Race Results – 23 January 2021
Eight skiffs opened the Australian Championship with a scratch start off Kurraba Point in a steady easterly, with Yendys sailing higher and faster to take the lead on the beat to Shark Island.
SFS Race Report Sat 23rd January 2021 by Bob Chapman, 25 Jan 2021. Race 13 of the 2020-21 Season and Race One of the Australian Championship. Conditions were quite hot in the boat park with eight skiffs on hand for the day’s racing. The light overnight southerly was expected fade away and go around to the east by early afternoon, and quite possibly build from the NE but late in the afternoon. Rig choices were split between full-size no.2 rig and big rig, most favouring big rig.
Well contested start (courtesy Adrienne Jackson) The race got underway from a scratch start off Kurraba Point in ideal sailing conditions on the no.2 East course into a steady 8-12 kt East breeze and run-in tide, from a well-set line that slightly favoured the pin-end. Plenty of traffic on the harbour, with other events underway with the good weather enticing greater use of the waterway by all sorts of craft at this time of year. The Mistake got off the line well at the pin-end, with Scot starting well from the middle of the line as did Aberdare from the boat-end. The breeze at this section of the harbour had a slight left hand lift. By halfway up the beat to Shark Island Yendys had moved into the lead, sailing higher with good speed than the other skiffs. For the second half of the beat the breeze went back slightly to the right with the lead skiffs holding onto a long port tack almost to Point Piper before tacking on to starboard to lay up to the island.
Skiffs getting off the start line (courtesy Bruce Kerrridge)
Skiffs shortly after the start (courtesy Bruce Kerrridge)
First beat action, Tangalooma and Top Weight (courtesy Bruce Kerridge) Yendys was first to round at Shark Island with a 2 min 20 sec lead for the square run back to Kurraba, electing to set a port-pole spinnaker before gybing onto starboard to lay the mark at Kurraba. Second skiff to round was The Mistake gybing early for a starboard hand spinnaker set, followed by Scot, Australia IV, Aberdare, Top Weight, Tangalooma and Britannia. Halfway down this run the spinnaker angle tightened-up slightly as the breeze moved back to the left. The skiffs had plenty of harbour traffic to contend with down this leg.
Busy harbour, first run to Kurraba (courtesy Adrienne Jackson) Yendys was first to round at Kurraba for the close-hauled port-hand leg to Clark Island with a 1 min 25 sec lead, followed by The Mistake, Australia IV, Scot, Aberdare, Top Weight, Tangalooma and Britannia. All quite straightforward follow the leader sailing at this stage, with not much in the way of opportunities for passing. No change of position as the skiffs passed Clark Island for the remainder of the beat up to Shark Island. The breeze was now showing signs of staying in the left and bending around to the ENE. Yendys continued to forge along making good progress, sailing high and fast up to the island. Yendys was first to round Shark Island for the free run to the finish at Kurraba Point, with a lead of over 4 mins from The Mistake, Australia IV, Scot, Aberdare, Top Weight, Tangalooma and Britannia. All skiffs gybed over at the top mark for a starboard pole run to the finish. Unfortunately, Aberdare got bounced around by a powerboat wash while setting their spinnaker, wherein they suffered a fill-up and rolled-in, ending their close race with Scot. Top Weight set their first ringtail of the season. Yendys continued to power along for an easy win from The Mistake, Australia IV, Scot, Top Weight, Tangalooma and Britannia. The adjusted times for the AHSSA Rating produced the same placings, while the handicap was also won by Yendys from Scot and The Mistake.
Yendys’ comfortable win (courtesy Adrienne Jackson) With thanks to our on-water support team of Barley, Rachel, Stu, Tiffany, Robert, Dylan, Vic, Michael, Chuck and Bentley; Nick and Tomoko on the Radar, along with COVID Marshalls Tomoko and Nicki. With mark rounding details and on-water observations provided by Peter Notley and Michael Van Stom. We look forward to seeing you down at the Squaddie next week. Results for Sat 23rd January 2021. Race 13
Skiff Yendys The Mistake Australia IV Scot Top Weight Tangalooma Britannia Aberdare Myra Too Alruth Australia
23-Jan-21
Skipper J. Porebski J. Winning T. Stewart J. Watt A. Robertson J. Lewis I. Smith J. Tickner
Race Hcap 0:00 0:02 0:07 0:15 0:13 0:15 0:15 0:15 0:07 0:15 0:06
Scr Start East CourseE/ENE
8-12kts
Start Time 14:30:00 14:30:00 14:30:00 14:30:00 14:30:00 14:30:00 14:30:00 14:30:00 DNC DNC DNC
H'cap New Ring AHSSA Rating Rating Time Hcap tail Rating C'Time Place 1:40:59 0 1 0:02:30 1:38:29 1 1:43:44 4 1 0:03:30 1:42:14 2 1:44:24 9 1 0:01:30 1:49:54 3 1:42:48 15 0:05:00 1:52:48 4 1:47:09 15 1 0:06:30 1:53:39 5 1:51:12 15 0:05:00 2:01:12 6 1:55:22 15 1 0:08:30 2:01:52 7 15 7 15 6
Finish Time 16:10:59 16:15:44 16:21:24 16:27:48 16:30:09 16:36:12 16:40:22 DNF
Race Time 1:40:59 1:45:44 1:51:24 1:57:48 2:00:09 2:06:12 2:10:22
Australian Australian Ringtail C'Ship C'Ship Hcp Point Skiff Overall Pts Pts Score Aberdare 12 12 0 Alruth 12 12 0 Australia 12 12 0 Australia IV 3 4 12 Britannia 7 7 8 Myra Too 12 12 0 Scot 4 2 0 Tangalooma 6 6 0 The Mistake 2 3 9 Top Weight 5 5 1 Yendys 1 1 9 Note, low-points scoring system for Australian Championship, based on placing using AHSSA Rating corrected time. -----------------------------