Dear Skippers and Crews of the 2012/2013 Summer Series
Attached are the Race 5 Results, 2012/2013 Series Aggregate and Marie Louise III Consistency Trophy Points Score.
Considering there was a 9 week break between races, a fleet of 17 starters for our first race of the year presented another great sight of Classic Yacht racing as they went for the start line at 10:30 am. That said, with only six of us recording a finish, it was a rough day of out there. Particularly for those who battled hard all day to missed recording a finish by a small amount, Martini a fraction over a minute and Zephyr by two minutes. Sad to see so many starters not being able to finish due to wind holes constantly being found and having to work against an outgoing tide.
Even so, a great light weather performance by George Fischer and Michael Rhodes bought Boambillee home to take out the corrected time honours with a 2nd over the line as well. Line honours went to Kingurra, with a 2nd on corrected time. It was a welcome return to our Classic fleet by Boambillee after a long maintenance break. The same welcome applies to Kingurra with her first Summer Series appearance.
Acrospire III with Col Anderson had his smartly turned out crew working hard to break her out of that St Kilda wind hole. As a Classic yacht that in light conditions has to continually fall off the wind to keep her going and as the yacht that covers the most ground when beating, She did well to come home not far behind the delicately sailed Mercedes III .
Jim Hutchinson’s strategy with Dingo staying as far south as possible on the course, picked the southerly change and came home with kite flying to pip Marie Louise III by 30 seconds after an all race battle.
Scimitar was another welcome sight to be seen in out Race 5 fleet. Damian and Andrew Purcell fought all the way to stay in the race but that black hole of St Kilda did them in. As compensation, the RAAF Roulette’s seeing their predicament, put on a special front row aerobatic performance for them. Cyan had a brilliant start but sadly the light weather also did her in.
The boys on Loama, being two up, without that great man Joe Tuck, worked and fought hard with Michael Mactavish on Serifa till the bitter end.
Although the results show a wide variation with corrected times, some ACH changes will be made.
A common thread through all the post race discussions at Royals was, how rusty we all were from the long break. Not a good way to be, a sharp crew is needed for racing. This point will be considered when dates for the 2013/2014 Summer Series dates are being determined.
Our next race, Race 6 by RYCV, is not far away. Next Sunday. The start list with the handicaps will be sent out by next Thursday.
Race 6 Feb 24 will see the return of Renene with Kent Bacon, and Avian with Roger Dundas and Pip Todd to our fleet. Roger is presently assisting Jim Woods with the return of Windward II from the Hobart Wooden Boat Festival.
There will be another welcome addition to our Fleet for this race. From a long sojurn at the RYCNZ in Auckland, participating in the CYANZ Regatta and voyaging around the Pacific islands and the east coast of Aust, Mark Chew’s Fair Winds II has returned to Melbourne. A note has been received from Mark to pencil Fair Winds II in for the remaining 2013 Summer Races.
Till next Thursday
Regards to all
Peter Costolloe
CYAA Handicapper
Below
What the starter saw. Photos by Bob Tanner
I have hi-res copies of these images
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