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Tales 17th December 2005
Sailing on Saturday started at 2:00pm in a
squally and shifty 20-30 knot west/south-westerly.
Only 5 starters turned up which was surprising since
Christmas is the season to be jolly and sailing is
a jolly affair. Then again, the conditions were wet,
changeable and threatening.
After several hours of discussion last week about
Matt and Gary’s (Sweat Shop) “spray and
lay” onto Mandy and Pete’s boat (In The
Pink) at the start line, Randall was keen to give
it a ‘knock’ himself. This time Randall,
skippering Zappa, had a commanding position over Colin
and Doug on Miss Molly. Lids and John Lindsay, (Windswept)
has just pulled off an unchallenged and near perfect
start. Zappa came in behind Windswept but on a lower
heading. She was drawing over toward Miss Molly who
was pointing closer to the wind. Randall eyeballed
Colin and repeatedly wrenched on his tiller, bearing
still further down upon Miss Molly, until the satisfying
knock of his boom hitting Miss Molly’s mast
was heard by all. Again, there was no protest. Randall
made good by disqualifying himself.
In the second start, Jubilation carrying a swaggering
arsenal of competitive sailors including Tim Cohen,
was well clear of Interlude. Both boats were in for
a great race as the conditions were well suited to
these larger boats. They both moved beautifully through
the water although Jubilation had it all over the
rest of the fleet consistently completing smooth and
tidy transitions and roundings of the marks.
The three flying fifteens sailed individual races.
Lids and Leo (Windswept) were well clear of both Miss
Molly and Zappa. They kept their boat flatter in the
water and had their sails on hard enabling them to
point 10 to 30 degrees higher than the others. Miss
Molly, sailing higher than Zappa, was also trialling
some innovative hiking techniques. Doug William’s,
sitting forward of the side stay with his left foot
on the mast and right foot either in the boat or up
in the air, had the rescue crew guessing. Initially,
they worried about whether Miss Molly was tipping
over, then they wondered if he was assuming a pre
capsize position, or was he trying to push her over?
With his hand on the side stay cranking back as he
lent out of the boat, it became apparent he was logically
modifying the trapeze skills he had developed previously
as a crewman on a 3 person dinghy called a Light Weight
Sharpie. Randall was hot on their stern, maybe Collin
was shouting: “Flat Boat Doug. Stand her up!”
But Doug had heard “You Fat Blob Doug. Stand
Up!” Being such a shifty, gusty and windy day
anything is possible.
After 4 or 5 woolly westerly Saturdays in a row we
are all looking forward to more summery, warm and
sunny breezes.
Results:
Top Yacht CC: Fishmongers & Pre Xmas
1 Jubilation 1 Interlude
2 Interlude 2 Jubilation
3 Miss Molly 3 Windswept
4 Windswept 4 Miss Molly
Note: Learn to Sail will recommence on the 4th of
February.Junior sailors wishing to sail in the weekly
1:40 pm short races (30 min) can contact Matt Armstong
52371 007. You need to have your boat set up by 12:45
and go to the briefing at the club house at 1pm. Alternatively,
you can come down to the club house at 12:45 and offer
yourself as crew person on one of the boats
Next
Meeting 4th January 2006 at Leo Di Cecco's. All interested
members welcome.
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