Race Results – 17 October 2020
Five skiffs battled a puffy 20 knot northerly and bushfire smoke drifting from North Head, with Scot first around the Beashel Buoy after Aberdare filled and retired following a lee cloth failure.
SFS Race Report Sat 17th October 2020 by Bob Chapman, 19 Oct 2020; photos sourced from SFS Facebook page. Race 2 of the 2020-21 Season and Heat Two of the Spring Point Score. Five skiffs were on hand for the day’s racing with no.3 rig configuration the popular choice while Australia IV dropped down to their smallest no.4 rig. The race got underway from a handicap start off Double Bay on the no.1 NE course into a puffy 20 kt NNE breeze, at the tail-end of a big run-out tide with some very bumpy / choppy water to navigate for the beat down to the Beashel Buoy. Scot and Tangalooma were first away off 15 mins, then Aberdare (14), Australia IV (6) and The Mistake last boat away off 4 mins. As expected the first section of the beat was quite testing in the bumpy conditions with all skiffs endeavouring to get to the western shore in search of flatter water. Unfortunately, Aberdare suffered a lee-cloth malfunction during this early section ending in a terminal fill-up. Another advantage of sailing the western shore was to avoid the extremely large plume of bushfire smoke coming off North Head compliments of a “fuel reduction burn” that got out of control; whereas the eastern shore was engulfed by the toxic smog, something to look forward to on the downwind run.
Scot first to round the Beashel Buoy. Scot was first to round the Beashel Buoy in fresh and bumpy conditions followed by The Mistake, Tangalooma and Australia IV. The combination of run-out tide and the northerly aspect of the breeze meant the port-hand run would be extremely square and somewhat challenging in these conditions. Scot was unable to hold course to Steel Point and put in a turn to come out of Watsons Bay on starboard gybe, while The Mistake delayed setting a spinnaker and attempted to run deep with a winged-out jib. Meanwhile, as the skiffs progressed down this run they were enveloped in bushfire smoke, an unpleasant experience, affecting the eyes, nose, throat and lungs. The Mistake persevered with the winged-out jib and was able to hold course to clear Steel Point and sail into the lead. The Mistake put in a round turn at the Shark Island mark and sailed main & jib to the bottom mark off Clark Island, followed by Scot, Australia IV and Tangalooma. Conditions were still quite fresh for the beat up to Chowder Bay but as the tide had slackened off the bumpy water was less of an issue.
Tangalooma on the run to Clark Island
Australia IV snuggly rigged for the beat to Chowder. The Mistake was first to round at Chowder setting a small mast head spinnaker for the run to Shark Island, followed by Australia IV, Tangalooma and Scot. The Mistake gybed their spinnaker at Shark Island for a quick run to the finish off Clark Island, followed by Australia IV, Tangalooma and Scot.
The Mistake preparing to round at Chowder Bay. With thanks to our on-water support team of Barley, Michael, Bentley, Russell, Tomoko, Chuck and Bill; along with COVID Marshalls David and Michael. We look forward to seeing you down at the Squaddie next week. Results for Sat 17th October 2020. Race 2 Skiff The Mistake Australia IV Tangalooma Scot Aberdare Britannia Yendys Myra Too Top Weight Alruth Australia
Skiff Aberdare Alruth Australia Australia IV Britannia Myra Too Scot Tangalooma The Mistake Top Weight Yendys
17-Oct-20 Skipper J. Winning T. Stewart N. Turbit M. Flanagan J. Tickner
Spring Point Score 6 0 0 11 0 0 7 4 6 0 0
Race Hcap 0:04 0:06 0:15 0:15 0:14 0:15 0:00 0:07 0:14 0:15 0:06
Hcp Start Start Time 14:26:00 14:24:00 14:15:00 14:15:00 14:16:00 DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC
NE Course Finish Time 15:55:08 16:01:12 16:07:14 16:10:29 DNF
Ringtail Point Score 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -----------------------------
NNE Race Time 1:29:08 1:37:12 1:52:14 1:55:29
18 - 22 kts H'cap Time 1:25:08 1:31:12 1:37:14 1:40:29
New Hcap 2 5 15 15 14 15 0 7 14 15 6
Ring tail