The Pre Worlds / Australian Open Championships
at Fremantle Sailing Club
29th of December to the 31st of December 2018
The International 505 is a one design high performance two person monohull planning centreboard dinghy with a symmetrical spinnaker and has a trapeze for the crew.
The origins of the class go back to 1954 when noted designer John Westell was asked to re design his 18 foot Coronet racing dinghy to create a 5 metre performance dinghy. The performance dinghy (of 5.05 meters) was admitted into the International Yacht Racing Union and achieved international status in 1955
The 505 is raced actively in 18 countries around the world with the largest fleets in Germany, the US , UK and Australia. However they can be found in the rest of Europe, Canada and South Africa. The World championships are shared around the world and West Australia is about to have their turn.
The boat's hull shape and sail plan are tightly controlled but the spars, rigging and foils are more open allowing the rig and controls to be set up to the preferences of the sailor rather than dictated by class rules ( ie the Laser class).
Successful sailing teams come in all sizes, gender and ages with combinations of the same proving to do well. The track record of the boats indicate that they are responsive to technological advances and the class stays relevant and that existing boats do not fall into obsolescence.
The 505 is acknowledged by some of the worlds top professional sailors as a means to stay at the top of their game by attending major 505 events. Other sailors race them just because they're fast and fun.
How did I become aware of them?
I was photographing a race on the river called the " Three of a Kind ". I saw a dinghy screaming toward me and as it passed, I noticed that the mast was bent forward ridiculously under the weight of the straining spinnaker. My jaw dropped and for the first time in my life I didn't lift the camera up. Entranced by the planing hull and two yahooing sailors on board, I could only watch until they disappeared into the distance.
A 505 had passed me by.
The origins of the class go back to 1954 when noted designer John Westell was asked to re design his 18 foot Coronet racing dinghy to create a 5 metre performance dinghy. The performance dinghy (of 5.05 meters) was admitted into the International Yacht Racing Union and achieved international status in 1955
The 505 is raced actively in 18 countries around the world with the largest fleets in Germany, the US , UK and Australia. However they can be found in the rest of Europe, Canada and South Africa. The World championships are shared around the world and West Australia is about to have their turn.
The boat's hull shape and sail plan are tightly controlled but the spars, rigging and foils are more open allowing the rig and controls to be set up to the preferences of the sailor rather than dictated by class rules ( ie the Laser class).
Successful sailing teams come in all sizes, gender and ages with combinations of the same proving to do well. The track record of the boats indicate that they are responsive to technological advances and the class stays relevant and that existing boats do not fall into obsolescence.
The 505 is acknowledged by some of the worlds top professional sailors as a means to stay at the top of their game by attending major 505 events. Other sailors race them just because they're fast and fun.
How did I become aware of them?
I was photographing a race on the river called the " Three of a Kind ". I saw a dinghy screaming toward me and as it passed, I noticed that the mast was bent forward ridiculously under the weight of the straining spinnaker. My jaw dropped and for the first time in my life I didn't lift the camera up. Entranced by the planing hull and two yahooing sailors on board, I could only watch until they disappeared into the distance.
A 505 had passed me by.
Chasing the Rabbit
I think it's a little clunky and I can't post it to FB or YouTube because of copyright issues.
However you can enjoy it, but don't tell any one! :-)
Chasing the Rabbit, a ride on the gate boat.
I think it's a little clunky and I can't post it to FB or YouTube because of copyright issues.
However you can enjoy it, but don't tell any one! :-)
Chasing the Rabbit, a ride on the gate boat.
Monday the 31st of December
The Second Day of the 505 Nationals at Fremantle Sailing Club
No need for a circus today, the Doctor came in early and by 1000 hrs we had a tasty south sou wester that had 12 knots on it with the promise to improve. Classic early summer sailing breezes on the water off Fremantle.
PRO Robyn Olsen had the course laid out and there were no stragglers today... none at all. It appears that two laps leeward - windward at approximately 1.2 nautical miles is de rigour for racing at the moment and it times out very nicely at about an hour.
The first race and the rabbit was under starters orders.. no malingering and they promptly got going. By the top mark the Aussies ( Luke and Peter ) had a firm grip on the lead and were powering away from the fleet. They were joined at the finish line by a pair of US boats driven by Mike Holt and Carl Smit with Howard Hamlin and Jeff Nelson in third.
The second race was a little different in that I was given a chance to ride on the "gate boat" and chase the rabbit.
This time the rabbit was a little early and we had two goes at the start. What I didn't allow for was the two minutes of insane high speed pounding that was going to happen, but once my kidneys recover I'll process the images from that moment. There was the obligatory course shift as the wind continued to swing and build. This was a chance for the USA's Mike Martin to shine and he and Adam Lowry took the finish well away from Aussies Malcolm Higgins and Nick Johnston. Germanys Wolfgang Hunger and Holger Jess took a third.
The right hand side of the course seems to be favoured at this time with some climbing ladders up the middle and doing well, but the after the top mark; the bend in the breeze along the beach made it worthwhile having a go. But the gusts were always strongest on the windward side... what to do.. what to do!
Race three and there were a few early retirements by now with either breakages or exhaustion taking their toll. We had 20 + knots over at Rottnest and the wind chop on the water was severe. Add that to a one and a half meter swell and every now and then a boat would disappear in the hollows of the swell. Makes for hard work as you run up wind. But start they did and two laps later USA's Mike Martin lead the depleted field home with GBR's Ian Pinnell and Reeve Dunn second and Aussies Malcolm and Nick taking third.
However consistency played its part here and consistency wins regattas. Peter and Luke had been only one position out of the top three for the last two races and it was sufficient to bring their score after the drop, in at 13 with Mike Martin and Adam Lowry in at 14 despite his last two race wins. Right behind them were Mike Holt and Carl Smit with 19 points. Unsurprisingly these three teams were the only ones to take the wins for the Nationals and this red flags these sailors for the Worlds. However if the breeze softens, the lighter teams will come into play and possibly the internationals have been saving themselves for the Worlds.
Many thanks to Tony Brenz - Verca who has very kindly offered to drive for the nationals and the worlds. He's pretty good with the rib and its big enough to put a lid on it to keep the sun off. Thanks also to the ladies of the canteen and the gents who cook those wonderful breakfast bacon and egg buns and the burgers for dinner.
Everything's been washed of the salt from the last two days. The cameras are clean and charged.
The Worlds are upon us. See you out on the water.
The Second Day of the 505 Nationals at Fremantle Sailing Club
No need for a circus today, the Doctor came in early and by 1000 hrs we had a tasty south sou wester that had 12 knots on it with the promise to improve. Classic early summer sailing breezes on the water off Fremantle.
PRO Robyn Olsen had the course laid out and there were no stragglers today... none at all. It appears that two laps leeward - windward at approximately 1.2 nautical miles is de rigour for racing at the moment and it times out very nicely at about an hour.
The first race and the rabbit was under starters orders.. no malingering and they promptly got going. By the top mark the Aussies ( Luke and Peter ) had a firm grip on the lead and were powering away from the fleet. They were joined at the finish line by a pair of US boats driven by Mike Holt and Carl Smit with Howard Hamlin and Jeff Nelson in third.
The second race was a little different in that I was given a chance to ride on the "gate boat" and chase the rabbit.
This time the rabbit was a little early and we had two goes at the start. What I didn't allow for was the two minutes of insane high speed pounding that was going to happen, but once my kidneys recover I'll process the images from that moment. There was the obligatory course shift as the wind continued to swing and build. This was a chance for the USA's Mike Martin to shine and he and Adam Lowry took the finish well away from Aussies Malcolm Higgins and Nick Johnston. Germanys Wolfgang Hunger and Holger Jess took a third.
The right hand side of the course seems to be favoured at this time with some climbing ladders up the middle and doing well, but the after the top mark; the bend in the breeze along the beach made it worthwhile having a go. But the gusts were always strongest on the windward side... what to do.. what to do!
Race three and there were a few early retirements by now with either breakages or exhaustion taking their toll. We had 20 + knots over at Rottnest and the wind chop on the water was severe. Add that to a one and a half meter swell and every now and then a boat would disappear in the hollows of the swell. Makes for hard work as you run up wind. But start they did and two laps later USA's Mike Martin lead the depleted field home with GBR's Ian Pinnell and Reeve Dunn second and Aussies Malcolm and Nick taking third.
However consistency played its part here and consistency wins regattas. Peter and Luke had been only one position out of the top three for the last two races and it was sufficient to bring their score after the drop, in at 13 with Mike Martin and Adam Lowry in at 14 despite his last two race wins. Right behind them were Mike Holt and Carl Smit with 19 points. Unsurprisingly these three teams were the only ones to take the wins for the Nationals and this red flags these sailors for the Worlds. However if the breeze softens, the lighter teams will come into play and possibly the internationals have been saving themselves for the Worlds.
Many thanks to Tony Brenz - Verca who has very kindly offered to drive for the nationals and the worlds. He's pretty good with the rib and its big enough to put a lid on it to keep the sun off. Thanks also to the ladies of the canteen and the gents who cook those wonderful breakfast bacon and egg buns and the burgers for dinner.
Everything's been washed of the salt from the last two days. The cameras are clean and charged.
The Worlds are upon us. See you out on the water.
Sunday the 30th of December
The First Day of the 505 Nationals at Fremantle Sailing Club
The circus came to town today.
A riot of boats; the rabbit found a hole and disappeared down it; several boats decided to meet together at various marks and even fell over on the way around the fourth mark.
In short it was a great day on the water. Even the Aussies won something for a change. Well done to Luke and Peter in the second race. They were looking good in practise and were darned dangerous on the water. At present they are leading the Australian contingent, but we still have tomorrow to play out.
The breeze was a good 9 to 13 knots out of the south and bending into the south west, building during the afternoon. PRO Robyn Olsen had the team on the ball and with Trevor Milton driving the gate boat all we needed was WA Pres Andrew and his crew to front at the start line. No! didn't happen and an AP went up. The rabbit re-appeared and the game was on again. ( the whisper is that the last time he did this he managed to ram the gate boat, but as I said, its only a rumour ).
The first race was taken away by some great sailing by USA's Mike Holt and Carl Smit and they were followed up by the German team of Julian Stueckl and Johannes Tellen with another US team of Parker Shinn and Eric Anderson taking up third.
The breeze was building now and the course was reset to reflect this. This time the Aussies had their chance and Pete Nicholas and Luke Payne took no chances, leading from the front with Malcom Higgins and Nick Johnston of Australia hot on their heels. Just to spread the love, Ian Pinnell and Reeve Dunn from Great Britain took a strong third.
Getting close to perfect, the breeze took it up another notch and the less ambitious ones were depowering their boats as 20 knots appeared on the wind finder. Great for sailing and this is where the champions can be found.
Race three had the USA's Mike Martin and Adam Lowry pop their heads up for a grab at the glory, but not to be out done; country man Mike Holt and Carl Smit took second. Where were the Aussies you asked? Right behind the two Mikes with Peter and Luke scorching up the track behind them.
At present, Mike Holt holds the lead with Peter Nicholas in second and Mike Holt takes third.
Mondays weather looks promising with a carbon copy day on the forecast. However its in Hughie's hands (the Australian wind god) and the next three races will be a suitable tester for the Worlds in three days time.
From the water off Fremantle, where the Doctor resides.
The First Day of the 505 Nationals at Fremantle Sailing Club
The circus came to town today.
A riot of boats; the rabbit found a hole and disappeared down it; several boats decided to meet together at various marks and even fell over on the way around the fourth mark.
In short it was a great day on the water. Even the Aussies won something for a change. Well done to Luke and Peter in the second race. They were looking good in practise and were darned dangerous on the water. At present they are leading the Australian contingent, but we still have tomorrow to play out.
The breeze was a good 9 to 13 knots out of the south and bending into the south west, building during the afternoon. PRO Robyn Olsen had the team on the ball and with Trevor Milton driving the gate boat all we needed was WA Pres Andrew and his crew to front at the start line. No! didn't happen and an AP went up. The rabbit re-appeared and the game was on again. ( the whisper is that the last time he did this he managed to ram the gate boat, but as I said, its only a rumour ).
The first race was taken away by some great sailing by USA's Mike Holt and Carl Smit and they were followed up by the German team of Julian Stueckl and Johannes Tellen with another US team of Parker Shinn and Eric Anderson taking up third.
The breeze was building now and the course was reset to reflect this. This time the Aussies had their chance and Pete Nicholas and Luke Payne took no chances, leading from the front with Malcom Higgins and Nick Johnston of Australia hot on their heels. Just to spread the love, Ian Pinnell and Reeve Dunn from Great Britain took a strong third.
Getting close to perfect, the breeze took it up another notch and the less ambitious ones were depowering their boats as 20 knots appeared on the wind finder. Great for sailing and this is where the champions can be found.
Race three had the USA's Mike Martin and Adam Lowry pop their heads up for a grab at the glory, but not to be out done; country man Mike Holt and Carl Smit took second. Where were the Aussies you asked? Right behind the two Mikes with Peter and Luke scorching up the track behind them.
At present, Mike Holt holds the lead with Peter Nicholas in second and Mike Holt takes third.
Mondays weather looks promising with a carbon copy day on the forecast. However its in Hughie's hands (the Australian wind god) and the next three races will be a suitable tester for the Worlds in three days time.
From the water off Fremantle, where the Doctor resides.
The Australian 2018 Open Championships
Prior to the start
Saturday the 29th of December
Rocking up to Freo Sailing club on a Saturday is like going to Mars. I normally sail on Saturday and to see the carpark absolutely full was a surprise. I guess having the Dragons and 505's putting their Worlds on at the same time at the same place was going to use up a bit of parking space.
A sunny day and sailors trying out their yachts in a breeze that was fit to burst out of its socks. It was all of 20 knots and bending around to the ssw as the day progressed. I was looking at the measuring process and understandably the method by which it is done. Even the scales showed a measure of ingenuity. 2 containers, a block and tackle and a scale by which the boat is hung. Great.
Meetings with various people sorted out my boat for the next day and I learnt a little more about the makings of the fleet that's assembled here. For starters 10 world Champions are here and one bloke from America who was so happy with his luck, that after winning the 1999 world champs as a crew member, 10 years later he came back and won it as a skipper. Just to prove that it wasn't a fluke, he did it again in 2016. Then there's the chap Wolfgang; 5 world championships. Ummmn, just goes to prove, when you're on a good thing, stick to it. But what I was glad to see was a solid leavening of younger sailors, both helms and crew with both men and women in the mix. This is not an old mans fleet. No way.
The bar tent was working hard, the sausages in rolls were on offer and people were starting to renew old friendships and possibly start new ones as well. The welcome was done well with a dress code that made me stop for a second, but shorts and a blazer works for the 505's so fine, let it be. Thanks to the PRO Robin Owen who set out the days ahead for us and to Roger Pell, Mark Stowell and Andrew Cawley who variously welcomed us, introduced guests and helped with the agenda for the pre and world championships.
As the sou westerly whipped around our heels in the fading light, I wandered back to my car and thought.. it could be a good week to be on the water.
Prior to the start
Saturday the 29th of December
Rocking up to Freo Sailing club on a Saturday is like going to Mars. I normally sail on Saturday and to see the carpark absolutely full was a surprise. I guess having the Dragons and 505's putting their Worlds on at the same time at the same place was going to use up a bit of parking space.
A sunny day and sailors trying out their yachts in a breeze that was fit to burst out of its socks. It was all of 20 knots and bending around to the ssw as the day progressed. I was looking at the measuring process and understandably the method by which it is done. Even the scales showed a measure of ingenuity. 2 containers, a block and tackle and a scale by which the boat is hung. Great.
Meetings with various people sorted out my boat for the next day and I learnt a little more about the makings of the fleet that's assembled here. For starters 10 world Champions are here and one bloke from America who was so happy with his luck, that after winning the 1999 world champs as a crew member, 10 years later he came back and won it as a skipper. Just to prove that it wasn't a fluke, he did it again in 2016. Then there's the chap Wolfgang; 5 world championships. Ummmn, just goes to prove, when you're on a good thing, stick to it. But what I was glad to see was a solid leavening of younger sailors, both helms and crew with both men and women in the mix. This is not an old mans fleet. No way.
The bar tent was working hard, the sausages in rolls were on offer and people were starting to renew old friendships and possibly start new ones as well. The welcome was done well with a dress code that made me stop for a second, but shorts and a blazer works for the 505's so fine, let it be. Thanks to the PRO Robin Owen who set out the days ahead for us and to Roger Pell, Mark Stowell and Andrew Cawley who variously welcomed us, introduced guests and helped with the agenda for the pre and world championships.
As the sou westerly whipped around our heels in the fading light, I wandered back to my car and thought.. it could be a good week to be on the water.