Sailing Club

Tell Tales

Friday - Night Learn to Sail

For the final session for term 4, participants enjoyed light warm air drifting through the harbour. Lots of new sailors had their first turn steering in the ideal conditions. The excitement and underlying fatigue of the end year / pre- Christmas buzz was real. With old faces and new, it was a lovely night spent together celebrating achievements with recognition, jokes and jocularity.

Saturday - Racing

What more could a sailor want for, blue skies, a steady 12 knots of wind from the South / South West and 7 yachts to compete with. A course was set with a start line past Wild Dog beating back towards the harbour and a jibe mark close to the beach.

Six Flying Fifteens contested the start line in close quarters, however, April Dancer saw an opportunity in what they saw as an advantage at the far end of the start line and started on a Port tack. Risky business this, as they would have to give way to any yachts they came towards. It paid off as they sailed past the fleet in clear air.

The top mark was very entertaining as the fleet had separated into 3 pairs with April Dancer being challenged by Black Pearl, the Affrodite being challenged by Euffamism, then State of the Arc being challenged by Ziff.

Simon, the new owner of Interlude, was discovering that it takes a bit to get her up to full speed and was trailing after a later start time, but she did look grand when at full power.

The first reach leg was a beautiful sight with all 6 Flying Fifteen under spinnaker.

With so much spinnaker action there were a multitude of problems, which spinnakers are notorious for. There were sheets (ropes) tangled on rudders, spinnakers wrapped around fore stay and broken spinnaker poles. Some problems solved and some persisted, some had to pack the spinnaker away for the remainder.

As the race progressed the action got tighter with Affrodite and Euffamism closing the gap on the leading pair, whilst State or the Arc and Ziff appeared to be in their own Match Race, stealing each other’s wind and making life hard for each other.

Peter Geekie did his best to distract his rivals by jumping off the back of Black Pearl to fix a tangled rudder. Nearby yachts thought he was in trouble and thought about helping out, until they saw that it was Pete. They either thought that he is skilled and will sort it out or this was time to take advantage, no one would confess their real thoughts! All good, he was back in his boat in no time and back in the race, chasing April Dancer again! After several mistakes & subsequent lead changes throughout the day, it was during the final up wind leg that saw the Dancer on opposite tacks to Black Pearl, BP took the lead. After more tight racing under spinnakers downwind, Black Pearl narrowly finished first across the line

Meanwhile, Euffamism was also tactically aggressive trying to close the gap on Affrodite without the same fortune. After a close battle through the middle of the race, Ziff broke away from SOTA and lead them home. Interlude sailed beautifully around the course and will be better off for the experience.

Thank you to a couple of generous volunteers, John Mariner and Edmond helping me out on the Duty Boat. A fun day for all in beautiful Apollo Bay weather.

Next Saturday we will host a pre xmas BBQ after racing from around 4:30 or 5pm. Usually $5pp. All welcome.

Results

Life is good. Come Sailing!

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

New Members Always Welcome!

Many thanks to Bendigo Bank for their support of Learn to Sail at ABSC.