2009 Sailing News
Page updated
28 March, 2010
ACYC Club Sailing
Race Report 14 - Sunday October 25
Well, that sure wasn't in the brochure! Race 14 of the of the Raymarine ACYC series saw some sailing strategies and levels of concentration that didn't quite go according to plan given the breeze and sunny skies early in the morning. Yet Mother Nature does have her way of throwing the proverbial spanner in the works and as they say, it's best not to fool with her.
From the good to the bad and the ugly to the nice. Weather conditions changed for the worst as skippers and crew set out after
And what course?
breakfast and briefing with the sky
turning black, the visibility down to almost nil and heavy rain soaking the fleet of six. Rituals of wearing rain jackets and other foul weather gear to deter the heavens from releasing a downpour didn't do the trick this time and those without wet weather protection not only cursed themselves for not bringing that extra layer but actually ahem, deferred the need for the much coveted Sunday cold beers. A day not for the timid? Cheers to Tenacity, which, without any temerity whatsoever, participated in her first race of the season. In the heavy rain and with winds reaching up to just under 20 knots, boats that appeared to have minimal crew on board prior to the start sequence miraculously acquired more at the end of the race. Crews saw wet and pruned hands while one skipper, shaking the tiller in the cold, concentrated on staying warm yet steered a proper course to earn third place. Oh the rewards of a red victory at the end of the day courtesy of Wine Connection!
With winds blowing from a westerly direction, the midday start saw a series of tacks off the line and subsequent positioning to follow the track around Koh Bon and Koh Lon to finish with a sausage with the Baan Nit Marker in play. Katsu, first off and first to complete the course, headed home with a torn spinnaker in hand. Were the original invisible crew members attentive to the problem at the time? Well, then again, to minimze the damage, the ragged tears did incite them to round the channel mark properly and secure a first place victory in Racing!
Next up in Racing was Emerald Blue. A downwind run past the islands and a reach with the staysail up into Chalong Bay secured her second while Windstar, initially shaky with the cold, wing-on-winged the trek past the islands into the champagne conditions of clearer skies and lighter winds. Despite a late start, newcomer to ACYC races Tenacity with her skipper and two crew members, brought up the rear in the class of four.
And the other class, which chose to brace the elements? Eight minutes and 20 minutes off the start line respectively in addition to umm, missing the start gate, didn't deter the relaunched F28 Silk Purse in her first race of the season and the Andaman Cabriolet Da Vinci Niña from toying with rigging, crew, elements, beverages, ?, and the like. Despite each being awarded a DNS, in honour of the ACYC spirit of getting out there, they were both awarded a prize with Merv Owen's Silk Purse recognized as coming first. As it is said, from the sow's ear to the silk purse...
Whew! A day of "wouldn't a hot drink be nice?" to "let's break out the cold beers!"
| Boat |
Name |
Place |
| Katsu |
Ben Copely |
1 |
| Emerald Blue |
Nick Band |
2 |
| Windstar |
Peter Wood |
3 |
Thanks to Nick Band for doing the am briefing and to an exuberant Merv Owen and his more than able assistant Lak, pretty in white yet 'unkissable' by the more than willing skippers with the Vegetarian Festival on, for officiating the prizegiving ceremony. Thumbs up to Race Officer Kathy de Cruz for roughing it in the longtail in the bad and good. Cheers and beers to ACYC for sponsoring the day.
The full results for the day can be viewed here. Overall results for the series and the performance handicap can be viewed at http://acyc.asiaaustraliatech.com
Photos of this race can be viewed here. Click here for the ACYC Photo Gallery.
Race 15 of the series will take place November 8. Call Scott Duncanson on 08 1892 4992 for
more information and visit www.acyc-phuket.com.
See you out on the water!!
Text & photos by Leslie Hand
