TY Delegates Report 1 December 2012
I hope your Saturday sail on Lake Illawarra was nicer than mine on Lake Burley Griffin.
Frou Frou sailed in the Canberra regatta on Saturday. However things did not go to plan. It was very windy, unusually so for Canberra as you all may have experienced. Over 30 knot gusts from the North West, not the sort of conditions ideal for a Ross 650 with only two lightweights aboard. Things were going OK for us until the middle of the third race when we hit an unmarked submerged object that put a stop to our campaign. Broken keel Number 3 broken rudder number 2. We were advised later that the submerged object was probably a dumped car 50 metres from the shore. How unlikely would it be to run into something like this? Its getting a little boring having a broken and damaged boat, especially after spending considerable time repairing the damaged sustained sailing in the Jervis Bay Regatta. I am beginning to think that I have had enough sailing misfortune for the year. Perhaps the message is to stay local and Lake Illawarra.
I would like to end this report on a more positive note, one related to the Kembla Klassic and the contribution to its success made by members running the canteen and other essential on shore activities. From my observations the club members involved with these activities are mostly women, the wives of the sailors who have abandoned them ashore for their own watery enjoyment. I continually wonder why such capable intelligent women are hooked up with blokes like us. These women should be allowed to do things with their valuable time they might otherwise prefer to do. But there they were during the Kembla Klassic, and many other Saturdays during the sailing season I might add, slaving over a hot griddle and waiting on us hand and foot. Arguably it is because of these women that we have a viable club at all. In my opinion they are performing a truly selfless act above and beyond the call of duty. We are in debt to these women and should be gratefully for their selfless contributions that go to making our sailing experience that much better.
No TY sailing results for this week as there were no starters. See you next week.
The End Trev
TY Delegates Report, 15 December 2012
The last Saturday race before the Christmas new years break, the Presidents verses the Secretaries team around the lake race, is one of the race days I very much look forward to during our sailing calendar. Given that Frou Frou is still broken I did not anticipate sailing. My ambition was to do the briefing and then to head off with the intention of doing some more boat repair work on Frou Frou. However Digger made me an offer I could not refuse so sharing the crew work with one of our accomplished junior sailors Elliot Winn out we went on Grey Fox.
A big welcome back on the water to Barry Grant. Lets all hope that his aging body has recovered sufficiently to continue to sail Momentum for the remainder of the season, with a little help from Ray and John.
As usual today’s race was given a festive feel with some of our more uninhibited members Santa-ing it up. It was nice to see all that sparkle and red on boats on the starting line.
The light northerly wind kept the fleet together up the first work until spinnakers were set rounding Dixies Reef for the zigzag run south down the lake. From then on Rosstered Off and Momentum took off and were neck and stayed in close contact till the finish. I must say that I was very surprised at the speed of Grey Fox. It’s a very quick and easily driven little boat. Maybe we should reconsider her handicap?
Unfortunately for Grey Fox and Serenity the wind died away completely as we were rounding Dixies Reef, ending our chances of snatching victory away from the larger boats that had already finished.
May I say that sailing was the winner on the day, I really had a great time, thanks Digger. I hope to see all of you at our next sailing day 19 January.
Have a very happy Christmas and New years break.
The End Trev
RSS Feed