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 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.
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.
To Pulpit the breeze seemed to be around 18kts as it funnelled through, and LOEG rolled in to second. On the wind to Balls Head it was clear that the breeze was clocking east so RSGT held up a bit higher than SF and LOEG, got a nice stbd lift off Snails Bay after going in on a port lift, and it paid off as we crossed in front of LOEG coming out of Berrys Bay, with SF not getting away yet. AOE hung on well and we negotiated the washing machine well to cross on port in front of LOEG under the bridge, but they footed away nicely across Kirribilli and the expected breeze out of Farm Cove we were looking for did not happen. So LOEG got back to 2nd, we just squeezed around the Fort on their transom then freed up a bit for Shark Island.
SF lengthened stride and got away, nicely rounding the YA mark and with the prospect of a long kite run home relaxed and went and set the kite under the lifelines……..LOEG also stretched out and slid away to the Fort, and we had our own kite set drama with a wineglass – quickly shook it out with a halyard partial drop and leech bouncing………..and we were off home.
SF steered straight down low to the Fort which was our plan, while LOEG pushed up higher across the front of Double Bay and appeared to find a soft patch off Clarke Is and had to come out square – we held down low fortuitously taking a lane of wind all the way to the Fort where we were 2 boat lengths behind them. AOE hung on well with big kite.
There were some good ferry wake surges to the bridge, then to Longnose we gybed twice and with the breeze going surprisingly so far east everyone was able to hold the kite tight down the channel past Cockatoo and Snapper, do a good close in gybe around there then it was tight to Drummoyne Pt, gybe again to get down to Searles including tight out of Five Dock Bay, gybe to Bedlam then gybe to the finish – good gybing practice think we got about half right. So RSGT got the hcap win from SF, LOEG and AOE having a tough time in the dying breeze on the run home. Then it was back to the mooring in the pelting rain - thankfully no boats got hit by lightning – well done by all to get back in one piece.
Next Sat is Autumn Series Race 2 and club dinner hosted by RSGT. Wind forecast this far out is 12knots south.
Footnote: In the combined west harbour clubs summer series on Sundays SF has carded a daily double (scratch and hcap) and another scratch win in 3 races so far, in a crack fleet. RSGT decided to get a piece of the action and entering as a visitor got the hcap win in the 3rd race up to Shark Is and back in a blustery southerly. Go hard SF and nail the series guys – we hope to be there again at the last race 26/3.
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.
To Pulpit the breeze seemed to be around 18kts as it funnelled through, and LOEG rolled in to second. On the wind to Balls Head it was clear that the breeze was clocking east so RSGT held up a bit higher than SF and LOEG, got a nice stbd lift off Snails Bay after going in on a port lift, and it paid off as we crossed in front of LOEG coming out of Berrys Bay, with SF not getting away yet. AOE hung on well and we negotiated the washing machine well to cross on port in front of LOEG under the bridge, but they footed away nicely across Kirribilli and the expected breeze out of Farm Cove we were looking for did not happen. So LOEG got back to 2nd, we just squeezed around the Fort on their transom then freed up a bit for Shark Island.
SF lengthened stride and got away, nicely rounding the YA mark and with the prospect of a long kite run home relaxed and went and set the kite under the lifelines……..LOEG also stretched out and slid away to the Fort, and we had our own kite set drama with a wineglass – quickly shook it out with a halyard partial drop and leech bouncing………..and we were off home.
SF steered straight down low to the Fort which was our plan, while LOEG pushed up higher across the front of Double Bay and appeared to find a soft patch off Clarke Is and had to come out square – we held down low fortuitously taking a lane of wind all the way to the Fort where we were 2 boat lengths behind them. AOE hung on well with big kite.
There were some good ferry wake surges to the bridge, then to Longnose we gybed twice and with the breeze going surprisingly so far east everyone was able to hold the kite tight down the channel past Cockatoo and Snapper, do a good close in gybe around there then it was tight to Drummoyne Pt, gybe again to get down to Searles including tight out of Five Dock Bay, gybe to Bedlam then gybe to the finish – good gybing practice think we got about half right. So RSGT got the hcap win from SF, LOEG and AOE having a tough time in the dying breeze on the run home. Then it was back to the mooring in the pelting rain - thankfully no boats got hit by lightning – well done by all to get back in one piece.
Next Sat is Autumn Series Race 2 and club dinner hosted by RSGT. Wind forecast this far out is 12knots south.
Footnote: In the combined west harbour clubs summer series on Sundays SF has carded a daily double (scratch and hcap) and another scratch win in 3 races so far, in a crack fleet. RSGT decided to get a piece of the action and entering as a visitor got the hcap win in the 3rd race up to Shark Is and back in a blustery southerly. Go hard SF and nail the series guys – we hope to be there again at the last race 26/3.
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