A pretty spectacular Autumns’ day was in store, and from the outset it was looking mighty fine: a NE breeze was eminent and the sun making good heat. All the makings for a great day sailing. As we sat waiting for our voyaging vessel, drinking heartily on the brew that brings on sailing abilities that only a league of extraordinary gentlemen can acclaim, we watched on as the drama unfolded below us at Banjo’s Wharf. Xena (Warrior Princess) was flexing her muscle over a much larger motor yacht to gain access to dock and tie up. Amid the battle, numerous fisherman were sent scurrying, and the motor yacht gave up in defeat. Final scores: Xena 1- Motor Yacht 0. “Way to go, Idaho!”
0 Comments
Saturday arrived with a forecast much similar to the working week just past with predicted rain & thunderstorms. The day was also a significant Sydney yearly event with the Mardi Gras festival being held in Oxford Street. Five boats braved the conditions with three Div 3 boats and two Div 1 boats. It was another occasion of participation in Div 1 overshadowed by the smaller boats of Div 3. Resurgent put in apologies early in the week from the event. L.O.E.G again found the conditions not to their liking on the day with rain about, or was it too hot or too windy? Or was the boat being used somewhere else (a float to get to their float down in Oxford St), and what the G stand for??? These questions were being asked about this mysterious craft.
For LoEG’o it was the usual pre start drinks and with young George Wilson again racing with us.
He reported on his visit to the Doctor last Monday for a very red and raw throat, a result from eating a family size bag of corn chips while sailing , this week he had same size bag but just standard chips with plenty of water to drink. Problem solved we hope this week....... Special Trophies Race 5 started in a sou easterly breeze at about 15 knots but with holes around Abbotsford Pt. 2.15pm high tide and all four Div1 boats in attendance.
The start was spectacular with all boats at speed and right on the line on the gun (no Barry the battler, none of us were over as confirmed by Anne – an optometrist booking has been made for you……..) with RSGT to windward of AOE, LOEG and SF. The blaze across to east Bedlam Bay was overproof rum and SF footed through to leeward and after a couple of tacks laid Searles to lead by a couple of boat lengths from RSGT with LOEG inside them, and these positions held on the close reach to Drummoyne Pt. The day started with very high humidity, a reading of 92% to be precise. We were able to read this before the race on the newly installed weather station base unit inside the doors out to the deck. 92% translates into 'dripping wet' when even thinking about physical activity......
Crunch time for the Summer Series with the sixth and last race, and the pre-start tension was obvious. ENE breeze 10-15 knots. 4.00pm low tide with a 1.5m drop from the high, and a hcap start flagged so after a mild dose of apoplexy and grabbing the book of words this was sorted out and the usual four suspects were off to Lukes Bay just as the Bedlam Cup fleet from up harbour came to their leeward mark in the east of the bay.
Summer series race 5 so clutch time, with only one more series race to go after this.
SE breeze 10-15 knots with maybe a tad more out of H+C Bay. 4.30pm high tide – but only 1.21m so not much influence. The usual Div1 suspects got a close start with Axis of Evil (AOE, good to see Jimmy back on board after a couple of months working too hard) getting the jump a bit to leeward of Resurgent (RSGT), Still Festering (SF) to leeward of them followed by League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (LOEG). AOE got to the true breeze around Abbotsford Pt first and soon had the bilge pump active after a gust came through, and rounded Abbotsford followed by SF, RSGT, LOEG. A hot and unsettled westerly breeze greeted the fleet, with the forecast being souwest and slowly swinging to norwest through the afternoon at 10-15 knots before the southerly change coming a bit before midnight. The high tide 11.30am was a true king, and the 3 works up to Morrisons were significantly affected by the ensuing rush-out.......
A light and variable breeze greets us at the start of the PRSC race for Saturday 10-12-2016.
Starters for today are Len and Karen and they are at the club early. On the AOE, Jim is unable to join us today as domestic home duties has him replacing the kitchen for his beloved. We have recruited wisely though, today we are sailing with the old master himself, Jim Sin of Abbotsford and skipper extraordinaire. Lola takes message from Carl. “Tell Ron to be at club before 12.00 as it is an early start Long Harbour Course”. Lola also wants to be dropped off in the city. Ron rushes (he is not used to this), drops Lola off and reaches PRSC at 11.28 (also not used to being this early). Ron immediately notices something different about the club, the rubbish bin that normally stands next to the recycle bin is missing! A forensic search of the club is launched but reveals nothing........
|
Archives
February 2020
Categories
All
|