Sailing News
Princess Royal Sailing Club
From the Sailing Director
This weekend is the second week of the Autumn Series, to be raced as a harbour start. This series has three handicap races, including two Cup races and a KGS Cup race.
And of course, there are only eight weeks until the Easter regatta, which the club will present as a windward-leeward short course event. We encourage all PRSC club members to participate in the sailing where possible, plus both the On Water team and On Land team are looking for volunteers.
Additionally, PRSC seeks members who can operate a rescue boat to assist through the sailing season. Rescue boat operators must have an RST as a minimum and be a competent boat driver. Some training can be provided.
The club community is as good as the involvement of members so if you're available for one day (Saturday or Sunday) then please let me (0408 492 157) or Chris Oldham (0427 089 382) know.
Over the weekend, the PRSC racing shared the course with the Hansa regatta. Both events went well in the blustery conditions.
Esperance on the weekend had a thunderstorm event that flattened their fleet, requiring Volunteer Marine Rescue to attend and help the three Esperance Sailing Club rescue boats. That’s food for thought if we had a similar incident. Are we prepared for a situation like that?
Easter Regatta
Easter Regatta Sunday barbecue, Saturday Cultcha Kitchen who books?
PRSC hosts the Easter Regatta on the 11 and 12 April with short-course format, windward-leeward racing.
Accommodation is available via PRSC at the Rifle Range for visiting sailors or those who have extra family members looking for somewhere great to stay.
All types of boats are invited and will race against similar boat speed craft. Short course racing is a good way to test a crew's sailing skill!
Local sailors are encouraged to sail, and for those who are available to volunteer, there is always a job for you. Please contact me on 0408 492 157 to volunteer.
Neil Worrell, Sailing Director
Juniors
It's a 9am start as usual for Juniors tomorrow.
Following that is the long weekend, when Juniors won’t be sailing. All our volunteers and some of our Junior sailors head to Walpole to compete in there regatta. Our instructors sail Lasers there and Tom and Will expect to compete in a Mirror.
It’s a great weekend, if you want to pop over and have a look. It’s a spectacular to watch as over 100 boats are normally on the water going in all directions.
Lisa O'Farrell & the Junior Committee
Footloose Strikes Back
Racing Saturday 15 February
Div2 skipper Bob Giles, after a series of frustrating sailing days, was rewarded with a sterling victory in Saturday's King George Sound event. The veteran sailor was all smiles, as was his crew, when the results were announced.
The race began in a brisk southerly with some nasty gusts at around 28 knots. Josh Hughes in Joker had a good start, as did Stephen Brown in Mary Maitland. These arch rivals are the ones to watch any Saturday afternoon.
Bob Giles, after a sluggish start, soon had Footloose up with the leaders as they headed out into the Sound with a quick spinnaker run. Gary Eaton opted not to hoist a spinnaker on Faster and dropped behind. Things changed out in the sound and Faster led the fleet back inside for the last two legs. It looked as though his lead wasn't enough with his large handicap and while he crossed the line first, he was relegated to fourth place and recorded fastest time. Giles took the race with a great performance and is wanting more of the same. Joker did well throughout to snare second place and Stephen Brown had to be content with his third placing. The finish to this race was close and exciting, with only three minutes separating the four yachts.
Div1 also competed in a KGS race and what an exhilarating encounter there was between Harold Keay's Shagabull and Murray Deere's Wild One! They were neck and neck right from the start and Keay was showing the way, ever so slightly. After more than two hours of sailing they were still locked together. Keay, heading for the finish line, just managed to outfox Deere to take the race and to record fastest time.
Deere tried valiantly to close the gap but was just ten seconds too late at the finish after an enthralling match race.
Picture: (Above) Footloose crew get ready for a spinnaker hoist in Saturday's race.
Article and photos: Des Beeck
Race Day Photos
To see more of Des' photos, including some contributions by others, see the link below.