The Solo Series
13th of September 2015
The final of the Solo series was run yesterday with the delightful proposition of a decent breeze for once. A steady south sou-westerly was in place that on occasions boomed during the afternoon. Racing was underway swiftly as the start boat headed by PC Les Swinton and his crew had the marks laid and the safety boats spread around the course.
Starting in a 12 to 15 knot breeze, the Optimists lead off with young Bruce McKinnon doing a sterling job to take the first race as he did the second. The Pelicans were next with Kimberly Lanter and Aiden Luthie continuing their sterling performance to stay out front once again. The Lasers had a mixed fleet of Radials and 4.7's heading off and it was with interest that Alex Zimmerman managed to bowl over Conor Nicholas, recent Radial Youth World Champion in Canada. But Conor was just warming up as we'll see later on. Zac Littlewood took first in the 4.7's and seems to have his boat on a piece of string as he works his way around the course. The full rig's were graced with occasional visitor Dr. Richard Leslie putting in a guest appearance, but the racing belonged to new full rig sailor Lachy Gilham who was in storming mode for the day. The 420's still don't have "Beast Mode" driven by Nia Jerwood and Lisa Smith to trouble them as they are away at the moment, but once again the team of Oliver Maverick and Connall Hansford on Columbus took the win. The 125's had Felix Browning and Alex Thomson once again at the front and the Flying 15's had Nick Jerwood and Chris Patterson (filling in for Janet) out front.
A brief wait while the course was re aligned as the breeze swung into the south west and true to form it began to strengthen for the rest of the race period. The rest of the racing was conducted with the boats and skippers working hard to deal with the gusts that came out of the left.. and that was the side to be on, as the lifts were excellent. Though there were moments of interest in the wing mark races as the beating boats would occasionally have to tend with a slightly frantic 420 or 125 as they tore through the fleets to the bottom mark.
In total, the Pelican fleet completed 3 races for the day with the Lanter/ Luthie combination being successful and the fleet retired from the course holding their heads high. The Optimists had high hopes and being the mob of individuals that they are, stayed out on the water for all five races with Michael Compton taking the last two races and eventual winner over all, Jackson Porter taking the third race. The 420's were a case of hard luck with an OCS causing Hydrotherapy ( Maddi Taylor and Orla Mulholland Patterson) to lose the 4th race and possibly the regatta if they had placed well. However the Columbus team did well to take the regatta. The 125's chose to sail three races with the Browning / Thomson combination carrying all before them. Despite the change of crew on the Jerwood boat in the Flying 15's, their boat Ineffable took the regatta though Chris admitted that the change from skipper to crew left him wondering which rope to let off occasionally.
The Lasers, newly minted full rig sailor Lachy Gilham is setting out a long road in front of him. A clean sweep of the regatta in strong breezes and I'm pretty sure that he can handle the light stuff too. The Radials succumbed to the Nicholas storm as Conor came back to take the last three races. The 4.7's had Zac Littlewood take three of the five races and the regatta, but notice must be taken of young Hayden Coote in the SoPYC scholarship boat who took second for the regatta with two bullets and third overall.
Over all, the Solo series concluded with fine performances by the regulars in the regatta and none more than Carl and Kristine Petterson in the Flying 15's with consistency being the name of the game. Well sailed to a strong husband and wife team. The pairing of Alex Thomson and Felix Browning in the 125's lead to a great second overall, but the combination of the Barwoods, Simon and Sidonia let them take the regatta and take the last regatta off .
In the 420's, it seemed that guest appearances were the go as only one team sailed consistently through the regattas and rightfully the pairing of Oliver Maverick and Connall Hansford was taken as the winning team.
Richard Maher took the Radial crown with consistency and good light wind sailing proving his skills on the water, not that he was a slouch in the last regatta. David Whait took out the Full rigs from Harmon McAulley by one point having sailed well in the series with two regatta wins to his credit. In the 4.7's Campbell Stewart took the series despite determined efforts from Zac Littlewood and Hayden Coote.
The Pelican results were a given as the team of Kimberly Lanter and Aiden Luthie swept all before them leaving Aiden Box and Lachlan Putt grateful that the winning team will have at least one of the team moving on to a bigger boat next year. In the Optimists, Jackson Porter held out Axle Fleet and Bruce McKinnon to take the series. Much to the delight of the assembled Opti parents and families.
As ever, my thanks to the South of Perth Yacht club for the chance to get onto the water and photograph the series and to RO Les Swinton and team for their hard work in keeping the series alive. Many thanks to the sponsors of the Solo series (Schweppes) without whom we would have to run a much leaner regatta. And finally to Mark Aicheson who drove for me on the safety boat Check Point.
Enjoy the images.
Starting in a 12 to 15 knot breeze, the Optimists lead off with young Bruce McKinnon doing a sterling job to take the first race as he did the second. The Pelicans were next with Kimberly Lanter and Aiden Luthie continuing their sterling performance to stay out front once again. The Lasers had a mixed fleet of Radials and 4.7's heading off and it was with interest that Alex Zimmerman managed to bowl over Conor Nicholas, recent Radial Youth World Champion in Canada. But Conor was just warming up as we'll see later on. Zac Littlewood took first in the 4.7's and seems to have his boat on a piece of string as he works his way around the course. The full rig's were graced with occasional visitor Dr. Richard Leslie putting in a guest appearance, but the racing belonged to new full rig sailor Lachy Gilham who was in storming mode for the day. The 420's still don't have "Beast Mode" driven by Nia Jerwood and Lisa Smith to trouble them as they are away at the moment, but once again the team of Oliver Maverick and Connall Hansford on Columbus took the win. The 125's had Felix Browning and Alex Thomson once again at the front and the Flying 15's had Nick Jerwood and Chris Patterson (filling in for Janet) out front.
A brief wait while the course was re aligned as the breeze swung into the south west and true to form it began to strengthen for the rest of the race period. The rest of the racing was conducted with the boats and skippers working hard to deal with the gusts that came out of the left.. and that was the side to be on, as the lifts were excellent. Though there were moments of interest in the wing mark races as the beating boats would occasionally have to tend with a slightly frantic 420 or 125 as they tore through the fleets to the bottom mark.
In total, the Pelican fleet completed 3 races for the day with the Lanter/ Luthie combination being successful and the fleet retired from the course holding their heads high. The Optimists had high hopes and being the mob of individuals that they are, stayed out on the water for all five races with Michael Compton taking the last two races and eventual winner over all, Jackson Porter taking the third race. The 420's were a case of hard luck with an OCS causing Hydrotherapy ( Maddi Taylor and Orla Mulholland Patterson) to lose the 4th race and possibly the regatta if they had placed well. However the Columbus team did well to take the regatta. The 125's chose to sail three races with the Browning / Thomson combination carrying all before them. Despite the change of crew on the Jerwood boat in the Flying 15's, their boat Ineffable took the regatta though Chris admitted that the change from skipper to crew left him wondering which rope to let off occasionally.
The Lasers, newly minted full rig sailor Lachy Gilham is setting out a long road in front of him. A clean sweep of the regatta in strong breezes and I'm pretty sure that he can handle the light stuff too. The Radials succumbed to the Nicholas storm as Conor came back to take the last three races. The 4.7's had Zac Littlewood take three of the five races and the regatta, but notice must be taken of young Hayden Coote in the SoPYC scholarship boat who took second for the regatta with two bullets and third overall.
Over all, the Solo series concluded with fine performances by the regulars in the regatta and none more than Carl and Kristine Petterson in the Flying 15's with consistency being the name of the game. Well sailed to a strong husband and wife team. The pairing of Alex Thomson and Felix Browning in the 125's lead to a great second overall, but the combination of the Barwoods, Simon and Sidonia let them take the regatta and take the last regatta off .
In the 420's, it seemed that guest appearances were the go as only one team sailed consistently through the regattas and rightfully the pairing of Oliver Maverick and Connall Hansford was taken as the winning team.
Richard Maher took the Radial crown with consistency and good light wind sailing proving his skills on the water, not that he was a slouch in the last regatta. David Whait took out the Full rigs from Harmon McAulley by one point having sailed well in the series with two regatta wins to his credit. In the 4.7's Campbell Stewart took the series despite determined efforts from Zac Littlewood and Hayden Coote.
The Pelican results were a given as the team of Kimberly Lanter and Aiden Luthie swept all before them leaving Aiden Box and Lachlan Putt grateful that the winning team will have at least one of the team moving on to a bigger boat next year. In the Optimists, Jackson Porter held out Axle Fleet and Bruce McKinnon to take the series. Much to the delight of the assembled Opti parents and families.
As ever, my thanks to the South of Perth Yacht club for the chance to get onto the water and photograph the series and to RO Les Swinton and team for their hard work in keeping the series alive. Many thanks to the sponsors of the Solo series (Schweppes) without whom we would have to run a much leaner regatta. And finally to Mark Aicheson who drove for me on the safety boat Check Point.
Enjoy the images.
The Presentations