We had another solid roll up for today’s handicap Pointscore number 4 race. I have my theories about why there appears to be added commitment to turn up on sailing days. No I don’t think it’s because of my sparkling personality. I think it’s most likely all about the combination of the near perfect sailing conditions on offer so far this season; the pleasant Port Kembla Sailing Club environment created by our great group of club members; and of course, the hamburgers and other edible delights prepared with love by the wonderful canteen volunteers without whose sacrifice, the club would struggle to survive. Oh yes, and just to clarify, I don’t mean by the term “handicap start” that us, mostly more mature aged TY sailors, are in anyway mentally or physically significantly handicapped, it’s just the nature of the race start. If the condition of we sailors was the issue then every race could be a handicap start.
It should also be recognised, that in my opinion, the handicap start format places an extra element of skill on the duty crew. So a big thanks to Kurt and Brian for carrying out the start, and indeed the race set up, so skilfully.
The line-up for today were Offshore Account with Teresa, Frank and Dave aboard (more about the exceptional sailing talents of Teresa Marzano later in this report); Rosstered Off with Jim, Richard, Shaun and David aboard; Grey Fox with Digger and Rodger aboard; Frou Frou with Jarrod, Alan, and me aboard, and we are so pleased to welcome back new club members, Lachlan, Tim, Kerry and Jenny, aboard Day 7.
Since it was the first race of the season for Alan and Jarrod on Frou Frou, we were busy getting out act together and didn’t take much notice of what was going on around us. However we did witness the amazing and uncharacteristic swiftness of Offshore Account out of the starting line and up the first work. This unusual degree of speed and precision sailing by Offshore Account persisted throughout the whole of the race. ‘What could have changed aboard to have caused her enhanced turn of speed?’ I hear you ask (a question that puzzled me as well). Obviously it could not have been Dave at the helm or Frank on the foredeck, because we know of their lack lustre performance history. So it must have been some other element. After some in-depth research and probing interview skills I discovered the blindingly obvious answer. To lift the performance of Offshore Account to such a high level required exceptional tactical, sail trimming, and crew management abilities rarely seen at PKSC or, dare I say, to the broader sailing universe. Of course it had to be the presence of Teresa. Who would have suspected that this humble club member had been hiding her exceptional sailing skills from us? On all of the sailing community’s behalf I would now like to suggest that the presence of Teresa aboard any sailing craft and the resulting improvements in performance of that craft and crew be called the “Teresa Effect”. From now on, Teresa and her sailing skills may be available to the highest bidder (dependent on her personal preferences and other inducements). Her sailing calendar and speaking engagements are filling up fast so I suggest you get in early for the 2015-2016 Season. Please refer all booking inquiries to her agent, Trevor Dunn.
I won’t clutter this report with details of other irrelevant sailing chatter except to say that Grey Fox was being sailed very, well staying at the front of the fleet (Offshore Account with the “Teresa Effect” excluded) until gear failure forced her to retire. We hope all is sorted for Grey Fox’s next outing.
I do apologise for the big variations in finish times, although who could have predicted the “Teresa Effect” on Offshore Accounts performance. I calculated the allotted boat handicap times from the most recent series race results of competitors. However I recognise, after looking at the results of today’s handicap race finish times, that I may have been too generous to some and not generous enough with others. Any advice for calculating handicap start times will be greatly appreciated.
And now to the results.
Handicap Start, Pointscore 4
Place Boat Name Finishing Time
First Offshore Account 15:52:41
Second Rosstered Off 16:03:48
Third Frou Frou 16:13:25
Forth Day 7 16:32:17
Fifth Grey Fox DNF
The End, Trev