Monthly Archives: April 2013

2013 Winter Series entries call and Frances return status

Photo: Dave Allen

Photo: Dave Allen

Dear Skippers and Crews of our Classic Fleet

We have two weeks to go before our 2013 Winter Series starts. First race on May 5 means entries need to be in by May 1. Hobsons Bay YC will conduct our first race.

Some good entrant news already. The ever graceful Akala from the RMYS with her skipper David McNeice, is making a welcome return to our fleet. Excellent news is also heard from Andy Doolan, Tina of Melbourne is also going to be racing with us in this Winter Series. One small note about Tina that I was unable to fit into our recent issue of the CYAA Magazine. In the NZ Classic Yacht Association segment the yacht Uira was featured. The images in the article show her racing, in company with Acrospire III, on Port Phillip with the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron sail number S3. That historic sail number is still active. RMYS have awarded Tina the right to carry S3. This Winter Series will see S3 up and racing again against her ever consistent adversary, Acrospire III with Col Anderson and his hard working team. Stirring stuff.

Seeing the fleet missed out on the Summer series pursuit race, I’ll work on having our fourth race of this series conducted as a pursuit race from the Royals marina. The big challenge with pursuit races is for that handicapper, who you all know and love, to come up with start times that come in with a massed finish. It’s a challenge he likes to take on so much that  an option for future series will be a couple of pursuit races per series will be considered. Not forgetting some alternative courses as well.

Any people interested in a warm up event to our Winter Series can take on the fleet in the Hobson Bay YC passage race to St. Leonards April 27, 21 nm’s, rumb line. Entry is through the HBYC Web site. HBYC will do a Classic division if there’s sufficient starters. My Alwyn will be an entrant.

Returning to the subject of welcome returns to our Classic Fleet, there’s developments on the saga of bringing Frances into our racing fleet. Peter Lloyd has been active in attempting to make this return happen. He emailed to me a request to inform our members what’s happening with her. Below is the text of his mail. I”ve also attached a notice that elaborates on the subject plus a precis of her history and current condition. He intends to distribute this notice around the local keel boat clubs.

If this return of Frances comes about, our Classic fleet, along with Sayonara and Acrospire, will have the most prestigious yachts from all era’s of Australia’s 8 metre racing with us. The British 8 metre racing association are watching these developments with Frances. With our world class Tumlare fleet already under notice by our UK Classic Yacht acquaintances, our Classic fleet with it’s year round racing on Port Phillip is well on the way to being a world class Classic fleet. Make no mistake on this point.

So let’s get set for our Winter Series. Don’t forget our Cup Regatta, Nov 1, more news soon on that subject

Regards to all

Peter Costolloe
CYAA Handicapper

Peter Lloyds email

From: peter lloyd [mailto:pwalloyd@netcon.net.au]
Sent: Monday, 15 April 2013 8:37 PM
To: ‘peter@costolloe.com
Subject: FRANCES 8 MTR R8

HI PETER,

Please could you broadcast this and the attached  to all CYAA contacts.

In essence I am trying to find some people to join me in forming a syndicate to rescue FRANCES from her extended  state of dormancy, brought about by the sad passing of Michael  Wood some 5 years ago.

Two aspects now make this a more practical proposition than in the past ,namely:

-the price has been reduced, and

-most importantly there is now in place a very capable crew to both sail and physically maintain her.

This means that syndicate members,

will not have to be physically involved,[unless desirous of doing so]

 can keep their existing boats and crew,

and have the pleasure of watching and sailing with FRANCES  in the classic fleet.

This yacht is of particular historical significance in Victoria and unique in being designed, built and sailed to great success by the one person-Ernest O Digby.

I am happy to be a major contributor-but I need some help to share this exciting and worthwhile project.

My email as above and phone 9431 1611 for all those interested supporters to contact me for further info.

Thanks

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