Sailing News
Princess Royal Sailing Club
FLYING FIFTEENS IN FAST FINISH
Racing Saturday 18 January
Two Flying Fifteens, after sailing over a harbour course for two hours, were only seconds apart at the finish in a close and enthralling contest.
Aileen Lucas, skippering Crazy, won the start narrowly over Simon Lucas in FForever Young and the race was on. It was neck and neck throughout with the lead changing several times. It was great to watch.
Both skippers and crews enjoyed the fresh south easterly which blew at a steady 13 knots with the odd gust to 15. This allowed the quick little yachts to zip around at great speed. The two boats put on another great display of match racing.
Nearing the finish line, Crazy was two boat lengths in front of Fforever Young. A mere 20m from the finish line, Simon Lucas somehow managed to pip Aileen Lucas to record fastest time. But the win went to Crazy on corrected time in another close call between these two yachts.
Six Div2 yachts contested a King George Sound event with Stephen Lee in Flashheart bolting away to establish a handy lead. Josh Hughes, in Joker, was giving a good account of himself, staying close to Lee under spinnaker as the fleet headed out into the sound.
Stephen Brown, who has had a number of wins already this season, was holding his own with Mary Maitland, as was Bob Giles in Footloose in the latter stages. Neil Worrell was having his first outing for the season with Zuri and was a bit rusty. Karen Timmins was doing extremely well with Grey Moose, managing to stay within reach of the leaders.
Flasheart was still the leading boat as they entered the harbour for a the last three legs. Brown caught and passed Hughes, who quickly responded to regain the lead. It was cat-and-mouse stuff between these two competitive skippers as they neared the finish line. Lee had finished to record fastest time with Flashheart, but on corrected time could only manage fourth place after a fine effort. Hughes was a boat length ahead of Brown but Mary Maitland pipped him on the line in a another close encounter. Karen Timmins had done enough to snare her first points in Div2 with a third placing with Grey Moose in an excellent showing.
Picture: (Above) Aileen Lucas wins the start and the race with Crazy over Simon Lucas in Fforever Young.
SITTING BULL, WASN'T
Racing Saturday 11 January
Murray Howson's Div1 yacht, Sitting Bull, displayed awesome power in Saturday's harbour course flying start race. With another howling easterly blowing a constant 26 knots with the odd gust to 32, only five boats from a possible 16 took to the water. It was evident prior to racing that the terrible conditions were going to be too much for the smaller yachts and inexperienced skippers and crews who opted to be spectators.
Two other Div1 yachts tried to match Sitting Bull but to no avail after a blistering spinnaker run the length of the harbour put paid to any notion of challenge. Sitting Bull was five minutes ahead midway through the event. Murray Deere had Wild One doing well and was able to keep ahead of Harold Keay's Shagabull.
Both Deere and Keay used spinnakers sparingly, whereas Sitting Bull proudly showed one on practically every down wind leg. Howson has proved over many seasons to be the quickest yacht in his division but doesn't win too many because of his huge handicap. On Saturday, that all changed when he took the coveted first and fastest in outstanding form to finish seven minutes in front of Wild One which gained second placing, ten minutes ahead of third placegetter Shagabull.
Two Div2 yachts faced the starter, with Stephen Brown taking Mary Maitland to a handy lead. Brown had a reef in his main and a tiny headsail that worked perfectly. Peter Bane, skippering Dunluce, had a reef in his main and a headsail that wasn't suited to the conditions but battled manfully throughout. The more experienced Brown, with a now-regular crew, proved too good and recorded another first and fastest in a wonderful effort. Bane will be more the wiser in his next outing and is showing some potential in this division.
Picture: Too good. Murray Howson, second from the left, with his crack crew on Sitting Bull.
Race Day Photos
To see more of Des' photos, including some contributions by others, see the link below.
From the Sailing Director
Rescue boat crew are needed for each sailing Saturday!
If you're not sailing and are available, then please let me know. Nominations are open for the rest of the Summer and Autumn series to crew and skipper the rescue boat. To skipper, you need a Recreational Skipper's Ticket.
Neil Worrell, Sailing Director
Walpole in the Trees Regatta 2020
The Walpole Yacht Club is again looking forward to hosting the Walpole in the Trees Regatta on the Labour Day long weekend, Saturday 29 February and Sunday 1 March, 2020.
The Regatta program includes five races over two days and is open to the following:
- All off-the-beach dinghies, Trailer Sailers (JAM only) and Catamarans
- Any shallow draft keelboats, eg: Red Witch, Flying Fifteen
- Any veteran off the beach yachts
The regatta is a safe, family-focused event to be enjoyed by all, and an ideal way to experience the beauty of the Walpole and Nornalup Inlet Marine Park.
The Notice of Race is available here and nominations open 1 January 2020 via www.walpoleyachtclub.com.au.