Race Results 17 February 2024
SFS Race Report 17 February 2024 Autumn Series Heat 2 Yendys Crowns the Queen of the Harbour, and Flies the Stars and Stripes.
Yendys (photo courtesy of SFS Life Member and volunteer, Barley Stewart) These days, there are more females than ever sailing as very competent, regular crew in our traditional open skiffs. While having a female aboard is now common place, it is still a highly competitive event to get your on-board princess across the line first for her to be crowned as Queen of the Harbour. The classic Mark Foy handicap start got the limit boats, Britannia (Dave Paget) and then Tangalooma (Neville Turbit) away in a light ENE breeze of around 9-10 knots on an Easterly Course. They were followed by Australia (Marshall Flanagan) and Top Weight who set off in hot pursuit, leaving Alruth and Yendys with a lot to do in these conditions. Yendys had given 17 minutes start to the limit boat but started with the advantage of seeing the breeze go left and having been able to pick out the best lanes up the Harbour. The Easterly Course is now two laps from Kirribilli and around Shark Island twice. With the breeze now continuing to tend north, most of the fleet rounded the Island the first time in three or four tacks. And, with spinnakers set, it was a comfortable three-quarter shy run back down to the bottom mark.
Britannia, hoping to take advantage of the Bradleys Head compression sailed far too high and was left floundering in the lee only to watch the fleet go by. Further down the run, Tangalooma was looking good until she lived up to the Tangles curse, leaving Australia, Alruth and Top Weight to reach the bottom mark in the lead. And then, a funny thing happened.
Britannia (Photo courtesy of SFS Life Member and Race Officer, Wayne “chuck” Goodfellow).
Tangalooma (photo courtesy of SFS Life Member and volunteer, Barley Stewart)
Alruth and Australia sailed into a serious hole, made worse by the disturbed sea state caused by the power boats and other traffic on the Harbour. They lost way and stopped dead in the water. Top Weight tacked early and just avoided the hole making good speed away on port tack from the frustrated crews on Alruth and Australia.
Top Weight Alruth (photos courtesy of SFS Life Member and volunteer, Barley Stewart) Meanwhile, Yendys had made up plenty of ground and, with a late spinnaker drop, rounded the Kirribilli mark at speed and was soon passing to leeward of the stranded opposition with what Bucko always reminds us is “attached flow” on the jib and main. After a short starboard tack, Yendys was back on port and setting off after Top Weight, well to windward of her and soon to get first bite at the left handers and take the lead. From then on, it was “all over red rover”. Yendys would have to seriously stub its toe to lose from here. Yendys, as is often noted, is a renowned light weather flyer and with the visiting American Sailing Hall of Fame sailor, Cam Lewis, on the helm of a historic 18-footer for the first time, there was no shortage of talent available. Cam has sailed and won the Americas Cup, won the 505 Worlds and won the famous Finn Gold Cup twice. He is also a round-the world champion sailor. Along with the resident multiple World 18-footer champions, Andrew “Bucko” Buckland and Don “The Admiral” Buckley, Yendys was in good hands to crown the Queen who also hails from the land of the free.
Yendys in action (photo courtesy of SFS Life Member and volunteer, Barley Stewart)
Sporting her new ringtail and the big number one spinnaker, and looking a treat, Yendys sprinted away to beat Top Weight (Terry Stewart and the A4 team) into second by 11 minutes, with Alruth (Alan Roberson, having recovered and back on the helm) a further 6 minutes behind. The Stars and Stripes hoisted on Yendys after she crossed the line was a reminder that the Americans had enjoyed a fine day on the water. So, too, did the French of course, with the great yachting photographer, Christophe Favreau, joining the Yendys crew to see what it is really like on the other side of the lens. YENDYS, Maintain the Rage
Images taken from Christophe Favreau’s GoPro video - recorded live on Yendys on Saturday
Saturday’s race was a reminder that at this time of the year, a light day with the breeze backing and veering, and with land effect and a disturbed sea adding to the mix, a lot of concentration and a fair bit of good (and bad) luck can really affect the fortunes of the fleet. But then, that’s what beer and rum were made for, to raise the spirits and to deal with the pain! Back at the Squaddy, it was thanks again this year to Barley Stewart for all of her efforts in organising another fun presentation to Ann Prosser, the 2024 Queen of the Harbour and to the princesses on the other skiffs. Another great 18-footer tradition alive and well. A special thanks, as always, to the starters, rescue boat crews and volunteers. Couldn’t do it without you!
2024 Queen Ann (Yendys)
The Queen and SFS Commodore Terry Stewart
The princesses (photos thanks to Barley Stewart)