Race Results – 5 March 2022
Five skiffs raced in the Sydney Harbour Regatta round, Race 2 of the Autumn Point Score, after a week of heavy rain. Aberdare, with just five crew, led around the Beashel Buoy from Britannia.
SFS Race Report Sat 5th March 2022 by Bob Chapman, 7 March 2022. Race 17 of the 2021-22 Season, Race Two of the Autumn Point Score and the SFS’s contribution to the annual Sydney Harbour Regatta (SHR). Due to crew shortages just five skiffs were on hand for today’s race, a situation directly related to other events in play i.e. Race 1 of the J J Giltinan Series, the SHR and the effects of a miserable week of bad weather. Fortunately the sky cleared somewhat with the prospect of a moderate gradient E/NE breeze with most skiffs electing to carry big rigs, although for some skiffs it was no.2 rig with less crew. The extreme rain event during the week meant that water quality for the harbour would be very poor, and in fact Careening Cove was quite badly affected by storm water run-off. The race got underway from a handicap start off Double Bay on the no.1 NE Course into a modest NE breeze, a strong run-out tide (+ storm water run-off), in close company to other race start lines in the same vicinity. Aberdare was first skiff away off 17 mins, with just 5 crew under no.2 rig, then Britannia (14), Scot and Tangalooma (both off 12) and finally Australia IV off 10 mins.
Scot, Australia IV and Tangalooma on first beat.
Courtesy Wayne & Michael.
The skiffs had to navigate their way down harbour amongst various fleets of keelboats and yachts on the first beat, with Aberdare first to round the Beashel Buoy for the square run to Shark Island followed by Britannia, Scot, Tangalooma and Australia IV. Plenty of yacht traffic down this run and fortunately the modern 18 fleet were not an issue (as yet) as they were still making their way upwind. Britannia set a ringtail down this run.
Scot, Britannia and Aberdare on first run at Steel Point. Courtesy Wayne & Michael.
M18 Yandoo crosses Tangalooma & Australia IV on first run.
Courtesy Wayne & Michael.
Aberdare was first to gybe at Shark Island for the free run to Clark Island, followed by Britannia, Scot, Tangalooma and Australia IV. The skiffs had closed up at this stage to enjoy some close racing. The fleet of modern 18s came into play soon after the historical skiffs had rounded Shark Island making for quite an interesting site as both fleets set off for their respective bottom rounding marks in close proximity at Clark Island.
Scot, Tangalooma and Australia IV with M18s after the gybe at Shark Is. Courtesy Wayne & Michael.
Drone view of run to Clark Island.
Courtesy J J Giltinan coverage by Sail Media.
Aberdare continued to hold a good lead to be first to round at Clark Island for the beat up to Chowder Bay, followed by Britannia, Scot, Tangalooma and Australia IV. The harbour yacht traffic had cleared somewhat at this stage and the breeze was steady as the skiffs enjoyed a good beat up to Chowder Bay where Aberdare was first to round followed by Britannia, Tangalooma, Scot and Australia IV.
Historic and modern 18s after the gybe at Shark Is.
Courtesy Wayne & Michael.
Aberdare set a peak-head spinnaker on the run to Shark Island, Britannia a ballooner and Tangalooma a small mast-head spinnaker. No change in positions as they approached the gybe mark, but the contest was getting quite interesting. Aberdare gybed first for the run to the finish to go on to score an all-the-way win (first win this season), while Britannia set a ringtail down the final run to hold off Tangalooma and Australia IV moved into 4th place to finish ahead of Scot.
Aberdare completes the course for an all-the-way win.
Britannia and Tangalooma approach the finish.
Courtesy Barley Stewart.
Courtesy Barley Stewart.
Australia IV approaches the finish.
Courtesy Barley Stewart.
With thanks to our on-water support team of Barley, Chuck, Robert and Michael, crew sign-in by Nicky, Fiona on the raffle, John, Doug and Alan from Top Weight on the B-B-Q. We look forward to seeing you down at the Squaddie next week. Also, a thank you to Neville and the team for their efforts in cleaning the boat ramp during the week. Results for Sat 5th March 2022. Race 17
05-Mar-22
Skiff Aberdare Britannia Tangalooma Australia IV Scot Top Weight Yendys The Mistake Alruth Australia Myra Too
Skipper J. Tickner I. Smith N. Turbit T. Stewart J. Watt
Skiff Aberdare Alruth Australia Australia IV Britannia Myra Too Scot Tangalooma The Mistake Top Weight Yendys
Season Point Score 33 0 0 46 26 0 40 31 41 13 25
Race Hcap 0:17 0:14 0:12 0:10 0:12 0:13 0:00 0:02 0:15 0:06 0:07
Hcp Start
NE Course
NE
10-15 kts
Start Time 14:13:00 14:16:00 14:18:00 14:20:00 14:18:00 DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC
Finish Time 16:04:48 16:05:59 16:06:07 16:07:48 16:09:22
Race Time 1:51:48 1:49:59 1:48:07 1:47:48 1:51:22
H'cap Time 1:34:48 1:35:59 1:36:07 1:37:48 1:39:22
Autumn Point Score 7 0 0 7 5 0 3 5 0 6 5
Ringtail Point Score 1
9 9
5 2 6
-----------------------------
New Hcap 15 13 12 10 12 13 0 2 15 6 7
Ring tail 2 1