Race Results – 11 December 2021
The last race of 2021 was sailed in a 25 to 35 knot southerly on the no.4 South course. Aberdare filled and Tangalooma returned early, while Britannia retired with a split jib.
SFS Race Report Sat 11th December 2021 by Bob Chapman, 13 Dec 2021. Race 7 of the 2021-22 Season and Heat Two of the Summer Point Score. Six skiffs were on hand to prepare for the day’s racing, the last race for 2021 as next Fri & Sat the harbour has been booked for the SailGP “show” making it unfeasible for the SFS to run a race. Another southerly was in play for today’s event, the forecast was for strong winds with all skiffs rigging down to their smallest no.4 configuration. Quite a big challenge for the skiffs to launch and exit Careening Cove in the gusty conditions, to then be confronted with some seriously heavy conditions on the harbour once clear of Kirribilli and then make their way down to the start area in Athol. Unfortunately, Aberdare was unable to clear Kirribilli and suffered a terminal fill-up in the process. Tangalooma made it out onto the harbour but decided the conditions were too extreme for their liking and returned to the club.
Britannia and Australia IV, pre-start.
Photo courtesy Adrienne Jackson.
Scot and The Mistake, pre-start.
Photo courtesy Adrienne Jackson.
The race got underway from a handicap start in Athol Bight on the no.4 South course into a 25-35kt southerly, shortly before high tide. Britannia was first skiff away off 16 mins but struck trouble shortly after on the beat to Clark Island when the head of the jib split from leach to luff, forcing them to retire. Scot was next skiff to away off 13 mins and seemed to be handling the conditions well as they slogged their way upwind. In the process of setting up for their start Austalia IV had a bad tack that ended in a terminal fill-up. The Mistake was last skiff away off scratch after negotiating a difficult situation to cross the start line after the start boat had dragged its anchor.
Britannia lines up to start.
Photo courtesy Wayne.
Just two skiffs racing in very extreme conditions, both sailing long legs and doing the least number of tacks required. Two thirds of the way up the first beat to Clark Island the start boat, the “Killo”, approached The Mistake to advise of a shortened course, i.e. around Clarke Island and then to the finish. By this stage the Scot was closing in on Clark Island to be first around, wherein they set off for a fast ride towards Chowder Bay, fortunately the Killo was able to intercept them to advise of the shortened course and the Scot was able to execute a round turn to head back for a wild ride under main & jib to the finish line off Kurraba Point. The Mistake enjoyed some respite from the conditions when rounding in the flat water at Clark Island, to execute a round turn and head back into the heavy breeze on a fast ride under main & jib to Kurraba. The two skiffs converged as they approached the finish line with Scot holding The Mistake out for a well-deserved win. Well done to all crews and our on-water volunteers, a very difficult and testing day.
The finish as viewed from the finish boat.
Photo courtesy Wayne.
Close finish for Scot and The Mistake.
Photo courtesy Adrienne Jackson.
With thanks to our on-water support team of Barley, Russell, Chuck, Bob, and Michael; COVID Marshall Nicki, crew sign-in Tomoko; Fiona on the raffle, Ross and Coral on the B-B-Q. We look forward to seeing you down at the Squaddie in the New Year. Results for Sat 11th December 2021. Race 7
Skiff Scot The Mistake Britannia Australia IV Tangalooma Aberdare Yendys Top Weight Alruth Australia Myra Too
Skiff Aberdare Alruth Australia Australia IV Britannia Myra Too Scot Tangalooma The Mistake Top Weight Yendys
11-Dec-21
Skipper M. Flanagan J. Winning I. Smith M. Carter N. Turbit J. Tickner
Season Point Score 13 0 0 21 7 0 24 13 34 5 14
Race Hcap 0:13 0:00 0:16 0:09 0:13 0:16 0:00 0:14 0:15 0:06 0:07
Hcp Start
Sth Course
Sth
25-35 kts
Start Time 14:17:00 14:30:00 RET DNS DNS DNS DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC
Finish Time 14:56:04 14:56:11
Race Time 0:39:04 0:26:11
H'cap Time 0:26:04 0:26:11
Summer Point Score 1 0 0 4 2 0 9 6 10 0 1
Ringtail Point Score
New Hcap 12 0 16 9 13 16 0 14 15 6 7
Ring tail
Seabreeze.com.au wind data from Saturday 11 Dec 2021
-----------------------------