Sailing Club

Tell Tales

Sailing this past weekend really started when the junior sailors turned up on Friday afternoon. It was about as perfect as it is ever likely to get in Apollo Bay. Enough wind to make it exciting but not too much as to make controlling the boat too difficult.

And watching them head out through the harbour entrance, after a few practice runs inside, was a lovely sight. I found myself getting quite excited for them as I remembered my own first few experiences of looking back at the harbour entrance from the other side, out on the open ocean and feeling the rise and fall of the swell. Magic! As always under the guidance of Octavia, Maya and Peter with Igor keeping close by on the ducky.

Kevin and Kai had also taken a look out of the harbour on the Hansa. Kev and Kai are getting a real feel for the Hansa 303 and Kai is getting better at hiking and learning to keep her steady. Kev has been keen to figure out what the optimum wind is for this boat. Because of its interesting sail/ rig setup and its weighty daggerboard we figure it is about 15knts.

The race this week was shaping up to be an interesting one. A predicted 15kt easterly at 2pm peaking at 18 by 4pm. Sounds great, doesn’t it? Trouble is, that just didn’t happen. This is what did happen. Geoff, Russell and Gary setout a small, port triangle with an 80° upwind, not too far from the harbour.

Right about start time the wind, which had been building nicely, lightened off considerably. With the increasing swell and the tide starting to ebb (down to 0.3 at 5pm) the tide really became a factor and would play a large part in the race. All boats started on port at the pin except Euffamism who couldn’t capitalize on their starboard rights as the others boats crossed them easily. As has happened on the other light days this year Ziff showed she could point higher than most others and stepped out.

But Affrodite was also getting good speed and State of the Arc was proving once again that she doesn’t mind the light stuff, relegating April Dancer to 4th. 10+1 was the only keel boat out there, but she really had no hope in the disappearing breeze. She did a great job just to make it to the top mark, I think.

And woe betide anyone that didn’t get the approach to that top mark right as the woeful tide was there to make you question your very love of sailing! But the frustration was being felt by all, even the duty crew who decided that shortening the course was the only action to take. Ziff led all race, and special mention to Affro and SotA who also sailed exceptionally well.                                         

Results

Life is good. Come Sailing!

To find out more please see our Facebook group - Apollo Bay Sailing Club.