The winter blues are gone, the sounds of spring are in the air along with the wattle. The PRSC sailing season is about to begin. After a winter of maintenance, the Axis of Evil has never been in finer shape to take on the competition competing on the mighty Parramatta River.
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Spring Series Race 6 5/11/16 First Handicap race of the year (or was it)?
The day arrived with a WSW zephyr meandering its way across the river with the occasional gust reading 35kts around noon. Consideration was given whether to start in such benign conditions, crews and skippers were pondering yes no yes no the final decision a mystery until kick off. Forecast was for the wind to abate as the afternoon wore on but would it? Arriving at the PRSC I find the skipper Speed is walking toward the club, Jimmy the man is already there, and my best mate the reliable noreaster is just starting to come in, I am starting to feel excited, how about you?.........
The nor'wester was still lingering around 1.30pm when it was supposed to be pushed out by the sea breeze. The breeze seemed fine at NE for the Div3 (6 boats starting) 13:50 start albeit light, then Div1 got away very evenly again with all four boats right on the gun with SF (no2 genoa set) to leeward, then RSGT (no2 genoa after originally hoisting the big dog), with LOEG (no1 genoa) and AOE to windward. The fleet tacked onto port and it was a drag race to Abbotsford Point with SF and RSGT neck and neck but then the breeze disappeared and we drifted up to Searles on the last of the outgoing tide.......
The weekend arrived promising a fine day with light SE winds, however this was not the case. Fortunately for us sailors the temperature was a delightful 23 degrees with an 8 - 10 kt sea breeze. Guests were amongst us for the day with Jimmy replacing Jimmy, yes that’s right, no typo, it was JS replacing JS or Sinclair in for Shepardson on the Axis of Evil. This would now call for a reshuffle on the boat with JS to steer and Speedo sent to the pointy bit for the day......
What the hell is going on? Huey the weather god has blessed us with an exact replica of last Saturdays race! This will mean no girls on the LOEG again today however with 15 minutes to go, before the start the tarts come racing past, just to show they can sail in breezy conditions! Obviously last weeks teasing had an effect!
With 3 of AFB’S regular interchange skippers and crew away sailing the Hawkesbury we once again were faced with prospect of sailing two up. After the big westerly blow last week, the forecast 10-15 NorWester was a welcome relief.
As Saturday September 3 has arrived the nerves are starting to jump. How could the season be here already? No repairs, no maintenance, just a few sail repairs in the off season for Axis of Evil, not even a rig tune! The forecast doesn't help the jitters, as Speed suggests the wind forecast is for 20-30 knots from the west and bloody Sumo has texted me to say that it will be blowing the oysters off the rocks! This will sort out the men, ladies and girls.
Gladesville Public School, Class 2/3KM, Homework, Term 4, Week 8.
“Go outside and play a game with your family. Write the name of the game and who you played it with in your homework book” The game we played was called Yacht Racing. My Dad says that it is not a game and that it is a serious sport. He plays it every Saturday. It didn’t feel much like the start of Summer as the rain trickled down the back of my neck on the start line.
Over on the Still Festering Patrick was breaking in another new skipper – affirmative action is alive and well on that Boat. Presumably Pat himself was busy down below getting the shiny new spinnaker pole ready for the first run. |
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