2009 Sailing News
Page updated
28 March, 2010
ACYC Club Sailing
Race 6 June 14 2009
Bright and sunny skies with winds blowing 15 to 20 knots dictated a day of champagne conditions in Race 6 of the Ray Marine ACYC Race Series providing a relief to the Latitude 8 doldrums experienced in the previous two races. Kids on Awatea, birds in the sky, newcomer Ray with the flags on start boat Onyx and a new set of pearly whites for the ever-beaming and effervescent MC Tony, added to the upbeat - and often upwind - sailing for the day.
Course 4 with modifications made Awatea with kids onboard
the for an exhilarating route for
eight-member fleet that saw some healthy competition around the markers but unfortunately an early finish and a post-race cruising theme for others pining for more while waiting for the beers to get cold onshore.
An around-the-island-course, one which would expectedly see a fair spread between boats, proved to be a daring duel between two in Racing. In a gallant fashion, the pre-race bout saw the pair vying for top positions across the line with Minx crossing first. Admit defeat again after last race's third place to Windstar and second place finisher Nereida? Nope! In a valiant effort to redeem herself from last race's demise, our flirtatious girl spread her skirts perhaps showing just a little too much of her bottom side down the last stretches and through the finish for first in Racing. A daring duel and a bountiful bumside for the spectating cruisers to watch! Eventually the controlled Windstar, sporting a reefed main in the heavy breeze in the last two sausages, gave way to the lady to finish second. And the lovely sea nymph Nereida, which finished a distant third? Perhaps helmsman Bob Mott does want to purr on cats after all.
Push a button!?! A little over an hour and a half on a luxurious boat in the high seas doesn't mean that it's NOT really hard work! Even the IYT instructors, sea salts and old sailing hands have their work cut out for them. Although It was Simone, which crossed the start line first in Cruising, Awatea, light-weighted with her crew of kids, succeeded in overtaking and reaching cruising class line honours. Although fingers on Simone felt sore and blistered at the end of the day, a win on handicap and some refreshing G&T's and canapes were enough to reward the day.
It was a fast race for Multihulls yet a no contest one with the around the island and sausage course. Moto Inzi, off the line first, sailed to line honours and victory. Happy Feet, back to defy waves and gravity after her foil flop of several races ago, came second with Ceberus in her first ACYC race this year, coming third.
Again, a great day and even the birds seemed to be enjoying the sailing.
| Boat |
Name |
Place |
| Minx |
Mick Kealy |
1 |
| Windstar |
Peter Wood |
2 |
| Nereida |
Roger Diggelmann |
3 |
| Boat |
Name |
Place |
| Simone |
Roger Harris |
1 |
| Awatea |
Andrew de Bruin |
2 |
| Boat |
Name |
Place |
| Moto Inzi |
Roger Kingdon |
1 |
| Happy Feet |
Arnie Duckworth |
2 |
| Ceberus |
Mark Horwood |
3 |
A healthy toast to IMAGE asia for sponsoring the day with bottles of wine for all boats and to series sponsor Ray Marine. Once again, thanks to a great BBQ and cold ones served by the ACYC crew. Keep 'em coming girls - there are more races to come! Cheers to the racing crew Ray and Tony Onyx and MC Tony.
The full results for the day and the performance handicap can be viewed here: http://acyc.asiaaustraliatech.com
Photos of this race can be viewed here. Click here for the ACYC Photo Gallery.
Race 7 is Sunday June 28. See you out on the water!!
Text & photos by Leslie Hand
