A heavily overcast day with a strong South Easterly breeze was the outlook this morning, resulting in less boats going out than originally expected. Alan, Philip, Lars and Luca opted to stay at home and enjoy the day in other ways.
Ivan and Denis, Jack and Ollie, David W and Tony, Peter and Juliette, Helene and Adam, Michael and Craig decided to brave the weather, and enjoy the discomfort. Pam and Bruce were in the Start Boat, and set a long course for the racing boats. Barry, Caroline, Colleen and Eli went in Charlie’s Chariot as the cheer squad, and to take photos, as well as drive the boat, keep their eyes out for safety purposes, and set and change the course buoys.Photo of Tony and Dave
The first race started with all boats clearing the start line within 10 seconds. First across the line were Peter and Juliette (Black Swan). A variety of approaches was made to the first buoy, with Helene and Adam going in the opposite direction to everyone else. Denis and Ivan (Woody) were clearly in the lead by the time they rounded the first buoy, with Jack and Ollie (Eli D) not too far away. David and Tony (Vin) were also in the first rounding group and it was a race for the second buoy, when Vin managed to overtake Eli D. Helene and Adam (Dolly Wallis) were swiftly making ground, while Black Swan was doing its best to pass them. The race finished in very good time, while the weather closed in, the wind speed picked up. At this stage, Jack and Ollie, as well as Michael and Craig elected to go home, as the skippers did not feel that racing was safe with their participant crews.
(Adam’s view
They say we should all learn something new every day. Today, that funny little streamer on the mainsail had both a name and a use. Thanks to Helene, I spent as much time looking over the bow as I did looking up at the sail. Until this point, wind on Manly Cove had been something of a mystery; how to judge it and navigate for it. The Australia Day 2015 regatta provided plenty of opportunity to test the new knowledge.
Casting off on an overcast and blustery day, matching wind direction with cresting waves meant Dolly moved with far greater momentum and consistency than this helmsman had managed before. Suddenly there was salt spray and we were gaining on several competitors. Of course, what was also chasing all of us was a heavy rain shower. At about the same time we noticed the headland veiled in fog and far more foam on the waves, heavy rain came down.
It was hardly worth abandoning the second race, as whatever we did, we were in for a good soaking, so tacked out to the buoy bobbing out towards the headland. Amid salt spray, rain and behind a pair of glasses that were as easy to see through as a sheet of frosted glass, I was welcomed to what real sailors call sailing. And then, the rain left as soon as it came, taking much of the wind with it, making for a surprising slow and genteel return to the pontoon. Of course, this provided time for my appetite to come to life, so then Eli fortuitously mentioned lunch in the clubhouse! What she didn’t mention was the presentations, where Dolly came in third. How much of this result is down to Helene trimming sails while also conducting on-water training in the rain, is probably answered by the fact that I achieved a first ever medallion today.
Adam)
That left Woody, Dolly Wallis, Vin and Black Swan to contest the lengthened race in strong winds and a rapidly rising swell. Racing was very exciting, with the field completely spread out over the course area, only coming together to round the buoys. In the end, after a very hard fought race, Woody came in first, Vin second, Dolly Wallis, 3rd and Black Swan 4th in the second race.
