Tight start for Old Habit & Thermopylae

Summer Race 6

Summer Race 6

Conditions on Twofold Bay were at their best for race 6 of the Summer Series.

A beautiful steady Nor Easter averaging out at around 16 knots took the fleet around the bay and out to north head.

A couple of members of the race committee had arranged for the two permanent club marks to be replaced which included placement of the long lost Calle Calle mark off north head. Doug Comery has been busily reinforcing the buoys with a stainless cage so they can withstand the heavy swells & strains on the buoys. This was all done with the help of local diver Paul Staight. Paul dived and found the old tackle and attached to new buoys back in their same location. The work done by Doug, Roger & Paul in getting these marks back in place is much appreciated by all members particularly the active competitors.  The local fishing fleet are asked to refrain from tying up at these buoys as they are not mooring buoys nor are they safe to use for this purpose.

 The course took the fleet into Snug Cove, out to Boyd’s Tower and then on a magnificent work to north head. After turning the corner the Nor Easter gave the competitors an easy ride home surfing with the swell, back to the Navy Wharf and then on to Quarantine Bay.

Line honours went to Mac Shimeld’s Ruby in the fastest time for an 11 nautical mile race for many years, of 1 hour, 47 minutes, but the handicapper always has the last say as to who wins the race and we will not know the actual results until several more races have been conducted. The club uses the sophisticated handicapping system ‘Top Yacht’, which is used in most major yacht clubs across Australia. ‘Top Yacht’ calculates and averages actual relative performances in order to produce the fairest and most consistent handicaps available to yacht racing. The only problem with it is that it needs actual data before the calculations get made, rather than relying on the older type systems which started with a subjective guestimate of how each boat will or should perform and rippled forward from that point. This means that series results will not be known until several more races have been sailed.

Second over the line was Old Habits, followed by Thermopylae, Twinkle and Semi Sailor. Our fleet is still depleted because of damage incurred couple of weeks ago and it is hoped that we will get back to full strength in time for the remaining five races of the Summer Series.

Skippers are reminded that they will need at least five races completed to be included in the series results. This does not mean they don’t get an individual race results, but a series score requires a minimum of five completed races. Next week’s race counts as both a Summer and Championship Series event.  

Twinkle Travelling Well in Heavy Swell off Twofold Bay

Summer Race 5, Championship 6

Twinkle – a future star maybe?

The day threatened rain, and the low cloud hovering over Twofold Bay formed a lid holding the humidity to oppressive levels despite there being a good 15kt Nor’easter breeze.  Apart from Ruby, most of the regular big-boat “stars” were missing, but John Dickson had brought his new Sun Odyssey 36 footer “Twinkle” out to shine.

Thermopylae, Papillion, and Margaret D made up the residue of the five boat fleet that set off on an eleven mile course around the bay.  Beethoven called in just before the start to advise they had torn a mainsail and would be unable to sail. 

Marg D had a great start and bravely fought off Ruby for a minute or two until the Adams got into full stride albeit under a very limited crew, Jeanette nursing a broken foot and Anne again AWL.  Despite this, Mac had Ruby more than five minutes ahead of the fleet at Snug Cove after only 15 mins of racing.

The remaining fleet of four were tightly bunched and continually swapped positions, with the exception of Twinkle who held doggedly onto second place throughout – seemingly waiting her chance to shine if Ruby got something wrong. 

The wind proved very fickle, varying in strength as well as throwing massive and frustrating changes of direction at skippers (up to 40degrees at times).  On the brighter side, the rain stayed at bay, it was a warm and the humid breeze made for very pleasant sailing.  

The usual colour spectacle was dull as those skippers renown for flying the pretty spinnakers were not on the water.  Ruby offered a small highlight for the day as it rounded the Quarantine Bay mark for the second outing to Snug Cove.  Too many tasks, not enough crew saw Mac disappear under a wall of “green” water at his helmsman position as Ruby almost put her mast into the water.  Asked why he hadn’t thrown-off the mainsheet – he explained with a smile, that he couldn’t see it underwater without his goggles. He felt that the boat needed the deck-wash anyway as the sea-birds seem to have made a terrible mess in recent days – a legacy of the abundant food scraps at the fish cleaning tables.

Ruby finally crossed the line without further incident some thirty minutes ahead of Twinkle with the others in close proximity; all enjoying what was a relaxed sail by contrast with the previous week that saw some real carnage among the fleet, skippers and crews.

Handicap results of Championship Race 6 were Margaret D, first, Papillon second and third Ruby.

The club hopes to have the replacement Calle Calle mark installed next week so the fleet might once again enjoy the sail out of the bay and over to north head. 

Anyone wishing to enquire about an opportunity to crew on one of the many TBYC yachts can contact Roger Mathews who will be happy to pass on potential options.

Summer Heat 5

Twofold Bay Yacht Club

Club Racing Sunday 28^th Feb 2010  - Summer points score , heat  5

“Tough day on Twofold Bay”

Heat 5 of the summer points score series was sailed on Sunday with 8 yachts competing including the brand new Jeanneau Oddysea 36 “Twinkle” sailed by John Dickson and his wife Ann and the rest who were all keen to sail after a 3 week layoff due to an abandoned race 3 weeks ago and the Annual Regatta held last weekend.

The start was won by the Castle 650,“Tippytoes”,skippered by Neville Cowgill, a renowned light weather specialist who led the fleet in the very light 3-4 knot ENE'ly on a twice around the bay course with all competitors anxiously awaiting the arrival of the forecast southerly change. They did not have to wait long as about half way up the first leg, the change moved in from the East and then south easterly, the bigger boats “Tiga” and “Old “Habits” powered away with “Tiga” gaining a substantial lead by the windward mark which she maintained for the remainder of the race.

The other 5 yachts headed by “Margaret D” were slower off the mark but after the change moved in, some close racing ensued between “Semi Sailor”, “Twinkle” and “Margaret D”. 

“Thermopylae” and “By Beethoven” were slower getting under way and managed to sail into a no-wind hole.

The second and final circle around the Bay saw an ever increasing breeze gusting 20 to 25 knots with occasional gusts exceeding 25 knots swinging to the south and then SSW. This created tough sailing conditions and tested the stamina and resolve of crews to continue or retire, three yachts choosing the latter, namely “Semi sailor,” “Twinkle” and “By Beethoven”. The remaining 5 competitors battled the increasing wind and waves around the course, gaining valuable heavy weather sailing experience; line honours going to “Tiga, followed by “Old Habits”, “Tippytoes” ,”Margaret D,” and “Thermopylae” who completed the course with jib only, the mainsail having sustained damage in the heavy wind. Handicap results will be available for the summer series after completion of racing next Sunday.                 

The return of yachts to their respective moorings at Snug Cove and Quarantine Bay proved to be a mixture of misguided fortunes , Murphy ,s Law, and injury for several crews. Everyone had difficulty in retrieving   moorings and getting boats onto trailers. but with a strong exhibition of helping each other in the time of need, the fleet was safely moored and secured albeit more than 2 hours after the completion of the days racing.

Those who took on the Sunami, the southerly Gale and the dreaded south-westerly wind chop of Twofold Bay can reflect and say it was a tough day on the Bay and look forward to smooth seas and fair winds next Sunday.