Hi Everyone,
Well our first round of the NSW state titles was a ripper and thanks again to PKSC for putting on a great show, they clearly must be the number one volunteer based country club in NSW and still make the best hamburgers in the world.
14 boats lined up on the start, while this is a good number and we have consolidated it was dissapointing only 6 Canberra Boats could make the trip through various circumstances, considering we had 12 at a club championship only a 3 weeks before hand.
I tell you what the standard this year is the best I have seen, so many boats with new gear all the way down the fleet, the racing was so close and no position was safe.
Day 1 was an absolute special. Black Nor -easter time at the gong, 20-25knots with at times bigger puffs, strap yourself in and lets go! With all boats on the line for the start, it was hectic, DSRP raced off the pin and Mr. Freeze and DSRP gapped the fleet a bit on the first work with Mainiac not too far away, by the first wing mark probably 4 - 5 boats had pulled the pin with a bit of swimming being done by all. At the end of the 2nd work Mr. Feeze had extended a bit on DSRP with about the same gap back to Richo in Mainiac, DSRP had a swim not to far away from the top mark letting Mainiac slip through to 2nd and thats the way it stayed for the rest of the race. SMoke had a big swim on the first reach leaving their titles defence starting with a 4th. The boat park was full of beers, stories and laughter after a truly epic day, everyone had a great day even if results didnt go their way. It was a real Sharpie day thats for sure. Freeze Boys again too good on their home track in a good breeze.
Day 2,
2 heats were sailed in a light flicky Sou-easter and it was hot. in the first race smoke had a clean pair of heals in their favourite conditions and got away from the fleet for an all the way win, DSRP and Mr Freeze were burried in 11th and 12th respectively at the top mark which left Shorty in 2nd and Shazam, Mainiac, Irish Frog, Blur and the Bear fighting it out for 3rd. There were some big holes and some of the boats found them on the run letting Mr. Freeze back through, they sailed extremely well to get back to 2nd at the finish, with SHorty showing some good form in 3rd back to Mainiac 4th and DSRP recovered for 5th. Big effort by the Bear to get 6th and they had good speed in these conditions. The Southern Cross boys had their moments as well sitting in 5th for much of the race.
The next heat was much of the same, except Mr. Freeze looked well and truly gone out in front, only to find a frustrating hole and have smoke sail straight past them, they had a great race to the finsih with smoke hanging on. Irish Frog had a cracking race with super sheet hand Hayley calling the shots with local knowledge they were in contact with the 2 leaders to get 3rd and leave a massive gap back to Richo who came from 13th at the top mark first time to get back to 4th, I think Shazam was 5th, Shorty 6th, with juniors P&P and the Blur team fighting it out for 7th. Ian Ritchie was also having their best race Getting very close to Southern Cross at the end.
Again an awesome time had by everyone, The next big event is the Nationals, with Mr. Freeze and Smoke going pretty quick in a variety of conditons hopefully the NSW team can shake it up a bit this year.
Our next State event is Balmoral States on the weekend of the 16th of Feb lock it in, we want 20 boats at this regatta and getting back on the harbour after a 1 year absence.