The 2018 JESS Match Racing
22nd Jan to 24th Jan.
I wasn't actually supposed to be here, but I'd finished chasing a lawn mower and I knew that a couple of friends were racing down at Freshy in the JESS match racing. So away I went.
Susie Ghent was in charge of a covered tinnie with a big motor and I was invited on board to watch the afternoon racing. The seabreeze was in and with 15 knots we were having a ball as the new chums that had come through from RFBYC's training sessions were put through their paces with some stiff competition from some of the Warren Jones entrants. I have a feeling that the Warren Jones was being sorted out right here, right now as the older helms on the boats weren't handing out favours.
In a way they were I guess; but being handed your backside ( two penalties ) before you had crossed the line did make it tough to come back from for one young team. And to another team who learnt what the sharp end of a bow looked like and had to suffer a penalty. But the seniors were having just as much fun up there as well with new crews being shaken down quick smart and the two laser teams were at it hammer and tongs. They won't give anyone a break, ( ask Jenny Spearman ). Great to see the ladies team hopping in to give the younger teams a hard time.
The other pair to watch are Calypso and Alpha racing teams. Both skippers are seasoned campaigners and although Alpha team should win most of the matches, Calypso isn't going to lie down. He needs to pull his team together and if they click in here, he'll have a good showing in the Warren Jones.
Enjoy the images and I'll be back tomorrow with the seabreeze.
Susie Ghent was in charge of a covered tinnie with a big motor and I was invited on board to watch the afternoon racing. The seabreeze was in and with 15 knots we were having a ball as the new chums that had come through from RFBYC's training sessions were put through their paces with some stiff competition from some of the Warren Jones entrants. I have a feeling that the Warren Jones was being sorted out right here, right now as the older helms on the boats weren't handing out favours.
In a way they were I guess; but being handed your backside ( two penalties ) before you had crossed the line did make it tough to come back from for one young team. And to another team who learnt what the sharp end of a bow looked like and had to suffer a penalty. But the seniors were having just as much fun up there as well with new crews being shaken down quick smart and the two laser teams were at it hammer and tongs. They won't give anyone a break, ( ask Jenny Spearman ). Great to see the ladies team hopping in to give the younger teams a hard time.
The other pair to watch are Calypso and Alpha racing teams. Both skippers are seasoned campaigners and although Alpha team should win most of the matches, Calypso isn't going to lie down. He needs to pull his team together and if they click in here, he'll have a good showing in the Warren Jones.
Enjoy the images and I'll be back tomorrow with the seabreeze.
Day Two of the Jess Match Racing
The 23rd of January
Suzzi asked me to bring the seabreeze with me, but by the looks of it, she didn't need to worry. It was already in when I arrived and the racing was on.
There were only a few races to go and we were going to swing into the semis today, but the younger sailors couldn't make up their minds as to who was to win. So they drew even at the end of the round robin with an equally balanced set of wins apiece. Each had beaten the other but none had been able to roll the senior players ( but not for the lack of trying.) Problem was addressed by the chief umpire and the race committee with Suzzi being dragged aboard to be aware of what was happening. The ruling was that Section 11 3 A was the guide in this decision and apparently there was a time factor in there as well. As I'm not aufait with all the technicalities, I'm happy to go with the chief umps decision and in fact others on board were just as curious. Unfortunately Master Dobritch had to take the bullet and accept 7th place.
A couple of happy snaps ... 1) Jenn and Chelsea were found at the top mark with a wave ski, having found that the breeze was a little stronger than they thought. They decided to stop on board the Neville Cullen and accept the ride home at the end of the day. 2) And the Ch-ump deep in thought with others surrounding him. First to 3 races was the edict.
I did feel sorry for Will Drew. Won the first of the sail offs against Marcello Torre comfortably and then got taken to the cleaners at the start of the second race and probably blew his damage deposit when he ran over the anchor chain of the start boat. He did recover and the racing got to 2 apiece, but according to the clubs postings, Will dipped out on the last race. Well sailed Marcello and team and I'm sure that Will Drew will be pounding on the door over the next season.
Again my thanks to RFBYC and Sue Ghent in particular. Thanks to Ben, the club coach... his commentary was excellent.And as ever, thanks to the volunteers and most of all the sailors. I'll see most of you at the Warren Jones next week.
The vid below is simply a look at what happened in that race that caused the melt down on the Start boat as the Chief Ump sorted through the issues that arose after the race. All of the Jess candidates had won equally as well against the other. Torres and Drew got to battle it out.
The 23rd of January
Suzzi asked me to bring the seabreeze with me, but by the looks of it, she didn't need to worry. It was already in when I arrived and the racing was on.
There were only a few races to go and we were going to swing into the semis today, but the younger sailors couldn't make up their minds as to who was to win. So they drew even at the end of the round robin with an equally balanced set of wins apiece. Each had beaten the other but none had been able to roll the senior players ( but not for the lack of trying.) Problem was addressed by the chief umpire and the race committee with Suzzi being dragged aboard to be aware of what was happening. The ruling was that Section 11 3 A was the guide in this decision and apparently there was a time factor in there as well. As I'm not aufait with all the technicalities, I'm happy to go with the chief umps decision and in fact others on board were just as curious. Unfortunately Master Dobritch had to take the bullet and accept 7th place.
A couple of happy snaps ... 1) Jenn and Chelsea were found at the top mark with a wave ski, having found that the breeze was a little stronger than they thought. They decided to stop on board the Neville Cullen and accept the ride home at the end of the day. 2) And the Ch-ump deep in thought with others surrounding him. First to 3 races was the edict.
I did feel sorry for Will Drew. Won the first of the sail offs against Marcello Torre comfortably and then got taken to the cleaners at the start of the second race and probably blew his damage deposit when he ran over the anchor chain of the start boat. He did recover and the racing got to 2 apiece, but according to the clubs postings, Will dipped out on the last race. Well sailed Marcello and team and I'm sure that Will Drew will be pounding on the door over the next season.
Again my thanks to RFBYC and Sue Ghent in particular. Thanks to Ben, the club coach... his commentary was excellent.And as ever, thanks to the volunteers and most of all the sailors. I'll see most of you at the Warren Jones next week.
The vid below is simply a look at what happened in that race that caused the melt down on the Start boat as the Chief Ump sorted through the issues that arose after the race. All of the Jess candidates had won equally as well against the other. Torres and Drew got to battle it out.