WOW! What a great way to get sailing underway for the New Year… Thirteen IOM and eight DF65 skippers turned up, including several new faces and a couple of enthusiastic ‘young-guns’, which was great to see, welcome everyone. It really was a great day to be out sailing, not too hot for this time of the year, an incoming tide and gentle breezes.
Peter and Russell called all skippers to attention for a comprehensive briefing and both fleets entered the water for the start of Scratch racing – as always we are extremely grateful to Jeremy and other crew members who assist us with launches from the foreshore wall. After a summer refurbishment, Buoy-bots continue to meet all expectations and proved their value again this week as yachts departed the Marina, thank you Andrew.
Mike, Peter and Russell in the IOM fleet and Don, Steve and Greg in the DF65 boats continue to dominate the day with well-deserved podium placings, Jordan and Will also need to be recognized for their emerging talents and promising futures in the club. Notwithstanding the fact that all skipper skill levels are noticeably coming-to-the-fore and sailing throughout the year will be interesting to follow as advances will be made to challenge the ranks.
A fantastic day that had all the team work extremely well together to make all aspects of the event possible, thank you to everyone who go unmentioned for the individual tasks you all undertake without question to make for such a smooth running of our days. Sincerest thanks to Mike L for scoring heat eight to allow me to film the race (apologies for the wobbly bit!). Also, congratulations to Andrew who was presented with the overall Club Championship shield today – Well sailed Andy.
Round three of the Summer Handicap Series will be sailed on Sunday 29th January at the Manly Marina and we hope to see bigger fleets on the water.
Cheers, Bruce
Another spectacular Queensland day at the Marina for IOM Scratch Racing, the first sail day for Summer 2022 had lower than expected temps for this time of the year and a great breeze blowing in over the venue also raised the question of ‘A’ or ‘B’ suites being used! Despite the vigour of the winds, all skippers were adventurous enough to sail in their ‘A’ rigs which actually proved ideal, without too many control difficulties being encountered as dips-‘n’-hollows were just as regular as the gusts-‘n’-flurries, the IOM fleet sailed two triangles, while the DF boats also finished quickly on one circuit. Once again the tide also seemed to be on a rapid outward flow as in past weeks… it is my imagination, or does someone really need to plug-the-leak?! This made for a speedy retreat of the water level to expose the shoreline and that usual and particularly vexing rock early – Jeremy rolling-up his sleeves to move the offending boulder, only to think better of the herculean task (see video). The dipping tide level did however also provide some shelter for the boats over the ledge and as can be seen from the stills and videos, no serious knock-downs hit the fleet. With the ideal conditions and fast heat finishes, no morning break was held to hold back the pace of sailing and all ten races were sailed consecutively for a quick wrap-up of the scoring.
Today we welcomed Grant launching his new IOM for the first time, not especially idea conditions for a novice and the inevitable teething problems also bucked his chances, but time, mentoring and persistence will make the difference next year. Jeremy and John D also were also attacked by the stow-away gremlins, Jeremy retiring his IOM and taking up a Dragon to join Noel and Basil for a few races. Special mention must also be made of Mike LANO whom we welcome back to the club after some twenty odd years, Mike was an active club member in the past and held the post of club secretary before withdrawing to concentrate on family activities and successful work opportunities.
The Dragon fleet consisted of only Basil and Noel today (with Jeremy joining in at the end of the day as mentioned) as DF65 sailors were attending their championship down the coast.
Sincerest thanks to Noel, Nick and Jeremy for scoring finishes for me today, which allowed for three races to be filmed. The team also continues to come together for rapid site tidy-ups as equipment, banners and other associated club resources are distributed and stowed amongst responsible caretakers – thank you to everyone for chipping in. CONGRATULATIONS as always to the IOM champions of the day, DF65 unit numbers should return next event, which will enable their numbers to be included for scoring – the rules of sailing mandate a minimum of six (6) boats to commission a result. The posted IOM results highlight all achievements and those inevitable disappointments, but the videos will hopefully give a better feel of the day, conditions and overall quality atmosphere.
The last club sail day for 2022 is Sunday 18th December for Christmas and presentations.
Cheers, Bruce
The regular fleets of both IOM and DF65 boats arrived to what seemed to be an especially rapidly receding tide today and busy as ever, the venue continues to attract interest from by-passers with a new banner and hoardings attracting even further attention. Rescue dinghy secured and buoy-bots set by Russ, Peter called the fleets to the water and the skippers’ briefing. The course for both classes was set as two long sausages parallel with the esplanade, IOM boats off handicap times and the Dragons scratch racing ten seconds behind the last IOM on a the same, but shorter leg – this timing worked extremely well with the little-fellas coming home together just after the IOM fleet was finishing.
The forecast was for a hot day with possible afternoon storms and the conditions were indeed odd, giving us a gentle breeze, lulls and gusts accompanied by the odd spit of rain, making each race unique to it’s circumstances and influences. The lest desirable period would have been mid series with a temporary calm bringing in with it the predicted days heat, nothing short of Sultry! Sultry! Sultry! Having skippers sweating for other reasons than just their position on-the-water!
As the DF65 scores reflect Stephen & Dudly had some tight close races, however Stephen's consistency won out the day by 1 point. In the IOM fleet John D had his jib come loose at the start of racing in the first heat and Eddie retired after only two heat. IOM handicaps changed regularly with one complete fleet reset, Peter and Russ continue to power home each race and their handicap times reflect their heat dominance, Russell being pushed out to plus seventy seconds more than once and when factors combined, made for some close finished at times. All skippers are reminded here to pay close attention to the handicap board as these start times change.
Thanks as always to the entire team and volunteers for the club setup and stowing of all components of operation today, with all members coming together for a rapid site tidy-up.
Cheers,
Bruce
What a great morning we had today. Beautiful sunny day , moderate breeze.
18 boats on the water. ( 9xIOM + 9xDF65). What a turnout! Thanks to everyone for coming. You can see the results on our website. I was asked today by a spectator , "who was the winner?'. I replied, "we are all winners". I got the thumbs up!
This is the most boats that we have had on the water for many, many years. ( we will have to look into the archives to see if ever we have had more than 18 boats on the harbour.)
Our "Beginners to Winners " RC racing school has up to 15 boats on the wading pool every Tuesday. It is going well.
Our main club objective is to get more sailors on the water more of the time. Slowly but surely, we are achieving this objective.
The 1650 Fun Day Regatta is on Sunday November 27th. Put this in your book. A team event like this has never been seen before on the harbour. Put your name down for this inaugural event. Sausage sizzle lunch. Great social /racing day.
More novelty events in the planning .
Time for a Nanny Nap.
Cheers, Russell
DF65 Winners
IOM Winners
