See below a slideshow of catamarans arriving and setting up...

Richard Hipsley had a few words at the last briefing of the season. Presenting flowers to Barbara for her work with the canteen. After briefing we finalised preparation and headed out. Trevor Dunn and crew setting the course to suit the NW breeze almost spot on planned start time the wind swung around to the NE. Hence the duty crew were busy readjusting the course to the new wind direction. Start line towards the middle of the lake, windward mark over near the entrance to IYC and the reef and the wing mark over towards Gooseberry Island. The delayed start gave the opportunity to sail around and check out the marks and get warmed up. After adjustments the start sequence commenced around 2:26pm so the small cats got away around 2:41pm.

I’m pretty sure Tony Zahra led the small cats across the line, crossing pretty much right on the hooter. Hot Pepper still having some work to do to improve start timing, trailing the pack. Most out on the wire with good speed on starboard tack heading towards the northern shore near the club house. Ross on Yabby pointing quite high followed by Hot Pepper. Once reasonably deep tacking to Port and heading to the windward mark. This week Jody on Blue Tongue also out on the trapeze wire. Can’t remember the exact order around the windward mark but I think it was Billyo, White Wave and Dark Horse leading the way closely followed by the pack. Groove Thing having dropped back a little as Tony Sanderson felt a little too free and easy due to a jock strap come undone on his trapeze harness. As a result he had to stop to re-attach. Once around the windward mark a great reach was had down to the wing mark. The breeze picking up a little and the catamarans really taking off. Another excellent reach was then had back to the start (bottom) mark. Thanks to Trevor and crew the course really suiting the catamarans with nice angles allowing great reaches. At this point the pack started to spread a little,  Billyo dropping off the pace a little as the strengthening breeze causing him some concern (looking after his shoulder).

From the wing mark back to the bottom mark White Wave leading the way around, closely followed by George from Southern Highlands(had a promising start), Dark Horse and Hot Pepper. However when George went to get out on the wire he slipped got dragged out back and capsized. Hot Pepper managed to avoid collision on port side and Dark Horse went the other side. With the freshening breeze George went to right his craft and capsized again losing touch with the leaders. An excellent work out towards the shallows, White Wave and then Dark Horse tacking off midway, Hot Pepper going deeper into the shallows to try and make the top mark in one tack. Hot Pepper close with some pinching but unfortunately missing out by around 50 metres. Having right of way over Dark Horse Hot Pepper had heart in mouth with Dark Horse having to give way adjusting, skimming past rudder blades. A little slow on tacking meant that Hot Pepper followed White Wave and Dark Horse around the top mark. I think it was on this leg whilst pushing hard to make up lost ground Groove Thing ended up nose diving and even though he was able to release mainsheet couldn’t stay upright and capsized adding to his deficit. An excellent windward return again saw great boat speed heading back towards the bottom mark.
By the second triangle the leading 3 boats had opened a small buffer with Silver Fox not too far behind working on bridging the gap. Hot Pepper dropping off the pace a little when reaching from the wing mark back to the bottom mark then got back in the groove making up ground again. The final run to X was a blast at times having to drop power in the stronger gusts just a touch to keep from nose diving. I think both Blue Tongue and George again were capsize casualties with the breeze freshening with over 20 knot gusts.  Round the X and home Dark Horse leading the way across the line followed by White Wave, Hot Pepper, Silver Fox, Groove Thing, Yabby and George. Billyo and Blue Tongue recording DNF although still out on the water for the duration.  See below for results:

Afterward once assisting each other ashore dismantling our craft we spoke about each of our experiences. Having borrowed a trapeze harness from Kurt, Jody was pretty chuffed as she was out on the wire under race conditions and felt a great sense of achievement.
Afterward a few partners and friends came down to join the sailors for a bite to eat and a chat at the club house. Looking over the idyllic vista of Lake Illawarra watching the sunset as the sun dropped below the mountains.

All that remains is presentation night Saturday the 13th May 2017 “Under the Sea” theme. Looking forward to seeing every one.

Sunset after a great day's sailing

Regards, Hugh Lewis
Small Cats Delegate

Paul Leaudais came down advising sad news that iconic character Tommy from Swan Lake had passed away. Only the day prior he had been doing what he liked best sailing with his mates. Paul advised he believed the funeral will be Tuesday 4/4/2017 at Rookwood cemetery in West Sydney.

After a burger drink and briefing we finished preparations and set sail out onto the lake. With a nice ESE breeze we headed out to the middle of the Lake. 

Rod Nairn and Amelia Richardson doing duty this week. They set a port course start out towards the middle of the lake behind Gooseberry Island, Windward mark over towards shallows and wing mark out front of the PKSC near Gooseberry island.

A few words from Ralf Steyer on Dark Horse:
Billyo and The Dark Horse got a good start at the gun at the boat end, Billyo out on wire and pointing well with good speed, I had height but could not match Bill's speed, further down the line with good speed was our visitor from the Highlands, George, but he wasn't getting good height. A number of boats gave away valuable ground by starting well after the gun went off. Looking back Tony sailing Groove Thing was getting good height but was also suffering a bit with speed.

As Ralf tacked he crossed ahead of Tony, Bill also tacked while the rest of the fleet kept going on starboard tack, not sure how far.

At the top mark it was Bill followed by Ralf - on the first reach Ralf overtook Billyo, after the wing mark I was lucky Les Porter was in a good mood and allowed me to sail my course instead of taking me up to where he obviously wanted to go and get on foils, he slowed a bit and then tucked in behind me and was gone in no time. The next work saw Billyo stretch his legs again both actually by getting out on wire and also pointing well with good speed, this allowed him to get to the top mark ahead of Ralf, who also managed to get out on wire for a short spell, we both stayed on port tack for about 3/4 of the way to the lay line, we both had to put in another 2 tacks to round the mark. George and Tony tacked early and appeared to make a little ground on us.
The breeze for the next work was a bit shifty and required a number of extra tacks to get around the top mark, no major changes in positions.
The last work saw Billyo and The Dark Horse well in the lead, we covered each other, George and Tony were close together at the base mark, Tony followed Bill and I, George tacked early and picked up 500 odd meters to come around the top mark not far behind the leaders, the run down to X saw Billyo sail almost square to the mark while Ralf and George were on a broad reach covering each other all the way down towards the Berkeley headland, George tacked slightly earlier and was then running almost square down towards X, Ralf came up under him and took him up a bit until we were past the lay line for X, Ralf only just in front at the mark, I was able to point higher and faster on the work to the finish line, but Billyo was first across (hopefully wasn't in front by enough to beat the Windies on yardstick) followed by The Dark Horse and then George. I think Bill enjoyed the wind strength, I would have preferred a bit more to be able to sail on wire. 
"The Dark Horse “

Even with last minute adjustments by the duty crew, the start sequence getting away pretty much spot on 2pm. During the small cats division 3 count down at the 4 minute mark Hot Pepper deciding she was starting a bit too far down the line so went around and headed up wind for a better position, unfortunately this meant missing the start and crossing the line after the 1 minute count down for the next division. Billyo, Dark Horse, George, Groove Thing, Blue Tongue getting away well. The cats heading towards the reef on starboard tack. Billyo, Dark Horse, and Groove Thing able to point high. Most choosing to tack a little early possibly to avoid the TY’s reaching towards the wing mark. This meant that an additional tack was required further up the lake to reach the mark.  Billyo, Dark Horse, Groove Thing, George (from Southern Highlands), Blue tongue and Yabby followed by Hot Pepper.
A broad reach was able to be had pretty much straight to the wing mark. Then back up to the start again. Most remained on port tack after rounding the start buoy heading over towards the shallows. Some sailing pretty deep and others tacking off a little sooner meaning that they had to put in an extra tack. Hot Pepper pinching was able to make up a little ground on some and with the variable wind and was able to make the mark on 1 tack. George from southern highlands trying a slightly different approach in the light conditions running directly back to the start buoy on the windward return. Dark Horse catching up to Billyo on the last triangle. Billyo remaining focused was able maintain his lead. On the last triangle going back up to the start line Billyo followed by Dark Horse with Groove Thing then George. George bearing away across the back of Groove Thing towards the middle of the lake getting good boat speed. With favourable breeze and wind shift giving good speed he managed to bunny hop Groove Thing to the start mark before the final run to the Windward, X and finish.
Billyo liking the light conditions leading the way across the line followed by Dark Horse who had a close tussle with George then Groove Thing, Hot Pepper, Blue Tongue and then Yabby. Blue Tongue in particular having a great day having an excellent race mixing it with the fleet. As can be seen below getting a 3rd in the point score.

After helping each other ashore Ralf having to demobilise and head off to a grand child’s birthday party. George enjoyed racing and advised he would be back next week. He also advised that any PKSC folks are welcome up at the Southern Highland sailing club. Saying that their season goes thru till end of April and that they sail on Sundays. Having 2 shorter races, one at 1pm and other at 3pm. We reciprocated advising that visitors are always welcome.

Whilst having a quiet chat with Ross Fyfe, he advised he had to get rid of a stick caught up on his rudder during the final leg. Also that he is always analysing how he went looking at what he could do to improve next time, like flattening his sail.

Whilst sitting out front admiring the view we noticed someone drive past and wave. The vehicle then turned and Jack Kroek emerged advising that he was showing his Dutch relatives around (hence why he missed sailing today). He also let us know that he had received a message from John Van Megan regards Tommy having passed away.

After everyone was off the lake the SE breeze started to kick in at around a healthy 10 to 15 knots. That’s sailing.
Next week is the last session for the season. Hope to see all the cats sailors for the final fling.  A few are planning to stick around for a while afterward, I hope you can join us.
Regards Hugh Lewis

The latest results have been posted.

Note that the Club Championship has been finalised.

What this means is that members who did not complete the minimum of 4 races have been excluded from the series. This affects the results of some races and the overall totals.

Likewise, when the pointscore wraps up next week, those that have not sailed the minimum of 6 races will be excluded from the series. This has an even greater impact as the progressive handicaps will alter due to the exclusions. I'm writing this so that you understand beforehand why the results will change after the exclusions. Unfortunately, the Sailwave software doesn't automatically handle these exclusions weekly - only at the end of the series.

Regards, Ross Boyd

PS. Here are the CC8 finish times including our visitor George Lemann - who sailed well.