Race Results – 27 March 2021
Seven fully crewed skiffs closed the 2020-21 season with Autumn Point Score Race 6, starting in Athol Bight on the West course in a patchy westerly of around five knots at low tide.
SFS Race Report Sat 27th March 2021 by Bob Chapman, 29 Mar 2021. Race 22, and final race, of the 2020-21 Season and Race Six of the Autumn Point Score. Ideal conditions in the boat park with clear skies, moderate temperature and a dry westerly breeze, with seven skiffs on hand to compete in the final race of the season. All skiffs had full crews and all rigged with their no.1 big sails for the expected light wind conditions. Whilst the breeze was well established from the west early in the day it was expected to fade-out and be replaced by an onshore sea breeze early to mid-afternoon. The skiffs launched close to low tide in light wind, with a slow exit from Careening Cove and a slow sail down to the start area in Athol. The race got underway after a short delay from a handicap start in Athol Bight on the no.5 West course into a patchy W/NW breeze of around 5 kts, at low-water and the start of a run-in tide. The five limit (15 min) skiffs Aberdare, Britannia, Scot, Tangalooma and Top Weight got away to a well contested mini scratch start with Top Weight best away followed by Britannia, Aberdare, Scot and Tangalooma. Next skiff away was Australia IV (6 min) and then Yendys off scratch. The first beat up to Kurraba would be quite challenging in very light, patchy breeze with a fleet of sailing dinghies and their many support craft to negotiate in the vicinity of the first mark.
Limit skiffs start (courtesy Tricia Smith)
Slow progress on first beat (courtesy Tricia Smith) The lead group made good progress in the light and fickle conditions on a long starboard tack till halfway up the beat where they encountered calm sections, some skiff tacked onto port to head for Robinson’s Point, some fell away while others continued on starboard, with the two back-markers able to make up time as all skiffs approached a large section of very little wind. The westerly breeze then faded away completely and after a period of time a very light breeze emerged from the southwest. Australia IV appeared to benefit from this transition the best to emerge as the leader to round
the Kurraba mark first for the leg to Point Piper, followed by Scot, Top Weight, then a gap to Yendys and a further gap to Aberdare, Britannia and Tangalooma.
Australia IV first to round at Kurraba (courtesy Adrienne Jackson) The skiffs that turned early at Kurraba headed off to Point Piper under cracked sheets, with Australia IV setting a ringtail initially before setting a small reaching spinnaker. The 3 trailing skiffs missed the SW breeze altogether and experienced very fickle conditions as they attempted to sail towards Point Piper. As the 4 skiffs in the lead group approached Point Piper the SW breeze faded away to be replaced with the expected sea breeze arriving from the ENE. Australia IV had some initial issues with the change of wind, eventually stowing their spinnaker and ringtail to make their final approach to the mark, having the benefit of first use of the new breeze and then extending their lead on the following skiffs. Australia IV was first to round Point Piper with a substantial lead from the next group of skiffs in Top Weight, Scot and Yendys, then a very long gap to the last 3 skiffs in Britannia, Tangalooma and Aberdare. Australia IV set off for the leg back to Kurraba under main & jib and then set a ringtail (obviously motivated to maintain their lead in the Ringtail Point Score); Yendys set and carried a large peak-head spinnaker on this leg to make up time on Australia IV. Australia IV was first to turn at Kurraba with a substantial lead for the leg to Clark Island, with Yendys the next skiff to round followed by Top Weight and Scot. A long gap ensued wherein Britannia was next skiff to round. Tangalooma withdrew from the race at this stage with a rigging issue, while Aberdare was now a long way back running to Kurraba under large spinnaker. No positional changes took place on the final two legs that were effectively a mainsail & jib reach either way (some skiffs carried a small spinnaker on the return leg). By the time Australia IV had returned and was about to approach the finish line at Kurraba, Aberdare had only just gybed for the final 2 legs and subsequently withdrew soon after.
Australia IV heading for Clark Island, Yendys to Kurraba (courtesy Phil/Tomoko)
Yendys heading for Clark Island, Top Weight and Scot to Kurraba (courtesy Phil/Tomoko)
Britannia after gybing at Kurraba on leg to Clark Island (courtesy Tricia Smith) Australia IV went on to record a comfortable win from Yendys, Top Weight, Scot and Britannia, In doing so Australia IV wrapped-up the Season Point Score, the Ringtail Point Score and the Fastest Times Point Score, well done to Terry Stewart and his crew. Meanwhile, Yendys secured the Autumn Point Score, 2nd in the Ringtail Point Score and equal 2nd with The Mistake in the Fastest Times Point Score, well done Team Yendys.
Australia IV at the finish line (courtesy Adrienne Jackson)
With thanks to our on-water support team of Barley, Russell, Suzie, Ben, Robert, Peter, Chuck, Dave and Bill; Steamer and Capt. Rob on the Regal; along with COVID Marshalls Tomoko and Nicki; and the Bar-B-Q Team. With mark rounding details and on-water observations provided by Peter Notley, along with photos by Phil/Tomoko and Adrienne Jackson, and video footage by Tricia and Ian Smith. A big thank you to John Winning for use of the Rippleside and Grey RIB throughout the season. We look forward to seeing you down at the Squaddie next season. Results for Sat 27th March 2021. Race 22 Skiff Australia IV Yendys Top Weight Scot Britannia Aberdare Tangalooma The Mistake Myra Too Alruth Australia
Skiff Aberdare Alruth Australia Australia IV Britannia Myra Too Scot Tangalooma The Mistake Top Weight Yendys
27-Mar-21 Skipper T. Stewart B. Watson A. Robertson J. Watt I. Smith J. Tickner N. Turbit
Season Point Score 48 0 0 72 42 0 53 35 54 32 57
Race Hcap 0:06 0:00 0:15 0:15 0:15 0:15 0:15 0:01 0:07 0:15 0:06
Hcp Start Start Time 14:31:00 14:37:00 14:22:00 14:22:00 14:22:00 14:22:00 14:22:00 DNC DNC DNC DNC
Autumn Point Score 12 0 0 18 13 0 19 9 2 14 25
West Course Finish Time 16:06:55 16:11:03 16:14:26 16:15:52 16:28:07 DNF DNF
Ringtail Point Score 0 0 0 17 9 0 0 0 12 3 14
W/SW/E Race Time 1:35:55 1:34:03 1:52:26 1:53:52 2:06:07
Fastest Time Point Score 42 0 0 74 38 0 46 31 67 27 67
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510kts H'cap Time 1:29:55 1:34:03 1:37:26 1:38:52 1:51:07
New Hcap 5 0 15 15 15 15 15 1 7 15 6
Ring tail 2