Race Results 23 November 2024
Spring Series Heat 6 sailed in a testing 20 to 25 knot nor'easter with strong tide and wash, while the club towed its damaged start boat Killo into position and hosted the Cherubs Sprint Series.
SFS Race Report 23 November 2024 Spring Series Heat 6 TESTING CONDITIONS IN A STIFF NOR’EASTER There are some days when sailing on Sydney Harbour is just, plain and simple, damn hard. For days, the BOM had been predicting a stiff nor’easter and there was nothing in the weather maps that said that it would be any different than forecast. But the degree of difficulty was such that a number of old salts, who know the Harbour well, were heard to say after the race that they could not remember a nor’easter quite so difficult. It was not a “black nor’easter”, but it was a combination of 20 -25 knots (and a little bit more in the gusts), with tide and excessive wash from Harbour traffic that together elevated the degree of difficulty and discomfort.
Weather report thanks to Seabreeze.com.au and Selwyn Black.
The weekend was complicated by a major breakdown of the Killo that had suffered damage to the prop and shaft the previous weekend. That was fixed with the help of Will Manning and Pete Klumper, our slipway operators and neighbours. Except that on the morning of the race, we learnt that the gearbox had been damaged too. With little time available, the Killo was towed out to be on station for the starts and finishes of both the 18s and the Cherubs who we were delighted to be hosting for their Sprint Series on the Main Harbour.
Before & After
The collapsed mooring pile from last week
Killo up on the slipway this week Photos thanks to Will Manning
But back to the hard conditions. Britannia succumbed before the start and was towed into Double Bay to unrig and be towed back to Kirribilli. Alruth made it to within 10 metres of the start line when a forestay shackle failed dropping the jib in spectacular fashion and causing a DNS for the boat. Quick work by the crew to throw the mainsheet and avoid a broken mast kept the skiff afloat until it was able to jury rig and head back to the Club. The remaining four skiffs, Tangalooma, Australia, Top Weight and Yendys got away on their handicaps on the long beat up to Sow & Pigs. Not long after the start, Neville Turbit, skipper of Tangalooma, cast his key eye over the course and decided that discretion is always the better part of valour when the conditions and the experience of his crew dictated that remaining afloat was the best option. With Tangalooma heading back to the Club, there were the remaining three boats, Australia, Top Weight and Yendys left in the chase. Spinnakers on the run to Shark Island were a problem and by the time that they reached the bottom mark at Clark Island, two sail reaching was quite enough for all three boats. Australia rounded the mark 1 minute ahead of Top Weight with Yendys well behind, but chasing hard. On the work to Chowder Bay, Australia seemed to go a little too far into Bradleys Head and by the Chowder mark Top Weight had grabbed the lead and was enjoying a fast two-sail reach to Shark Island, with Australia in hot pursuit. Yendys pulled out all stops and set a small reaching kite and, according to the crew, had a very exciting ride across to the Island where a delayed drop, gybe and wide turn to the finish cost some time. In the end, Top Weight scored a comfortable win by 3 ½ minutes from Australia with Yendys third, another minute behind Australia (but enjoying the fastest time on a very difficult day).
Photo with thanks to Barley Stewart taken from the rescue boat.
Meanwhile, the Cherub fleet had managed to complete 4 sprints with some fine sailing performances by most of the fleet, showing lots of potential for our future 18 foot skiff sailors. This was borne out on Sunday when a second day of Sprints showed the potential of these little boats to the A18s race officials who kindly co-operated with our race officials to conduct another 4 Sprint races alongside the modern A18s usual Sunday fixture.
Photos of the Cherubs with thanks to the Lane Cove 12ft Sailing Skiff Club Facebook page
Hopefully, we shall have the Killo back in time for next week’s race and for the NSW 12 footers State Titles that SFS is hosting on both Saturday and Sunday. It will be a very busy weekend with a lot of spectacular sailing and good times around the bar and on the deck, No better reason than to see you Saturday and Sunday at the Squaddie! You should note by the way that we are now enjoying extended trading hours on Sunday and, already, a large crowd have discovered the joys of a lazy, long afternoon and evening on Sunday.