2018 Club Marine Sail Freo
It's about time I set to getting this ready to record the derring do of the fleets off the coast of Fremantle.
The numbers are good and we have at least 120 sailors out there with two courses and I'll bet that the officials will be busy on both courses with 60 boats on each.
The weather looks fine with temps in the mid to high twenties and a seabreeze that should build toward the afternoon. I wonder if they will try to get in 5 races on the first day. They don't have to, but if the wind is in?
Now to the sailing and as a firm believer in the Laser fleet, I notice that we have a bit of grunt coming off the line in the Radial Fleet with a number of the boys who met up at the Applecross Cup going at it again. And we have Elyse on the line as well, no room for losers here as she can push the boys pretty hard as well. The Standards have Swifto back from duty in the East and Jimmy Stewart won't let him get anything for free. Nor for that matter will some of the masters. Lachy Gilham has his Finn out on the water to push the big boys along and after his recent silver in the U19's in Slovenia, he should be dangerous. The 4.7's are still developing, but this weekend should be a good session for them. A great bunch of 29ers, who'll relish the day and Musto's will make merry hell on the water with their speed.
I'll be paying special attention to the 505's this weekend as they have a Nationals and Worlds coming up in December /January and I'll want to see how they're fairing. I've been a fan of theirs since they gave me a start line I couldn't believe. Absolutely hectic. Madness and great photo's
To the smaller fleets and I'm being careful here as I don't know where the Mirrors will sail, either Alpha or Bravo course, but there's enough of them to have fun on their own anyway. Lots of Optimists of both silver and gold persuasion, with good representations from the Open Bics and the Flying Ants. It's going to be fun on the line for the finish team.
The numbers are good and we have at least 120 sailors out there with two courses and I'll bet that the officials will be busy on both courses with 60 boats on each.
The weather looks fine with temps in the mid to high twenties and a seabreeze that should build toward the afternoon. I wonder if they will try to get in 5 races on the first day. They don't have to, but if the wind is in?
Now to the sailing and as a firm believer in the Laser fleet, I notice that we have a bit of grunt coming off the line in the Radial Fleet with a number of the boys who met up at the Applecross Cup going at it again. And we have Elyse on the line as well, no room for losers here as she can push the boys pretty hard as well. The Standards have Swifto back from duty in the East and Jimmy Stewart won't let him get anything for free. Nor for that matter will some of the masters. Lachy Gilham has his Finn out on the water to push the big boys along and after his recent silver in the U19's in Slovenia, he should be dangerous. The 4.7's are still developing, but this weekend should be a good session for them. A great bunch of 29ers, who'll relish the day and Musto's will make merry hell on the water with their speed.
I'll be paying special attention to the 505's this weekend as they have a Nationals and Worlds coming up in December /January and I'll want to see how they're fairing. I've been a fan of theirs since they gave me a start line I couldn't believe. Absolutely hectic. Madness and great photo's
To the smaller fleets and I'm being careful here as I don't know where the Mirrors will sail, either Alpha or Bravo course, but there's enough of them to have fun on their own anyway. Lots of Optimists of both silver and gold persuasion, with good representations from the Open Bics and the Flying Ants. It's going to be fun on the line for the finish team.
Day Two: Sunday
If Saturday was the big day out, this day was fair to the lighter crews and sailors. Nothing more than about 15 knots and half the chop. But there was plenty to do out there and the four races were sailed in good order. Surprisingly the breeze was already filling in from the West and needed only a small change to get the racetrack sorted out when the seabreeze finally kicked in around 12. The smaller boats on Alpha course got going pretty quickly and following them was a pleasure as Jason and I started to cheer on our favourites from the sidelines.
You're darned right, we can't coach but if some one was having a hard time yesterday and they'd come out today, we were enthusiastic in our support of them. As a matter of fact the fleets were a little stronger today, so perhaps the lighter breeze was encouraging the youngsters out.
Over at Bravo course, they were having a great time with the breeze slowly building and the lighter boats getting into the mix. Of course the Vipers were continuing their battle and with the addition of Nick Jerwood to the fleet it seems they are only going faster. The 505's were in their element and some of the speed runs were superb, but I have to reserve my praise for the 470 that started on port trying to cross the entire fleet. Would have done it too, but most of the time you don't have a kite foiler come whipping onto the course on starboard where no one would have expected him.. Also dip my hat to Lachy Gilham who pushed his Finn around with the standard lasers and gave leader Luke Elliott a torrid time. Power to him for the effort he put into it.
My thanks to Fremantle Sailing Club, with Sam and Travis getting the show under way, To Assistant harbour master Jason who, despite a wrenched ankle, drove all regatta and was spot on in his placement. To Club Marine, Monkey Grip and everyone connected with the event, my thanks and to all the vollys well done and I hope the shirt fits.
But my special thanks is to the sailors.. well done all and thanks for coming.
The presentations are up. Look below.
If Saturday was the big day out, this day was fair to the lighter crews and sailors. Nothing more than about 15 knots and half the chop. But there was plenty to do out there and the four races were sailed in good order. Surprisingly the breeze was already filling in from the West and needed only a small change to get the racetrack sorted out when the seabreeze finally kicked in around 12. The smaller boats on Alpha course got going pretty quickly and following them was a pleasure as Jason and I started to cheer on our favourites from the sidelines.
You're darned right, we can't coach but if some one was having a hard time yesterday and they'd come out today, we were enthusiastic in our support of them. As a matter of fact the fleets were a little stronger today, so perhaps the lighter breeze was encouraging the youngsters out.
Over at Bravo course, they were having a great time with the breeze slowly building and the lighter boats getting into the mix. Of course the Vipers were continuing their battle and with the addition of Nick Jerwood to the fleet it seems they are only going faster. The 505's were in their element and some of the speed runs were superb, but I have to reserve my praise for the 470 that started on port trying to cross the entire fleet. Would have done it too, but most of the time you don't have a kite foiler come whipping onto the course on starboard where no one would have expected him.. Also dip my hat to Lachy Gilham who pushed his Finn around with the standard lasers and gave leader Luke Elliott a torrid time. Power to him for the effort he put into it.
My thanks to Fremantle Sailing Club, with Sam and Travis getting the show under way, To Assistant harbour master Jason who, despite a wrenched ankle, drove all regatta and was spot on in his placement. To Club Marine, Monkey Grip and everyone connected with the event, my thanks and to all the vollys well done and I hope the shirt fits.
But my special thanks is to the sailors.. well done all and thanks for coming.
The presentations are up. Look below.
Presentations.
Day one: Saturday
All our wishes came true with a sunny day and plenty of squirt. It came in around 1100 hrs and the next thing we knew was that the courses were booming. The forecast was 15 to 25 knots and we got most of that. I spent the first two races on Alpha course being driven by Jason, the assistant harbour master and a sailor in his own right. Good judgement on boat placement and not scared to put the pedal down if we had to get somewhere.
The youngsters were having a great time and we had plenty of boats on the water, I was lucky enough to get a good sequence on a startline with a crowd of Flying Ants and Mirrors mixing it up. Great to photograph. My thanks to the sailors. The wind kept growing as the races went on and there was the odd boat flipped over, but in the main the sailors were coping well with the breeze.
The other start line out on Bravo course gave nothing away as the chop was a little steeper. Plenty of breeze and a few of the lighter skiffs had already pulled out, a pity that I missed most of the Musto action, but it will be a bit softer tomorrow. Again, one of those fantastic start lines from the 505's mixing it with the 420's and 470's. No let up and the camera in focus all the way.
With any luck, I'll have a chance to capture more tomorrow, so enjoy the photos from today.
NB. Sundays photos will be going up on Monday.. please be patient.
The youngsters were having a great time and we had plenty of boats on the water, I was lucky enough to get a good sequence on a startline with a crowd of Flying Ants and Mirrors mixing it up. Great to photograph. My thanks to the sailors. The wind kept growing as the races went on and there was the odd boat flipped over, but in the main the sailors were coping well with the breeze.
The other start line out on Bravo course gave nothing away as the chop was a little steeper. Plenty of breeze and a few of the lighter skiffs had already pulled out, a pity that I missed most of the Musto action, but it will be a bit softer tomorrow. Again, one of those fantastic start lines from the 505's mixing it with the 420's and 470's. No let up and the camera in focus all the way.
With any luck, I'll have a chance to capture more tomorrow, so enjoy the photos from today.
NB. Sundays photos will be going up on Monday.. please be patient.