Race Results – 24 October 2020
Bob Chapman reports on Race 3 of the 2020-21 season and Spring Point Score Heat 3, with six skiffs starting off Double Bay in a light and unsettled NNE breeze after rain showers.
SFS Race Report Sat 24th October 2020 by Bob Chapman, 26 Oct 2020, photos courtesy of Michael Van Stom. Race 3 of the 2020-21 Season and Heat Three of the Spring Point Score. Six skiffs were on hand for the day’s racing, with all skiffs adopting a conservative approach to rig selection by opting for no.3 rig as the gradient wind filled-in from the NNE, for what was predicted to be a day of unsettled conditions. However, as the skiffs were preparing to launch along came the rain showers, the breeze evaporated and the skiffs had a slow trip across the harbour for the start. The race got underway from a delayed handicap start off Double Bay on the no.1 NE course into a light 8 kt NNE breeze, towards the end of a moderate run-in tide. Scot, Tangalooma and Britannia were first away off 15 mins, Aberdare (14) missed their start by 6-7 mins, Australia IV (5) and The Mistake (2) last boat away. Upwind progress would be slow.
Start team on the “Killo”, getting ready to get ready. The breeze had a strong northerly influence at the beginning of this leg, favouring the port-tack, with all skiffs seriously under-rigged. The 3 limit skiffs sailed the conventional track passing to the west of Shark Island, while Aberdare, Australia IV and The Mistake passed to the east of Shark Island (via Rose Bay) to make up time on the lead group. As the skiffs approached Steel Point the breeze began to fill-in and move to the NE, with the lead group enjoying some close racing as they worked their way to the Beashel Buoy.
Britannia leads Aberdare down the first run.
Aberdare was first to round the Beashel Buoy, just ahead of Britannia and Australia IV, then Tangalooma, The Mistake and Scot. Australia IV gybed early and set their spinnaker on a starboard pole to sail a course down the middle of the harbour, whilst the other skiffs sailed the run with spinnakers squared back on a port pole. Australia IV sailed a long leg on starboard and when they gybed over had established a clear lead when heading to the Shark Island mark. Australia IV was first to gybe at Shark Island followed by Britannia, Aberdare, The Mistake, Tangalooma and Scot. The run to Clark Island was a tight shy but easy to manage for the skiffs as they were under-rigged, with the lead group quite evenly matched. Australia IV was first to round at Clark Island for the beat up to Chowder Bay with the breeze filling-in a bit more (but still at the lowend of the range for the rigs in use) followed by Britannia, The Mistake, Aberdare, Tangalooma and Scot.
The Mistake, run to Clark Island. Very little change between the skiffs on the beat to Chowder with Australia IV first to round with a comfortable lead, then The Mistake turning just inside Britannia at the mark, then Aberdare, Tangalooma and Scot. The skiffs enjoyed a comfortable run across to Shark Island with The Mistake making up some time on the leader. Australia IV was first to gybe at Shark Island and set a ringtail for the run to the finish. The Mistake followed, also setting a ringtail to chase the leader, with Australia IV maintaining their lead to take the gun from The Mistake, Britannia, Aberdare, Tangalooma and Scot. With thanks to our on-water support team of Michael, Bentley, Stu, Chuck and Bill; along with COVID Marshalls David and Michael, and Tomoko looking after the sign-on sheets. We look forward to seeing you down at the Squaddie next week.
Australia IV prepares to round the Chowder Bay mark. Results for Sat 24th October 2020. Race 3 Skiff Australia IV The Mistake Britannia Aberdare Tangalooma Scot Yendys Myra Too Top Weight Alruth Australia
Skiff Aberdare Alruth Australia Australia IV Britannia Myra Too Scot Tangalooma The Mistake Top Weight Yendys
Hcp Start Start Time 14:40:00 14:43:00 14:30:00 14:31:00 14:30:00 14:30:00 DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC
24-Oct-20 Skipper T. Stewart J. Winning I. Smith J. Tickner J. Lewis M. Callahan
Spring Point Score 9 0 0 17 4 0 9 6 11 0 0
Race Hcap 0:05 0:02 0:15 0:14 0:15 0:15 0:00 0:07 0:14 0:15 0:06
NE Course Finish Time 16:39:30 16:40:16 16:45:56 16:47:42 16:49:33 17:08:56
Ringtail Point Score 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 -----------------------------
NE Race Time 1:59:30 1:57:16 2:15:56 2:16:42 2:19:33 2:38:56
8 - 12 kts H'cap Time 1:54:30 1:55:16 2:00:56 2:02:42 2:04:33 2:23:56
New Hcap 3 1 15 14 15 15 0 7 14 15 6
Ring tail 1 1