Race Results – 2 April 2022
Five skiffs contested Race 6 of the Autumn Point Score in a puffy south westerly left by an east coast low, with Britannia first around Kurraba Point before Top Weight took the lead under spinnaker.
SFS Race Report Sat 2nd April 2022 by Bob Chapman, 4 April 2022. Race 21 of the 2021-22 Season and Race Six of the Autumn Point Score. Five skiffs were on hand for today’s race with the prospect of a rain free day and fresh winds from the SW, compliments of an east-coast low that was now moving south and out to sea after battering the coast the past few days. Most skiffs rigged with intermediate or no.3 rig configurations and as race time approached the breeze appeared to have moderated. Not much wind in Careening Cove which made for a slow exit from the shelter of the bay.
Top Weight crew ready-to-go during the pre-start.
Courtesy Wayne.
The race got underway after a 12 min delay from a handicap start in Athol Bight on the No.5 West Course into a puffy SW/W breeze and run-out tide. Scot was first skiff away off 13 mins, then Top Weight and Britannia (12), Australia IV (10) and The Mistake off scratch. The breeze was puffy and moving between west and south-west as the skiffs worked from Athol up to Kurraba Point. The three limit boats enjoyed some tight racing as they converged in close company at the top mark at Kurraba Point.
Lead skiffs approach the Kurraba mark.
Courtesy Adrienne Jackson.
Britannia was first to round at Kurraba for the run to Point Piper, very closely followed by Scot and Top Weight, then Australia IV and a gap to The Mistake. After spinnakers were set, Top Weight moved into the lead with Scot and Britannia in close contact. The puffy conditions provided the odd fast ride and the challenge for crews to keep their skiffs on course for the mark.
Scot, Top Weight and Britannia down the first run.
Courtesy of Wayne.
Top Weight was first to round at Point Piper for the windward leg back to Kurraba closely followed by Scot then Britannia, Austalia IV and The Mistake having made up time on the downwind run. After rounding the bottom mark with the breeze in the SW the skiffs tacked over at the first opportunity for a long windward leg on port tack towards the top mark. The final tacks into the mark at Kurraba provided a challenge for all crews in the swirling and puffy breeze, with Top Weight and Scot enjoying a good tussle at the front of the race. Top Weight was first to round at Kurraba for the tight run to Clark Island followed by Scot, Britannia, Australia IV and The Mistake. Top Weight put-up a peak-head spinnaker for this run but it was an optimistic call and resembled a flag for much of the run, while other skiffs set small reaching spinnakers. Top Weight maintained their lead across to Clark Island with Scot still in close touch, while The Mistake made up ground to close-in on Britannia and Australia IV.
Britannia approaches Kurraba the 2nd time.
Courtesy Wayne.
Top Weight was first to round and emerge from the lee side of the Clark Island followed by Scot, The Mistake, Britannia and Australia IV. The final leg to the finish was close-hauled on port tack, a follow the leader procession with limited opportunity for a change in placings. Top Weight completed a good day’s racing to cross the line first, 1 min ahead of Scot, then a 3 min gap to The Mistake, Britannia and Australia IV. A quick race on a short course under the circumstances, and the sun came out after being missing in action for far too long. With thanks to our on-water support team of Barley, Terry, Rob, Bill, Chuck and Robert, crew sign-in by Tomoko and Nicky, Fiona on the raffle, Alan filling-in for Aberdare on the B-B-Q with assistance from Ross. A special mention to Chuck for cleaning the boat ramp on Friday, much appreciated. We look forward to seeing you down at the Squaddie next week for the last race of the season when both the Autumn and Season Point Scores should be decided, refer points table below.
Results for Sat 2nd April 2022. Race 21
Skiff Top Weight Scot The Mistake Britannia Australia IV Tangalooma Yendys Aberdare Alruth Australia Myra Too
Skiff Aberdare Alruth Australia Australia IV Britannia Myra Too Scot Tangalooma The Mistake Top Weight Yendys
02-Apr-22
Skipper A. Robertson J. Watt J. Winning I. Smith M. Carter
Season Point Score 39 0 0 57 39 0 55 36 51 25 38
Race Hcap 0:12 0:13 0:00 0:12 0:10 0:13 0:00 0:14 0:15 0:06 0:07
Hcp Start
West Course
W/SW
12-18 kts
Start Time 14:30:00 14:29:00 14:42:00 14:30:00 14:32:00 DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC
Finish Time 15:45:33 15:46:27 15:49:35 15:50:30 15:51:39
Race Time 1:15:33 1:17:27 1:07:35 1:20:30 1:19:39
H'cap Time 1:03:33 1:04:27 1:07:35 1:08:30 1:09:39
Autumn Point Score 13 0 0 18 18 0 18 10 10 18 18
Ringtail Point Score 1
10 12
5 2 7
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New Hcap 10 12 0 12 10 13 0 14 15 6 7
Ring tail