David but Stephen our regular crews extra 50 kgs could have helped us now {love you Steve}.

We must be doing OK because as we approach Pinchgut we realise that we are pulling SF back and LOEG are now within view (apparently their zimmer frames don't work well in heavy weather. :) We have a race says the smile coming from the skipper who is barking orders and demanding performance.

He calls a tack, and I can not get the Jib released, causing us to fill the boat, it needed a clean, so get the gear on and pump it out boys. Lets go the skipper smiles.

As we approach Wrights Point we feel a temperature change of a few degrees in warmth as the breeze has now swung more north as we progress up the river. This is good. Lets hope Baz the starter shortens the
course as we are stuffed.

Rounding Searles we see LOEG heading up the river to Morrison bay, no the gods are not with us today, keep working boys. As the LOEG round the top mark they pop the kite, we have no hope of matching these guys today, they are on song. My skipper hates the breeze on his shoulder when it's a Westerly, have you received that message yet, to his credit no kite goes up and we carry a typical 30 knot gust that carries us to the finish.

Nothing left to give today the cramps are in my arms and hands, i am one Stuffed Duck,

While we take down our gear, from LOEG I hear that they are stuffed as well.

What has happened to the good old days of a nice work to Shark Island, and Kite race and a beer or 2 on the drift home.

Many thanks for your company David we could not have done this today with out you.

AOE

Spring Series Race 4

12/10/2019

With blustery conditions and the crew of Next Light a little light on Mark volunteered to work the foredeck - a rare foray into adventureland. Unfortunately our starting strategy did not include actually starting at the same time as the other boats. One advantage of starting behind is you get to see where the wind isn't and we made up a little ground.

Still Festering became the break away boat and the fleet divided with The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen fighting off the Axis of Evil and Black Velvet keeping pressure on Next Light throughout the race. With a code zero being raised three times the foredeck on Next Light was kept very busy and the hard work of the crew resulted in a 7 second handicap win - and no doubt Mark slept well that night.

The highlight of the day was the great hospitality and terrific meal enjoyed at the club after the race. Our thanks are extended to the caterers and all the volunteers who make race day possible. The crew of Next Light looks forward to taking our turn as dinner hosts at some stage over the summer.