Severe Forecast Puts Sailors Off

Saturday's weather forecast for easterly winds up to 30 knots caused many skippers to have second thoughts as Divisions 1 and 2 were scheduled to sail in King George Sound events. A very daunting prospect considering the conditions thought to be heading their way.

Only three yachts decided to put to sea and there were many 'oohs' and 'ahs' as they did so. Stephen Brown had Mary Maitland out early to test the wind and the water and went for a reef in the main and a small headsail. Josh Hughes, another Division 2 skipper, went full main and a smaller headsail. Gary Eaton, who joined the other two with Faster, started ten minutes behind and had to chase throughout.

Brown won the start over Hughes and quickly established a handy two-minute lead to the first mark. Under spinnaker, Hughes knocked 30 seconds off Brown's lead but Brown was quicker upwind. This trend continued on every leg. Surprise, surprise - the wind began to peter out and Hughes, with more sail area, was closing in rapidly on Brown who quickly shook the reef out of his main and managed to hold off a fast-finishing Hughes.

Brown crossed the line just over forty seconds ahead, leaving Hughes in second place and Faster further back in third place. Brown is proving the skipper to beat so far this season, with Hughes showing great potential.

All club members are hoping for some decent sailing weather soon as the past month has seen a lot of heavy going on the water.

Picture: Stephen Brown wins the start with Mary Maitland over Josh Hughes in Joker.

Race Day photos

To see more of Des' race day photos, including contributions by others, please visit this link.

Sailing Director's Notes

Thanks to the Department of Transport people, Jen and Rob, who came out to the club on Saturday afternoon for the 30 second challenge and the flare demonstration. Sitting back, devouring my yummy curry, I wondered where the essential things are in my boat and if I could grab them in time in an emergency.

Good old spring season Easterlies are here again this week with a little less strength than last week. After the peak spike of 30 knots at 1.35pm on Saturday, the wind dropped to a steady 25 knots and was more like 18-20 by 4.30pm, enough for Brownie to throw out his reef to make sure Josh didn’t catch him. Harbour race this week with a rising tide from a good depth so the Division 1 boats will be out and about. Good luck everyone.

Saturday meals are here again so make a full afternoon evening with a feed at the club with your favourite post-sailing drink. It will be a big day if you're at the planning session as well.

If you're not sailing on 23 November, have a Recreational Skippers Ticket and are available to drive the rescue boat, then please let me know, as I’m away and need a backup. I’ll give you the Rescue Boat CD so you're full bottle on rescue methods. In a nutshell, check that people are okay first. If they are, then grab the mast and control the yacht. Each situation will be different so plan as you go. Our On Water Policy has the rescue boat in the water each race. Summer and Autumn sailing will have a roster for people to share the task when I’m sailing. Race committee will be running the day's sailing.

On 15 and 16 February 2020 the club is hosting a regatta of HANSA class yachts (Sailability) featuring approximately 10-15 boats. I’m looking for volunteers to skipper boats for mark laying, starting, rescue and helping on and off the beach, likely multitasking. Regattas are a lot of fun for the sailors and they appreciate the efforts of the supporting club volunteers that provide them the opportunity. Put your hand up please if you are able.

Neil Worrell, Sailing Director

Casual Adventurer blog

Club member Richard Hodgson writes to PRSC from the World Cruising Club's ARC+ rally, which is preparing to take sailors across the Atlantic from Gran Canaria to the Caribbean via the Cape Verde archipelago.

For official event updates, visit this link.

Richard's latest instalment begins:

"Saturday morning and the rest of the crew are sleeping, not sure when they'll get up as farewell party held last night. Some of the kids came home very late.

"All maintenance done, most of the stores are on board, fridge stocked. Frozen meat and fresh veggies arrive today. The amount of food for 11 people from 35 days is enormous. Plus extra fuel. All spaces have got something jammed into them.

"When you get up in the morning and see two tall ships, three cruise liners all parked up, one starts to feel how insane all of this is. The word is that 200 yachts will start tomorrow. Given this marina is jam packed, getting out through the marina heads is going to be fun..."

To request membership of Richard's closed Facebook group where he blogs about the rally, visit here.

Richard Hodgson, from the ARC+ Rally

Throwback: Take-One turns 40

The more senior members may remember the S80 Take-One built and launched in January 1980 and raced till 1986, till sold to the Eastern States.

Former Commodore, Geoff Brown, who sailed on the boat, recently contacted me and sent details of the boat from a magazine. The Princess Royal Sailing Club was mentioned in the article so I made contact and received an answer from the current owner.

Take-One is sailed by a group of women in Melbourne and looks almost the same (see picture). I believe Take-One to be the only PRSC yacht to have won the Esperance Race, Offshore, KGS and Harbour consistency trophies. It is nice to know this ‘Tupperware ‘ boat, (named by some for its light, planing hull) is alive and kicking . . . 40 years on.

Colin and Paula Morrison