Race Results – 22 October 2022
A solid 20 to 25 knot northerly tested the fleet in Heat 2 of the Spring Point Score, with Alruth unable to start after a rigging failure and Australia retiring early on the first beat.
SFS Race Report Sat 22nd October 2022 by Bob Chapman, 24 Oct 2022. Race 2 of the 2022-23 Season and Heat Two of the Spring Point Score. Crews were greeted by heavy overcast skies with a gradient wind from the NNE that was predicted to build as the day progressed. We had 7 skiffs in the boat park, 3 in the boatshed with 6 skiffs preparing to race. It would appear lack of available crew is an issue. All 6 skiffs rigged for the expected fresh conditions. The race got underway from a handicap start off Double Bay on the no.1, NE course into a solid 20, 25 kts from the NNE and run-in tide. Tangalooma was first skiff away off 16 mins, followed by Scot (13), Australia IV (12), Australia (8) and The Mistake last skiff away off 3 mins. Alruth encountered a rigging issue on their sail across to the start area and returned to the Club unable to start. The conditions were somewhat challenging with the strong gradient wind funneling down the harbour with a very distinct northerly influence and gloomy skies under low cloud. The good news, there was very little harbour traffic to run interference, apart from the dedicated fleet of Lasers from Double Bay S.C., confined to that section of the harbour. The new crew on Australia found the conditions too challenging (probably had too big a jib on for the small mainsail) and retired early on the first beat. Meanwhile Tangalooma, Scot, Australia IV and The Mistake battled their way upwind, against the tide under small rigs and for the soggy crews a distinct wind-chill factor.
Scot crosses the start line under small rig.
Courtesy Wayne.
Australia IV port hand start under small rig.
Courtesy Wayne.
Tangalooma was first to round the Beashel buoy for the run to Shark Island. The northerly influence on the breeze was an issue, making for a very square run on port gybe, wherein Tangalooma elected
to put in a granny turn and head downwind on starboard gybe. Scot was the next skiff to round and followed the same strategy, while Australia IV and The Mistake took on the challenge to run on port. No spinnakers were set. Tangalooma was sailing well at the front and heading towards the centre of Shark Island, where they would have had to make another round turn to get onto port gybe to approach the mark, but unfortunately, off Steel Point, they had an un-planned gybe and suffered a terminal dip. Just three boats were now racing.
The Mistake about to round at Shark Island, first lap.
Courtesy Wayne.
Scot managed the long square run well and the two round turns, to be first to round at Shark Island for the 2-sail reach down to Clark Island, with Australia IV next skiff to round followed by The Mistake. The three skiffs enjoyed a fast ride down this leg with the two following skiffs gaining on the leader, with all three skiffs side by side for the last section of the leg, wherein The Mistake sailed into the lead.
Long distance photo, bottom mark rounding at Clark Island, L-R: The Mistake, Scot & Australia IV. Courtesy Adrienne Jackson. The Mistake was first to round at Clark Island for the beat up to Chowder Bay closely followed by Scott and Australia IV. The breeze had freshened significantly at this stage, well into the high 20 kt range. The skiffs continued to bounce and bump their way upwind in the testing conditions, with The Mistake extending their lead from Scot and Australia IV on approach to Chowder. The Mistake was first to negotiate the “Chowder Bay Challenge” to round first for the run to Shark Island, electing to not set a spinnaker but still enjoy a very fast ride with barely any traffic on this section of the harbour. Scot was next to round followed by Australia IV. The three skiffs continued on in this order to the finish of the race off Clark Island. Well done to all skippers and crews and the dedicated volunteers who also had to negotiate the testing conditions. No spinnakers were set during this race. With thanks to our on-water support team of Barley, Michael, Bob, Chuck and Tomoko, Rob and crew on AWB379, with crew sign-on by Tomoko, with Ross on the B-B-Q and Fiona on the raffle. We look forward to seeing you down at the Squaddie next week. Also, a big thank you to the guys who stayed back for quite some time to attempt the impossible and pack 10 skiffs into the boatshed, well,
they did it, it can be done, not sure it is the ideal outcome, but in future it will require a fair bit of effort on the part of others to ensure it can be repeated week to week. Also, congratulations to the Aberdare crew, Bob in particular, the no.1 mainsail that went missing 2 years ago has been recovered, it was found in the batch of sails for Alruth, well it was originally the no.1 mainsail off Alruth before being replaced. Please put clear labels on your boat gear. Results for Sat 22nd October 2022. Race 2
Skiff The Mistake Scot Australia IV Tangalooma Australia Alruth Yendys Britannia Aberdare Top Weight Myra Too
Skiff Aberdare Alruth Australia Australia IV Britannia Myra Too Scot Tangalooma The Mistake Top Weight Yendys
22-Oct-22
Skipper J. Winning J. Watt T. Stewart N. Turbit M. Flanagan A. Robertson
Spring Point Score 0 0 3 9 2 0 7 4 10 0 6
Race Hcap 0:03 0:13 0:12 0:16 0:08 0:15 0:00 0:15 0:14 0:11 0:07
Hcp Start
NE Course
Start Time 14:27:00 14:17:00 14:18:00 14:14:00 14:22:00 DNS DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC
Finish Time 16:05:48 16:14:00 16:17:03 DNF DNF
Ringtail Point Score
1 1
-----------------------------
NNE
20 -28 kts
Race Time 1:38:48 1:57:00 1:59:03
H'cap Time 1:35:48 1:44:00 1:47:03
New Hcap 1 12 12 16 8 15 0 15 14 11 7
Ring tail