Race Report 22 November 2025
Six historical 18s and fifteen Cherubs made for a busy day at Kirribilli for Spring Series Heat 6, sailed in a moderate east southeasterly with several skiffs absent awaiting repairs or crews.
THE RINGTALE SATURDAY 22ND NOVEMBER 2025 SPRING SERIES HEAT 6 NO MISTAKES AND A PERFECT SCORE ON A BUSY DAY ON THE HARBOUR
Photo thanks to Barley Stewart
Six H18s and fifteen Cherubs highlighted the value to the SFS of its prime location beside the Park and the launching ramp at our Kirribilli headquarters. With almost 100 sailors and supporters preparing for the day, it was a great sight for sailors and spectators alike. All week, the weather forecasters had been predicting a moderate ESE breeze and with no real change in the weather map, that it was pretty much what we got. Killo was back in service for the Race Committee, led by Dave “Longy” Longworth who had the additional task of getting five or six sprint races underway during the afternoon for the Cherubs. The H18s would sail the familiar No 2 Easterly Course, and the Cherubs would use the same start and finish line for their fast and furious sprint races that each usually only go for 10 minutes or thereabouts. It was no surprise that a slightly later start at 1440 sent the first of the H18s away in a Mark Foy handicap start. Sadly, Australia and Britannia were absent awaiting repairs. Alruth seems to be suffering chronic crew shortages and did not present. Top Weight was in the shed, temporarily retired now that A4 is back and racing. And the lovely Myra Too is still looking for a skipper and crew. (We are planning to bring Myra back to the shed and to ensure that she is in good shape and sailing again in 2026. Budding skippers and crews take note). Scot (Ryan Paget) was first away on 19 minutes, closely followed by The Mistake (Jerry Tickner) a minute behind. Then followed Tangalooma (Neville Turbit) 17, Aberdare (Michael Carter) off at 13, Australia IV (Rear Commodore Terry Stewart) at 9, leaving Yendys (Barry “Bazza” Watson, all the way from the Sunshine Coast again) in her usual position off scratch. There was some chatter after the race that A4 had jumped the start by a second or two, but the threat of the traditional protest fee of a keg of beer meant that there were no brave souls heading to the protest room.
The No. 2 Course is a long windward/leeward course from Kirribilli, twice around Shark Island finishing back at Kirribilli. Last year, it was by far and away the most used course. This season, with much more wild weather, not so much. With 8-10 knots of breeze for much of the race, it was a perfect opportunity for the limit boats to show their stuff. And so it proved to be the case, when The Mistake, putting her errors from last week behind her, quickly took the lead and put some distance between her and the rest of the fleet. The Mistake is, as we all know, a bit of an aquatic greyhound and it was great to see Jerry and her crew making no mistakes and sending her around the course, especially on the long square runs under her big No. 1 kite.
Scot seemed to have trouble getting into the groove and at the Shark Island mark for the first time, she rounded third but had lost 6 minutes of her 1 minute start over The Mistake. Aberdare had, however, kept up and, rounding second behind The Mistake was looking to be a threat, especially on the downwind leg when she can make use of her renowned off-wind speed. A4 was fourth around, not having made up any time on The Mistake and still 10 minutes behind. Tangalooma had lost almost 12 minutes on The Mistake but did make up some ground on the long spinnaker run down to Kirribilli.
Photo thanks to Barley Stewart
Photos here thanks to Barley Stewart
Photos here thanks to Barley Stewart
As expected, The Mistake maintained her lead on the run and rounded well ahead of Aberdare, with A4 in hot pursuit. A4 had set her ringtail, once again proving the value of these mighty sails. Yendys, too, had set a ringtail, but looking for better VMG had carried it a little too far before gybing back to the mark. This was a sign that the south in the ESE breeze was beginning to have a real effect. This would mean less tacking on the work back to Shark Island.
Around Shark Island for the second and last time, it was The Mistake by almost 6 minutes from Aberdare. Scot was in third place and only a minute adrift of Aberdare. They were followed by A4, Tangalooma and Yendys, each skiff separated by about 3 minutes.
It was then a bit of a drag race to the finish, starting off with a three-quarter shy run in less than 10 knots of breeze. As is usually the case, the further down the Harbour you go, the run squares up. It was clear that The Mistake was going to be hard to catch, but both A4 and Yendys gave it a red hot go with ringtails up and again on display. As a result, they both closed up on The Mistake and Aberdare but ran out of runway.
Almost never headed for the entire race, The Mistake scored a well-earned win by 1 minute from a fastfinishing Aberdare with A4 coming in third a further 2 ½ minutes behind. Yendys was fourth a further minute back, followed by Scot and Tangalooma. It was a terrific result for two popular crews on The Mistake and Aberdare. Both sailed extremely well in the conditions and demonstrated how competitive they can be.
Back in Careening Cove, it was a bit of a line-up to score a place on the ramp with the Cherub sprints finishing just before the 18s. A bit of harbour cruising was the go for some of our boats, with the reward that there were plenty of young, fit Cherub sailors only too happy to help pull the 18s up the ramp. Unrigging was followed with the traditional beer and BBQ, with lots of Cherub supporters contributing to the BBQ duties under Rolf’s new gazebo that soon was christened with afternoon showers. All in all, a great day out and another pleasing result for the handicapper who will be sharpening his pencil after the great performances by Jerry, Flipper and their crews. It’s on again next week with the added spectacle of another weekend regatta, with the NSW State Titles Saturday and Sunday for the 12 Footers who are being hosted by the SFS. Get your body to the Squaddie! Not to be missed!
Cherubs, photos with thanks to Tomoko
Final results can be found here: https://app.the results platform/club/15/results/series/5054/races
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