Race Results 8 March 2025
Race 18 report from the International Women's Day weekend, 8 March 2025, sailed on the No. 2 East course from Kirribilli in about 10 knots of easterly influenced by Cyclone Alfred. Aberdare, steered by Michael Chapman with three women in the crew, won by half a minute from Alruth, with Top Weight third and Yendys fourth.
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY CELEBRATED IN STYLE
Australia Survives the JJs and Another Bloody Easterly!
Photo thanks to Christophe Favreau (via Facebook)
It was the International Women’s Day Weekend and women everywhere were being celebrated for their achievements. None more so than on the racecourse on Sydney Harbour … but more of that to follow!
With Autumn upon us, there was even a possibility that we might see a SE breeze and a change of course. But as Saturday approached it became clear that Cyclone Alfred had stalled the high pressure system off the coast. That would mean a bit more breeze than has so often been the case this season — but again in the east. Some of the yacht clubs bravely opted for a noreaster. But the danger there, as our friends from RSYS later reported, is that the NE course becomes a soldiers course with little opportunity for competitive sailing.
So, the well-worn No. 2 Course Board soon went up on Killo and it was a Kirribilli start in around 10 knots of breeze, firmly in the east at this stage, but showing signs of going slightly left during the afternoon.
Photo thanks to Chief Rescue Officer, Barley Stewart
Mistake (Jerry Tickner) was first away with 6 minutes start from Top Weight (Commodore Terry Stewart) and the fast-improving Tangalooma (Neville Turbit). They were followed by Australia and Aberdare on her new handicap of 9 minutes. Yendys (Michael Van Stom), as always, was last away.
Top Weight did best on the first work up to Shark Island and rounded 3 minutes ahead of Mistake with Australia, Alruth, Aberdare and Mistake all within a minute at the mark. Yendys had done well but was adrift of the others by 6 minutes.
By the bottom mark at Kirribilli, Top Weight had maintained her lead with all but Yendys rounding close together after early spinnaker drops. It was a really good race at this stage and the breeze had strengthened a little, as well as going a wee bit more left as predicted.
As the afternoon wears on, Saturday’s are always congested with pleasure boats converging on Bradleys Head. This Saturday held other dangers with the large fleet of modern 18s contesting the second heat of the JJ Giltinan Series. The fundamental rule of sailing is that boats on starboard have right of way over boats on port. The second most important rule is that when two boats are on the same tack and overlapped, the boat to windward must give way. The lads from NZ on the modern 18, Honda Marine, needed to be reminded of the rule when they collided with Australia (Vice Commodore Marshall Flanagan), breaking Australia’s bumpkin and forcing Australia to retire and head home. Fortunately, no-one was injured and the rig was saved.
Meanwhile, the race continued with a real battle between the first four leading skiffs. Rounding the YA buoy for the final time at Shark Island, Alruth and Aberdare had joined issue and were fighting for supremacy. Skippered by Michael “Chappo” Chapman, Aberdare gave no quarter and after getting clear of Alruth’s cover, moved into the lead. Did we mention that Aberdare was, again this week, crewed by three women, who clearly had received the memo about International Women’s Day and who were about to show the boys how girls really do rock?
Aberdare, no slouch when running downwind, with the added advantage of a burst of oestrogen, went on for a popular win by half a minute from Alruth with Top Weight a further half a minute behind in third place. The fast-finishing Yendys was fourth so that the first four skiffs finished within a minute and a half of one another. All credit to the handicapper of course. Tangalooma and Mistake followed in that order.
So, congratulations to Chappo and his girls — or was it to the girls with their Chappo? What a great sign it is for the future with the girls taking to the sport and doing so well? Aberdare also managed second fastest time after Yendys and there was a bit of talk on the deck that we may see an all-girls crew next season. How good would that be?
Chappo with his Aberdare crew, Photo thanks to Barley Stewart
We are really pleased to finish this race report with a bit of good news. After a number of recent injuries at the bottom of the launching ramp at low tide, Dave Russell donned his wetsuit and flippers before the boats were launched and discovered the likely source of the problem. A very sharp length of rebar was recovered by Dave that would have certainly caused more injuries in the future. Great effort David!
The usual fun and games on the deck concluded a great day at the world’s best harbour. See you next week when you get your body to the Squaddie.
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Sydney Flying Squadron Ltd — Australia’s oldest open boat sailing club, 76 McDougall St, Kirribilli NSW 2061. Email: info@sydneyflyingsquadron.com.au Phone: (02) 9955 8350
This text was read from the scanned original below by optical character recognition. It has not yet been checked by a person, so it may carry mistakes, and any results tables in the original are not reproduced here. The scan is the authority.