Apollo Bay Sailing Club

Tell Tales

Sat. 30th March 2019

The previous week was one of those sails that had everyone buzzing and this week was shaping up to be another. There was a certain feel in the air; a noticeable chilliness, grey scudding clouds overhead, a solid swell and a fresh westerly. Yes, the weather was once again familiarly autumnal, as can be expected this late in the season.

Alas, that also means we are nearing the end of the program with only one more race to go. But enough of that and off we head on this week’s adventure.

Lisa, Genevieve (Ziff) and Margaret, with their cameraman Russell on board, set off to finish setting a nice little inshore port course with about an 18knt gusting westerly. They had earlier placed the top mark not far outside the harbour. In fact it was quite visible to all (with good enough eye sight) during the briefing.

Genevieve, out for her first ever duty, enjoyed the experience of setting the course, getting to watch the tactics and seeing the race from a different angle.

Out on the bay the wind was freshening and the scene was looking good for another challenging day.

Five keel boats lined up and four hit the line on starboard with Quickmatch hanging back a bit. Ten+One went straight over to port, heading in shore, followed soon after by Boheme. The tide, which can have a big impact on an inshore course, was about an hour up from low. A few of the skippers were no doubt going to use that same route as the tide began lifting south along the beach as it revolved anticlockwise around the Marriner Vortex (named after our very own intrepid traveller Johnny “Tango” Marriner).

Only two Flying Fifteens lined up on the second start line. Miss Molly had the jump but April Dancer had placed themselves just in front halfway up the first beat where Miss M almost took the paint off their stern with a perfectly timed duck. Even though there were only two boats it was looking like being a real battle. Both boats tried everything on the first downwind legs to extend or close the gap. Both boats were involved in a couple of what Lisa described from the duty boat as “gear breaking gybes”. Until April D actually “did” break some gear and had to retire. Miss M was then left out on her own to have what Bourney described as “the fastest reach of my life” and “a real sailing highlight”. It was witnessed from the duty boat and apparently did look pretty impressive!

The big boats were having another mighty race with the wind dropping off slightly before gusting up over 20knts.

Wild Rose had another good race and showed that she really likes the stronger stuff. Boheme did not let her have the win easily and came back at them hard to close the gap dramatically on the last beat. Congrats to Bill and crew, on another over the line win, and to Quickmatch for a second on handicap.

Handicap Keel YS
1st WildRose 1st Boheme
2nd Quickmatch 2nd Wildrose
3rd Boheme 3rd Its Magic

Life is good. Come Sailing!

To find out more see our website www.apollobaysailingclub.org.au or our Facebook group - Apollo Bay Sailing Club