Race Results 27 January 2024
A light easterly delayed Summer Series Heat 5, with Top Weight lent to the Australia IV crew after a collision, and a cruise ship's wind shadow off Athol Bight splitting the seven boat fleet.
Race report Summer Series Heat 5: January 27, 2024
A red and white pennant flying from the clubhouse verandah was a clear signal to skippers and crews that the race committee was struggling to find a breeze on the Harbour to get the fleet away at the traditional 2.30 start time. The park looked a treat though with a fleet of seven boats lined up with sails hoisted. A very light easterly was on the way, however, and it was not after too much of a delay that the Killo radioed in to report that the conditions had improved and that a start was on. Earlier in the morning, the Sailing Committee had confirmed arrangements for Top Weight to sail as a substitute for Australia IV after her collision with a catamaran under power the previous Saturday. Top Weight’s owner, John Tierney very kindly made his boat available to the A4 crew and she looked magnificent under the new big mainsail that was to prove almost a winner on the day. The limit boats, Tangalooma and Britannia started as a rain squall from the northeast rounded Bradleys Head. This proved decisive as they were blessed with enough breeze to negotiate through the lee of a large cruise ship anchored off Athol Bight. The same could not be said for the rest of the fleet. Australia, Top Weight and Mistake struggled through the lee of the ship before getting into the breeze. Alruth and Yendys were left to set off in very light conditions and searching for breeze and avoiding the lee, headed into Athol inside the ship with Yendys under her No. 1 main and jib coming out the best of those two. From then on it was a bit of a procession with Tangalooma well ahead and with the race hers to lose. Rounding Shark Island for the first time, the breeze had filled in and stayed in the ENE for the rest of the race. Big kites and ringtails were the order of the day for an easy three-quarter shy run to the Kirribilli bottom mark. Back again to Shark Island and the fleet had closed up with Mistake, Britannia, Australia and Top Weight in close company for the run to the finish.
Yendys meanwhile had re-set its big spinnaker and was heating up in an attempt to sail around the fleet and grab second place. Fortunately though for the rest of the pack a northerly puff emerged out of Mosman Bay and kept the scratch boat at bay. It was quite a sight though with the five boats finishing within a minute or so of one another as they jostled for the podium. The mighty Top Weight and its big new main perhaps making the difference as it grabbed second with Britannia third. The honours were with Tangalooma though after a well-sailed race in squirrely conditions. Well done Neville and the Tangles crew.
BOAT TANGALOOMA TOP WEIGHT BRITANNIA THE MISTAKE AUSTRALIA YENDYS ALRUTH SCOT MYRA TOO AUSTRALIA IV
FINISH TIME 1:42:46 1:47:23 1:47:43 1:48:11 1:48:15 1:48:38 1:53:59 DNC DNC DNC
HANDICAP 18 11 19 14 10 0 5
PLACE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
RINGTAIL Yes
Yes
Thanks to Rusty for the race report and to Smithy for the images. Also to Chuck for the results.
Results for Saturday 27th January 2024 Summer Series Heat 5 Start Course Breeze Strength Tide Race 13 27-Jan-24 Handicap #2 East 6 to 14 kts Ebb Race New H/cap Start Finish Race H/cap H/cap Skiff Skipper (Mins) Time Time Time Time (Mins) Ringtail Tangalooma N Turbit 0:18:00 14:42:00 16:42:46 2:00:46 1:42:46 0:16:00 Top Weight T Stewart 0:11:00 14:49:00 16:47:23 1:58:23 1:47:23 0:10:00 1 Britannia D Padget 0:19:00 14:41:00 16:47:43 2:06:43 1:47:43 0:19:00 The Mistake J Tickner 0:14:00 14:46:00 16:48:11 2:02:11 1:48:11 0:14:00 Australia M Flanagan 0:10:00 14:50:00 16:48:15 1:58:15 1:48:15 0:10:00 Yendys B Watson 0:00:00 15:00:00 16:48:38 1:48:38 1:48:38 0:00:00 1 Alruth M Carter 0:05:00 14:55:00 16:53:59 1:58:59 1:53:59 0:05:00 Aberdare DNC 0:00:00 Scott DNC 0:15:00 Australia IV DNC 0:10:00 Myra Too DNC 0:07:00 Scratch Boat Start Time 15:00:00 Australia IV is replaced by Top Weight. Current Points from Australia IV shall remain and continue with Top Weights race results. Top Weight had its current handicap of 11 for the start of R13. Remarks Handicap. Ist drops 2 mins. 2nd drops 1 min.
Skiff Aberdare Alruth Australia Top Weight Britannia Myra Too Scott Tangalooma The Mistake Australia IV Yendys
Summer Points Score R5 2 2 5 4
Summer Points Score Total 3 10 19 20 8
6 3
17 15
15
Ringtail Points Score 2