Sailing Club

Tell Tales

The Living Dead – Ancient Marriners Rejoice Interlude’s Glorious Return to the top of the Podium!!  Party on dudes! 

Mid to high teens of South winds, amidst an impressive rolling sea state with full incoming tidal flow and full cloud cover – a welcome relief from the all too familiar dazzling summer sun. The fleet were cautious prior to the race as the forecast was for stronger winds and the entrance was fully “fizzing” as club legend and founding member Bob Hansen would so often say! Today’s sail is a tribute to the foresight and conviction of Lisa Deppeler & Paul Cannon who actioned the replacement of the club’s old rescue boat prior to COVID. Helena G is a super seaworthy Stabicraft enabled the fleet to safely access sea conditions that would surely be described as the envy of the wider Victorian sailing community. The old resue boat would have made today’s sail inaccessible.

In rolling southerly seas, tall and ungainly, long and peaky, with constantly emerging troughs and intense potential energy, sailors were excited to have their boats well powered by the breeze at all times. In continuous succession, they immersed in the art of steering their vessels up the sometimes very steep swell, being weightless whilst heeling slightly before plunging down over the back and into the next trough. Bearing away off the wind on the reaches were a popular highlight as crews enjoyed steering their powered hulls along, across and down the faces of the rolling walls of water, frequently trimming sails and balancing their boats whilst racing to the gybe and bottom marks.

This week’s performance highlight was the unexpected entry of John Marriner’s Interlude in the race. Crewed by Russell Smith, Anton Tibbits and Peter Bourne. It was an awesome sight to see Interlude back in the sea on such a classic sailing day. Channelling the energy of legendary crews of Bernie Webster, Bob Hansen, Bruce Thomas and Laurie Shaw, the boat was powered and trimmed to within an inch of its former glory. Clearly everyone on board were thrilled to enjoy the day together. There was a great celebration when the results were shared after the race. Interlude won on handicap on the same day as John and Chris’ 56^th wedding anniversary. A double header to remember! Congratulations John & Chris!!! Are you sure you still want to sell Interlude??

The flying fifteen fleet were re-energised by the return of Rob and Katie from NZ. April Dancer had the run of it, trailed by SOTA with Affrodite. Windswept’s broken boom is still awaiting parts, Euffamism’s crew took to Interlude. The Pearl did duty and SB had a significant 95^th birthday to celebrate. Today’s course was set using a phone app called Buoy Zone which makes it really easy to set accurate courses in any weather. Once the wind direction, the desired course dimensions and location are entered, all the work is done. The duty crew just follows instructions from the App. Magic!! Perfect courses are a sinch every time.

10 + 1 with many special guests were out for the win today. Their eagerness is rumoured to have psyched Boheme out. So much so they didn’t show up for this week’s show down. Instead 10+1 stayed close to SOTA for a competitive comparison throughout the race.

Everyone returned to shore safe, happy and invigorated. The wind kept blowing, the air was  moist sea was slopey. Hope to see you next week! Thanks to Edmond, Anton, Gary, Bruce and Gary for all that you do to support racing at ABSC!

Results

Life is good. Come Sailing!

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