It was perfect conditions for Saturdays Championship five event, and race one of the second half of the season. Just enough wind to provide a challenge and not too much to make it too hard. For me, being aboard the duty boat with Andrew Curry was good fun. We quickly became resident experts on everything sailing and therefore were able to use our privileged vantage point to make “informed judgements” about the performance of all the sailors who passed us by. If only they could have had the advantage of receiving our advice.
Four TY’s rigged up but, unfortunately, Digger was unable to raise a crew for Grey Fox so he was unable to start in the 10 to 15 knot South Easterly breeze. That left Serenity, Momentum and Rosstered Off to battle it out for places. We laid a reasonably long course for today’s race, but, given that it was a championship event and that the wind was a reasonable strength and consistency from the South East, we figured we would get all the fleet home at a respectable hour and before the canteen closed.
As they say, it only takes 2 boats to have a race. That was clearly demonstrated in today’s race by Momentum and Rosstered Off. Very little separating the two Ross 780’s for the whole of the race which made for very exciting viewing. Rosstered Off showed slightly quicker up wind performance, and, having this edge covered Momentum all the way up the works. Momentum had the down wind speed and made the most of it to catch up on these legs. At the finish line less than 30 seconds separated the two boats. Wayne and his new crew aboard Serenity were working with increasing competency as the race progressed. They were looking particularly good down wind, improving with every leg and every jibe.
Final results for Championship Race 5
First on CBH was Rosstered Off with Jim, Richard, Rob and Dave aboard. Second place was Momentum with Barry, John, Ray and a guest crew member ? aboard. Third was Serenity with Wayne Joel and Dale aboard.
Coming events:
Next Saturday 26 January there will be no racing from PKSC. TY’s that choose can join in the Australia Day race put on by the Illawarra Yacht Club. It will be an around the lake race starting at approximately 12:30 pm. Registration and sign on for the race will be at the IYC, so give yourselves extra time to do this if you are rigging and launching from PKSC.
The St Georges Basin Sussex Inlet Regatta 2-3 February. This is always a favorite event so I hope we can have a good representation there from PKSC TY’s this year.
The end Trev