Sailing Club

Tell Tales

The duty crew this week was a stand in one of John, Russell and Mick, and as always they did a brilliant job. For the first time in a while Saturday presented us with a nice little westerly. With about 10knts it was shaping up to be a pretty sweet day for sailing!

Two keel boats and 8 Flying Fifteens presented at the startline to a starboard triangle course. About 250° upwind. So heading left at about 210° on stbd tack and 310° on port meant that there was a bit of swell coming from behind; a little more on port perhaps.

FF’s started first. A couple started at the boat end and the rest went further up the line to kick off their race. April Dancer got off the startline in front (how many times have I written that this year!). Pete (Ziff) and Gary (Windswept) were sailing solo which, for the middle triangle, with a little drop in the wind, would suit them quite well.

Next was the keel boat start. Boheme and Moonlighter (no 10+1 this week) had a 5 minute wait but Boheme was showing no sign of not racing very much this year, as she was off the startline like a rocket and according to one of the starters “she had a flawless race”.

The first upwind was a close affair and as they turned for the first downwind most of the boats threw up the silk sail. But it was a pretty tight reach for the spinnaker, making the next reach a bit more from behind, a little slower, and this time going towards the swell making it a bumpy ride. Skifflebeat was sitting pretty but a troubled spinnaker launch saw Euffamism pounce. State of the Arc had a little trouble with the spinnaker allowing Euffa creep past them as well. Euffa was able to squeeze past Ziff on the next leg but then the wheels fell off and by race end she was tail end Charlie.

The wind came back up to its earlier strength and Pete (Ziff) had the boat really up to speed. But the wind for the last triangle was probably suiting the extra weight in A.D and Affro and they finished the beat to the finish only 25 seconds apart. Ziff was next and Skifflebeat had sorted things and were on her tail, followed by Igor and Rob on SotA. Gary, sailing Windswept on his own, had a great race and a scorching last upwind saw him over the line next.

On elapsed time Boheme was a close third over the line so did indeed have a good race. This week is our last sail for the season and could be the last for 10+1, so here’s hoping for fair winds.                                   

Results

Life is good. Come Sailing!

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