The Flying 15 Pre Season Regatta
at SoPYC. 29th September 2019
The day started with a wandering nor easter and the promise ( if we behaved) of a sou wester during the afternoon. However RO Les Swinton wasn't taking any chances and he slotted the race course well into the Canning River mouth to ensure that he had a consistent breeze of sorts.
So the morning began with 10 flying fifteens on the water, missing quite a few regulars who are currently overseas or attending club openings as flag officers are wont to do. However the Freshie contingent rocked up with non other than Phillipa Packer and crew Dean McAullay and the WAFA 15 piloted by Natalie Waddell. Many thanks to the Freshie mob who made it interesting for the local crowd who were out to draw first blood for the season.
The offering of a light breeze had the crews firmly ensconced inside the yachts, no hiking here and the first 4 races were sailed in powder puff conditions with skippers chasing the errant gusts out of the North and even as far as beginning to offer from the east as well. Trying conditions for the mark layers who were on the hop in the morning.
Just as the RO was about to declare for lunch and send the players in for a well deserved break, the breeze picked up and he sent them around for one more race in a freshening Northerly, perhaps a harbinger of the forthcoming seabreeze. By this time even the starters boat was looking grim.. they'd run out of hot water for coffee and there was no cow juice to be had. Emergency supplies were called for during the lunch break and by the time lunch was done; there was a sparkling westerly that was already leaning into the south and freshening as the day progressed.
The last three races were held in a seabreeze of about 12 to 15 knots with various Sunday sailors wandering across the course on Melville Water East. Just to be different, RO Les called for a couple of course two's with a triangular course on offer. Great fast sailing and spectacular for photos. And now the heavies came out as weight was needed on the rail to keep the boats flat and everyone was hiking, well not everyone... lunch had accounted for two boats withdrawing and a third had gear failure prior to the start; but it was a tester for the lightweight crews who had done so well and Dean McAullay was in his element keeping Phillipa's boat flat on the water and giving Greg Tonnison and grand master/ world champion Graeme Lillingston a hard time. Not that the rest were lying low either as Jen Sims had already snaffled a win earlier on and was looking dangerous. Sharpie had teamed up with Russ Dawes and apart from hitting at least two transoms was still pushing the limit and got the boat to sail well taking a third over all on consistency.
The remaining contenders; Carl and Christina Petterson, Sandy Dunn and Greg Howell, and David and Mary-Anne Reid didn't leave off either and the seventh race had all the contenders finish with less than a minutes separation. Fine sailing on the day.
Unfortunately the RFBYC sailors had to leave to get back home, but many thanks to them for the excellent competition and congrats to Phillipa and Dean who snaffled first place by one point from Greg and Lillo. In third place Alan Sharpe and Russ Dawes put in a consistent performance to keep Carl and Christina at bay.
Enjoy the photos and as ever they are for sail. 3 for $50 Contact me with the numbers below the picture.
So the morning began with 10 flying fifteens on the water, missing quite a few regulars who are currently overseas or attending club openings as flag officers are wont to do. However the Freshie contingent rocked up with non other than Phillipa Packer and crew Dean McAullay and the WAFA 15 piloted by Natalie Waddell. Many thanks to the Freshie mob who made it interesting for the local crowd who were out to draw first blood for the season.
The offering of a light breeze had the crews firmly ensconced inside the yachts, no hiking here and the first 4 races were sailed in powder puff conditions with skippers chasing the errant gusts out of the North and even as far as beginning to offer from the east as well. Trying conditions for the mark layers who were on the hop in the morning.
Just as the RO was about to declare for lunch and send the players in for a well deserved break, the breeze picked up and he sent them around for one more race in a freshening Northerly, perhaps a harbinger of the forthcoming seabreeze. By this time even the starters boat was looking grim.. they'd run out of hot water for coffee and there was no cow juice to be had. Emergency supplies were called for during the lunch break and by the time lunch was done; there was a sparkling westerly that was already leaning into the south and freshening as the day progressed.
The last three races were held in a seabreeze of about 12 to 15 knots with various Sunday sailors wandering across the course on Melville Water East. Just to be different, RO Les called for a couple of course two's with a triangular course on offer. Great fast sailing and spectacular for photos. And now the heavies came out as weight was needed on the rail to keep the boats flat and everyone was hiking, well not everyone... lunch had accounted for two boats withdrawing and a third had gear failure prior to the start; but it was a tester for the lightweight crews who had done so well and Dean McAullay was in his element keeping Phillipa's boat flat on the water and giving Greg Tonnison and grand master/ world champion Graeme Lillingston a hard time. Not that the rest were lying low either as Jen Sims had already snaffled a win earlier on and was looking dangerous. Sharpie had teamed up with Russ Dawes and apart from hitting at least two transoms was still pushing the limit and got the boat to sail well taking a third over all on consistency.
The remaining contenders; Carl and Christina Petterson, Sandy Dunn and Greg Howell, and David and Mary-Anne Reid didn't leave off either and the seventh race had all the contenders finish with less than a minutes separation. Fine sailing on the day.
Unfortunately the RFBYC sailors had to leave to get back home, but many thanks to them for the excellent competition and congrats to Phillipa and Dean who snaffled first place by one point from Greg and Lillo. In third place Alan Sharpe and Russ Dawes put in a consistent performance to keep Carl and Christina at bay.
Enjoy the photos and as ever they are for sail. 3 for $50 Contact me with the numbers below the picture.