The Race 4 comments are in the attached PDF. Also attached are the across the line results along with the Series and Marie Louise III aggregate’s. For those interested the Race 4 results based on corrected and elapsed times are also attached.
Included in the attached PDF is a must read note for all skippers and crews of the Classics.It’s about the incident with the Bunker Barge Zemira and the Classic fleet at Mark 72. The after math of this incident is why the Race 4 notes mail out was delayed.
With a Saturday based predictions for Port Phillip wind conditions expected to exceed the 25 knot limit, the CYAA Handicapper and RYCV Race Director decided to not make a race on or off decision till Sunday 7:30am. Sunday morning the on line weather data indicated a drop in wind strength for the morning. So out went the SMS to skippers and crews. The race is on.
Pre start action
With flat water and a consistent 15 knot breeze gusting to 20 or so knots, from north west to west a fleet of 16 classics showed up to race. Unfortunately Jim Hutchinson had to retire Dingo pre race when a new main halyard sheave broke. Some anxious moments when a fleet of 15 or so Lasers doing some ISAF World Series race training appeared in the waters where the Classic’s were in pre race mode.
The start
At the start Kingurra did her usual on the button start at the favoured end and was well high of the fleet. Mercedes III took every lift on the beat to round the first mark ahead of Kingurra. Some saw the tide outflow after close calls with mark 21 and overshot the mark 81 to compensate for the rip. Some approaching the mark were caught on port by the outflow with nowhere to go. There were a number of Webb Dock construction caissons sticking out like deadheads adjacent to the mark. It was all go. Bungoona kept her good start and was in the fleet mix at the first mark. She and Cyan decided for themselves a port and starboard difference of opinion while approaching the top mark.
Top mark action
Unfortunately as Charlie Salter and Dave Allen shot Sirocco for mark 81 on a lift but a short knock hit them. Where an inch is good as a mile, Sirocco’s hull was clear of the mark but a wind gust pushed her over to allow her mast backstay to snag. A serious sad sight was the result. The outcome was a phone call from Jim Hutchinson of Dingo offering Charlie his spare mast from the sadly no longer racing Acklorean. Charlie has already put the sort out a solution task to Ferdy Darly.
Thanks from the Classic Fleet skippers and crews go to Boambillee who dropped sail immediately and stood by Sirocco. An after race discussion between the fleet skippers resulted in a submission of a request for redress on behalf of Boambillee being accepted by the RYCV Race Director. As only one race of the series has been run, we have to wait to the end of the series to award Boambillee her series average for her Race 3 points.
The race continues.
Zephyr continued to keep the benefits of her good start by running a shy kite holding on to 3rd in the fleet till they found a wind knock on the second beat. Ettrick made up ground on Avian with her shy kite flying. With Pip Todd back with us on a short visit from NZ, provided the executive decision making assistance needed by Roger Dundas and Mal Botterill. Martini was sailing well to her handicap and stayed with the fleet the throughout the race.
The results
As shown with the results, The Classics, Cyan and Marie Louise III, finished first and second respectively in corrected time. There was lead changing several times battle during the race between this pair. Cyan would take a slight overlap of the mark for more power while Marie Louise III would tack and play the wind shifts. Analysis of Cyan’s bow wave by size and noise was the go on Marie Louise III. With faultless crew work, according to her crew, Cyan took out the trophy of the race. A slab of bottled water with the compliments of Andy Doolan and Tina of Melbourne.
The Cyan and Marie Louise III results show a difference of 11 seconds across the line with a corrected time difference of 8 seconds between this pair of classic’s.
There’s a similar 19 second elapsed and 40 second corrected time story between Avian and Martini and a 25 second corrected time story between Tandanya and Snow Goose.
Claire was sailed hard by Richard Macrae but with a rig, set through previous experience for the expected sea conditions, had trouble developing sail power. Sad sight to see Claire leave the fleet.
Results analysis
All up another day of Classic racing at its best. Looking over the results if the two first and last’s two are discarded, tight corrected time results are still happening. Several classic skippers spoke a bit too freely to the handicapper after the race and admitted small but costly errors during the race.
Further analysis of the Race 3 results showed if the Race 2 handicaps were used, the only changes were an inversion to the corrected time placing 1 and 2 and between 8 and 9. Again by the smallest of margins. The order of Race 3 corrected time placing of the remaining fleet didn’t change with the application of the Race 2 handicaps. As well, the corrected times of each Classic Yacht had almost no variation between the Race 3/Race 2 handicaps. What the handicapper does with this knowledge will show in the next race.
Cowes 2016
The arrangements for our CYAA members attending the Cowes 2016 Classic Regatta have passed the good idea stage. Members who want to be part of this big and important promotion of the CYAA at Cowes in 2016 contact the Handicapper.
“I’m a member of the Classics”.
Our Secretary Anne Batson is ready to receive membership renewals for the year July 2015/2016. A Renewal form is attached. Our Classic Yacht racing action is a major reason for the Classic associations high credibility with all the yacht clubs on Port Phillip. A strong and consistent membership is necessary to back up this credibility. Renew.
To those who aren’t yet Classic members. Join up. There’s nothing that will beat the phrase “I’m a member of the Classic’s”. Our Web site has the new membership form.
CYAA Magazine.
Bumper issue with lots of pics at the print ready stage. No sneak previews unless you’re a contributor. If your Classic yacht has a story to tell or you know of a Classic story that needs telling let the editor, Roger Dundas, know. Roger will give you details in what’s needed to bring the story to print in the CYAA magazine. Our magazine is considered a document of record and archived by State Libraries.
For those who wish a second read of recent issues take a look.
Big break between classic races. School holidays and the snow are also part of our classic life.
June 21, a pursuit from RYCV is the go. Rest easy, your handicapper won’t forget you over the break. New pencils are sharpened and at the ready. The Red will be heavily used.
Pics
Sorry no pics. Classic racing is full on. No time for looking around. A pic of the process used to free the main halyard on Ettrick would have safety people screaming. So not shown. Although not an SOS situation, by any means available was the rule in this situation.
The Handicaps and Sailing Instructions are attached. The handicaps reflect the results of Race 2. These changes, when applied to the race 2 results, resulted in two sets of placing inversions and a tightening up of the fleets Race 2 corrected times.
The race will conducted by the Hobsons Bay Yacht Club.
Current forecast for Port Phillip conditions on Sunday indicate it won’t be a slow race. Let’s hope the predicted northerly isn’t too hard on our members sailing up from Sandringham and Brighton for the race.
Attached are the results plus the Series aggregate and Marie Louise III Consistency aggregate.
Apologies for the results generation delay. Sometimes the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
Classic weather conditions for Race 2
To make up for the Race 1 no wind disappointment, weather conditions for Race 2 could not have been better. A decent wind strength with flat water and a full on autumn sun beaming, the scene was set.
A lull in the breeze right at start didn’t stop a couple of remarkable on the button starts. Anne Batson helmed Zephyr into a breeze of its own and cleared out well ahead of the fleet. At the favoured end of the line, along the St Kilda breakwater, where there should have been no breeze, Kingurra was at full steam and made the RMYS D Mark ahead of Sayonara and Frances. Zephyr was a sight to watch. She reminded us of those not forgotten Tumlaren glory days of the 30’ and 40’s, as she duelled with these well above her weight fleet leaders at the 1st mark rounding. After considerable head scratching on Mercedes III who’s team figured their late approach to the start line was on time the lull on the breeze left them lot’s of hard work in front of them. Some gentlemanly port/starboard action by Bungoona was observed and noted by the handicapper. No doubt Cameron Dorrough on the helm of Bungoona knew that’s no way to treat a lady.
Classics on the run
Sayonara with her tops’l flying worked the ever direction changing high altitude breeze to perfection and passed Kingurra with her kite up on the run to the reaching mark. Zephyr consolidated her great start and with a full spinnaker, maintained her place with the Fleet leaders. Phil Atkins had all sails flying on the Ohlsen 35, Trim, and closed in on these fleet leaders. Boambillee was the hardest worker of the Classic fleet on this run and closed in on Kingurra.
Covering shying wind battles amongst the following fleet kept the poled out Classics in animated conversation distance with those Classics flying or attempting to fly spinnakers. Being the first time for several months spinnakers were used, the task of sorting out spinnaker sheets and pole control lines was a bridge to far for some.
Thanks to Glen Crawford we can take a look as the Classic fleet leaders approach the reaching mark as seen from Sayonara. Checkout the faint green and white kite of Zephyr, right in there for sure. Between Frances and Boambillee. To reduce the mail size all images are low resolution.
After the gybe
Rudyard Kipling’s IF was in full play on Martini to slightly delay her after the mark gybe. Bad news is that 50 elapsed seconds was the difference between a 3rd and 1st in corrected time. The good news is that appearances count and with Martini’s crew all kitted out with splendid looking Fred Perry’s any errors were easily forgiven.
Covering wind battles were again all the go. The Tumlarens, Avian helmed by Mal Botterill and that great man in the form of Roger Dundas on the fore deck duelled with the recent Summer Series co- winner Ettrick helmed by Gordon Tait and the recently rebuilt and fast looking Sirocco with the well known Tum skipper Craig Begby helming her and Charlie Salter doing the work.
Peter Lloyd, in a most polite fashion, moved Marie Louise III to windward to allow zimmer (room) for Craig Brown to helm Cyan into water between himself and Martini helmed by Michael Williams and crewed, based on all the noise, under the perceived direction of Ross Clark. But sad to relate, Cyan, with all her under kite weight, was promptly put to bed. But stout hearts always prevail and Craig Brown with a slick crew and fancy kite work held off the fast approaching Mercedes III under kite and broke through the Marie Louise III cover only to concede the overlap to Marie Louise III at the turning mark with a well-judged 10 inch clearance on the rounding.
While all this was happening Jim Hutchinson had his Tumlaren, Dingo sorting out her return to racing sea legs and making up lost ground. In this mix was the continual boat for boat battle between Bob Munro’s Tandanya helmed by John Donati of Four Winds fame with assistance by Stephen Lake and the hard raced Claire.
The pic below shows how it was on Sayonara on the run as she extended her lead over the fleet.
Classic beats to the top mark.
On the return beat to the start mark the Classic Fleet moved into another gear where the eventual over the line placing of the Classic fleet were decided. Boambillee and Frances threw early while Trim and Kingurra held on till further in shore. All held their previous mark rounding placings at the top mark rounding. Marie Louise III out footed Avian due to fore deck problems and eventually the hard sailed Zephyr. Sirrocco had to wait for the next beat to be accorded this honour by Marie Louise III. Shifting wind to the North had those who threw early on the second beat at a slight disadvantage.
Classic Boat for boat battles of the day.
As the race progressed the line honours battle also progressed to the point where Boambillee, a 36 footer, constantly chased Kingurra around the course. Finally with constant kite trimming and to weather of Kingurra, a 43 footer, on the run back to the B mark Boambillee came out ahead of Kingurra. For a short time after the second rounding she held Kingurra but being in Kingurra’s lee she had to throw on to the losing tack and that was it. But not for an ever closing Frances. By a margin of 4 seconds Boambillee held off Frances and was awarded the recognition of the sail of the day.
Here’s the boat for boat battle story as seen from George Fisscher who helmed Boambillee around the course.
Kingurra. LineHonours CYAA 2015 Winter Series Race 2
For the rest of us read George’s second last para at least a couple of times to soak in what it takes to push a Classic hard.
“Once in a while the Boambillee and her crew even astonish me.
We are still waiting to be slipped, so the bottom had slime and some weed, which should have made us very slow.
We hadn’t intended to race, and only made the call on Saturday – so we were four up, which made the kite work challenging – but the crew work was impeccable.
All race the little 36′ Boambillee harried the 43′ Kingurra around the course.
We were briefly ahead after the second rounding of “B”, but in a straight drag race, power and waterline length got us, and we were lee bowed after a few minutes. Hence the tack away for clear air. We also noticed Frances lifting along the shore on Port tack, so we thought the shore might be a better option. In the end we lost out to both Kingurra and Francis on the last beat, but perhaps it was always going to be difficult to keep the bigger boats at bay.
A hard race for Boambillee? Not really – she is sublimely balanced to windward, and quite manageable on reaches and runs as long as there isn’t too much pressure.
Easy for the helms-person – but the crew worked hard – constant spinnaker brace and sheet trimming, back-stay adjustment, halyard adjustment as well as mainsheet and genoa trimming. We try and get the maximum out of the boat, and after twenty-five years we’re probably not too bad!
All in all a great day out on the water.”
Boambillee image by Dave Wallace
Throughout the fleet boat for boat over the line the battles raged. 6 seconds separated Marie Louise III and Sirocco. 8 seconds separated Bob Munro’s Tandanya and George Low’s Tumlaren Snow Goose. 40 seconds separated Ettrick and Zephyr, 43 seconds separated Sirocco and Mercedes III and 57 seconds separated Avian and Dingo.
While not involved in a close across the line battle, the blink of the day award has to go to Martini. From where she was done and dusted after the B Mark rounding the eyes were rubbed to be sure but it was Martini not far behind the crossing time of Mercedes III. After race discussions revealed a story of hard work and picking the wind shifts. There you go, so never say die till a dead horse kicks you.
All up a day of tight line honours boat for boat racing throughout the fleet.
Corrected time placings
Congratulations go to Charlie Salter and Craig Begby for bringing Sirocco home to take out first on corrected time. No easy feat particularly a partaking of the Port Phillip waters took place during the race. So to compensate for the ingress of that elixir of life, aka Port Phillip waters to Classic Yachting and with the compliments of Andy Doolans Tina of Melbourne, Charlie Salter takes back to Red Hill, a slab of Neverfail bottled water. Thank you Tina of Melbourne.
With a race that lasted from 90 minutes to 2 hours and with the first seven corrected time placing separated by 90 seconds, 30 seconds separating the next 4 and 60 seconds for the following 3, any mistakes throughout the race would show in the results.
Don’t worry your handicapper will be busy with the newly sharpened 2015 Winter Series pencil.
Sirocco 1st on Corrected time CYAA 2015 Winter Series Race 2
Classic scenes of the race
Two scene’s were the icing on the cake for this race.
The first was how Sayonara must have looked in her glory days of the 1890’s. With her ever increasing lead on the fleet, she was a scene that all those who appreciate Classic yachting would dearly want to see. The entire Classic fleet had a rare Classic yacht racing scene in front of them.
The other scene was watching the Gaff rigged Claire with Richard Macrae racing her at full on maximum.
Both scenes are the story of what Classic Yacht racing is all about. It’s keeping our Classics in the only manner they know. In full on racing trim.
Claire Image by Dave Wallace
A Classic thanks to RMYS
Thanks to RMYS for their support of Classic Yacht racing and for the way their Race Director, Alicia Rae, stepped up to conduct the race for us at short notice. Thanks also to the RMYS volunteers who conducted the race for us and thanks to the crew in the RMYS rescue boat who shadowed the fleet and Bungoona around the course. Why Bungoona? No comment.
2015 Cup Regatta.
Some more Cup Regatta News. The Classics are working on a handicapping system based on time on distance with RYCV Race management. The intent of this move is to make more time for after race socialising to all starters and to allow timely results publication. Of course this means a faster production of the next race handicaps.
With the support of our Trans Tasman Classic Yacht Association people, our Exec are considering a points score formula based on the Summer and Winter series Aggregate and Consistency points score and Cup Regatta points score. This formula will be used to declare what Classic Yacht is the best performing Classic yacht of the year and will be listed on the honour board as the winner of the CYANZ Cup Regatta Trophy. The form and deed of gift of this substantial trophy is being finalised.
The Trans Tasman Challenge at 2016 Panerai Cowes Classic Regatta
Through the work of our President Martin Ryan and through the agency of our regular visitor from the British Classic Yacht Club, Tim Blackman, arrangements are well under way to charter 3 UK based Classic yachts to take part in the 2016 Panerai Cowes Classic Regatta. The team taking part in this event will be a combination of CYAA and CYANZ members. Due to take up of this event on both sides of the Tasman, a 4th Classic yacht charter is being considered.
To those CYAA members that want to be on board in such a grand Trans Tasman challenge at Cowes, contact the handicapper in the first instance.
To those in the know this is the biggest party week in the Classic Yachting world and where you find out how good you are against the J Class Classics.
ISAF World Series
Meanwhile back at home we need to keep in mind RMYS will be hosting the next ISAF World’s off the beach series. The last world series before the Rio Olympics. The eye’s of the dinghy sailing world will be focused on RMYS this November.
This event will be the Australian Olympic Sailing Team selection trial crunch time. Several of our members have family members in deep pressure at this event.
Cantini Gardens and Pier Road will be ISAF central.
Next race May 31
We move on. Race 3 will be conducted for the Classics on May 31 by the Hobsons Bay Yacht Club. The SI’s and handicaps will be issued the Thursday prior to race day.
Regards to all
Peter Costolloe
CYAA (Vic) Handicapper
A short bio on Phil Atkins Ohlsen 35 Trim
Designed by Einar Ohlson and built by his family boatyard in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 1961, the yacht — named Trim — was launched in Seattle, Washington, the following year after it had been shipped to Don Thompson, the then commodore of the Seattle Yacht Club.
Built on the then-popular carvel planked method, with African mahogany planks copper riveted to white oak frames, Trim features an entirely smooth hull as the builders glued the plank edges together rather than overlapping them.
Commodore Thompson owned the yacht for a decade and sailed and cruised extensively in the Pacific North West before shipping the vessel to Hawaii. He sold it to a cruising couple who sailed back to the west coast and spent time cruising up to Alaska.
Now via after a stay in Adelaide, she’s racing with us on Port Phillip out of the Sandringham Yacht Club.
Attached are the results of today’s race. I figured Boambille had the race but check out the corrected times. I’m told the winner had some external duck feet based propulsion.
Good line honours battle. Boambillee sure gave Kingurra a run. Sayonara gave the fleet a great exhibition of Classic racing by leading the fleet to 3rd mark and Zephyr gave the fleet a lesson on race starts.
All up a far better day that expected with lot’s of close boat for boat racing and wind shadowing throughout the race. If only will be the words on the second place getter.
Apologies for the late results. Was first up for a long time at RMYS.
RMYS results had two starters listed as DNC’s but elapsed times were taken so all good.
Series points score, photo’s and comments will be sent out in a later mail.
Attached is the Race 2 entry list with the allocated handicaps and Sailing Instructions. A list and descriptions of the RMYS Courses allocated for Classic racing is attached to the Race 2 SI’s
Race 2 Venue
The race will be conducted at the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron. The Classics say thanks to the RMYS Sailing Director Allicia Rae with assistance from Alistair Hart for making this change of race venue at short notice happen.
Race 2 Allocated handicaps.
As the first race of the 2015 Winter series was abandoned for lack of wind reasons the handicaps assigned for race 1 will now apply to race 2.
Race 1 photo’s
For those who want to be reminded why Race 1 was abandoned take a look at the attached link. These photos’s were taken from the HBYC start boat.
In line with the words “from small things big things grow” the Classics will present an award to the Classic yacht that come’s home first on corrected time in our 2015 Winter Series racing. To start this process and with thanks and compliments to Tina of Melbourne, the corrected time winner for each race of the 2015 winter Series will receive a pack of Neverfail bottled water.
Classic members who wish enhance this Classic Yacht Racing recognition process and support Classic Yacht Racing in a tangible manner, contact the handicapper.
Forecast weather conditions for Sunday.
Current BoM forecast says a quiet day for Sunday. The SI’s Time Limit for the race is the first Classic yacht home within 2 hours and the last home within 3 hours from the race start time.
Additional RMYS events on Sunday
RMYS will be conducting a two handed race scheduled to start at 11:00am. With quiet conditions forecast and the course selection unknown, the possibility is high for combined fleet mark rounding’s.
Stop Press
Big news. Only now received a mail from Jim Hutchinson saying the Tumlaren, Dingo, with the help of Celia Dymond and Janet Dean, has beaten the recent wet weather and completed her mast repair work in time to be with us on Sunday. Lots of mast work sorted out.
The Classics are watching the progress of Andy Indrans efforts to have Corio Vertue with us in Sunday. She’s back in the water but still a bit fragile. A note in the most recent edition of Classic Boat tells us wooden versions of this Laurent Giles Classic are still being built.
Pastime II is out of the water at HBYC being cleaned up and Blackadder is attending to mast maintenance at RYCV.
Good news from Doug Jenkin. We’ll see a new look Blue Jacket. Apparently the new look refers to her topsides colour and water line location.
Across the fleet lot’s of boat for boat battles will be on. The Classic RBYC Derby with Kingurra and Frances will be closely watched and in the mix your handicapper has been busy. No mistakes is the advice.
So full on Classic Racing is with us again. Sunday 10:30 am.
To skippers and crews of the 2015 Winter Series entries.
May 17 Race 2 Venue has been changed to the RMYS.
RYCV race director recently informed the Classics he is required to start a Queenscliff to Williamstown race on Sunday May 17.
RMYS have agreed to run the May 17 race in lieu of RYCV.
The SI’s and entries will be published next Thursday with Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron listed as the conducting club. RMYS Courses will be used.
Our race will be scheduled to start at 10:30 followed by a RMYS 2 handed race starting at 11:00am.
News of from the Maritime Heritage of Vic people.
Duke and Orr Dry Dock Pumphouse.
The Classic’s received a mail from the Maritime Heritage of Victoria people saying they have arranged for a tour of and a talk about the Duke and Orr Dry Dock Pumphouse restoration. The event has been set up for 2:00pm on May 9 down by the Polly Woodside. Those interested can book at http://www.trybooking.com/Booking/BookingEventSummary.aspx?eid=123542
Mike Smith and his Amphibian “Southern Sun”
The effort by Mike Smith of RYCV to retrace the Qantas Empire Airlines flying boat route of 1938 is still happening. Tonight he’s at his last Indian stop.
In 1924 and 1938 some of our Classic Fleet, now in Melbourne, were well known and highly regarded public entities that won yacht races.
Sayonara, Acrospire III in Melbourne and Sydney, Windward II in Hobart and Sydney, Alwyn in Hobart the beginnings of the Port Phillip Tumlaren fleet with Avian and Galatea in 1938.
