Classics Summer Series Race 3 Feb 5 Comments (Posted 6.2.12)

Dear Skippers and Crews of our 2012 Summer Series.

Another disappointment when yesterdays race was postponed to Feb 19. The call to postpone was based on expectations of what the wind speed was likely to be close to 10:30 and later. Consistently 30 + knots was recorded during the time our fleet would have been racing.

The lack of series races this season is hitting home. Skippers and crews of Pastime and Shamrock from Hobsons Bay set their yachts up to go racing, come any weather. At Royals the large numbers showed up prepared to sail. Our fleet from Sandringham, Renene with Kent Bacon, and Royal Melbourne with Boambille with George Fisscher and Michael Rhodes and Dingo with Jim were all set to take on the weather till the postponement was received.

Rod Fuller on Shamrock with his crew of Peter, Paul and Tony came to sail and sail they did. Running and reaching at 7+ knots, under a #3 head, 2 reefs in the main and 1 in the mizzen, our H28 Shamrock, with her lee gunn’ll down and lee cockpit coaming constantly awash, took on what the Bay could throw at her skipper and crew on the day. Shamrock and Rod won. A sail from Williamstown to St Kilda, across to Altona then a beat back to Williamstown under the shore lee till Breakwater then “whamo” as Rod said. Rod reports, even with his 20hp Volvo MD2 he was unable to make headway under motor into the weather to return to his marina pen.

We have 3 races left for the series, Feb 19, March 4 and April 1 and a couple of festivals to sail to, Geelong Wooden Boat and Queenscliff Maritime. Our run of outs with the weather has to end. Any suggestions about the handicapper being a weather Jonah will have to wait.

Next week a group of Classic Association members are off to Auckland to take part in the NZ Classic Yacht Regatta Feb 10-12. To be there in spirit jump on our web site and read up the stories, in past issues of our magazine, told by our members who sailed in previous NZ Classic Regattas.

Preparations by our members intending to take part in the Geelong Wooden Boat Festival are starting to be heard. Remember a table for 10 members at the Festival Sunday dinner has been taken by the Association.

While we dream of our boats and those “no care’ times when we have our lee gunn’l down and that stern quarter wave slipping away on a balanced helm we know life is not always that easy.

During the last week, notice was received from Richard Gates of Wanita informing us Wanita would not be sailing this Sunday. Wanita’s crew would be attending the funeral of Daniel Eimutis, the 19 year old son of Val who sails on Wanita. Daniel died tragically 2 weeks ago in Laos while on holidays with university mates. Daniel’s passing is a devastating loss.

The Classic Association extend their sincere condolences to Val and his family”

Peter Costolloe

Classic Association Handicapper

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