Hi all,
who is going where?
This one is good fun if the weather isn't nasty. www.torquaysailingclub.org.au/
Hi all,
weather looks interesting to say the least <img src=
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After all it's only a 5hr drive, maybe longer with the Australia Day weekend traffic <img src=
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Hi all,
back from a big weekend <img src=
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Saturday dawned with light SE wind looking good for the Coaster race to Anglesea, until the sea fog came in cutting visibility to 100m and the wind stayed light, along with a forecast of 25knot change at some stage the OD put the long race on hold. So in the afternoon when the fog blew away two short races where held. Numbers where down this year around 17 cats, mostly Hobies 18's,17's and 16's, 1xTaipan 5.7 with Spin, 1xMossie with spin (Peter) and 1 without (Tim, lucky for him, his spinnaker was at the sail makers. Read on). Plus me on the FCA Blade F16 one up.
First race was two laps windward and returns, flat water (for Torquay). Winds where light and shifting to all points at times, I managed to gain back the lead I lost on the last leg, with the Taipan 5.7 and Mossie with spin following.
Second race was 3 laps windward and return, triangle, windward and return. Big breeze on first lap gusting off shore to 25+? saw one local TheMightyHobie18 have a blinder of a first beat tacking away from the fleet to be first around top mark, with me following with others behind. Gusts where coming through so violently that I left kite in chute <img src=
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Sunday dawned still with the threat of strong change so the OD decided to hold the coaster to Barwon heads not as far as Anglesea and in the opposite direction. Start was on a reach which turned into a short beat, then followed by a reach in 8-12kts, with some 1m confused swell. Taipan 5.7 was leading the way without spinnaker, but I hoisted mine, was forced below the rumline then dropped, tight reached up and hoisted again, this allowed me to pass TheMightyHobie18's and catch the 5.7 some. Then around a mark at Barwon heads on to a loose beat in 8-15kts. I was happy to hold off the TheMightyHobie18's and keep my distance on the Taipan 5.7, until we got back to Torquay where the 5.7 couldn't find the rounding mark and I found it just in time to point up while the 5.7 and TheMightyHobie18's had to tack. Then a short blast under kite to the finish. It was one of the hardest races physicaly I have done, as the swell and wind meant constant adjustment of mainsheet on one tack for over one hour <img src=
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In the afternoon they held 2 races wind had built to 15 to 25kts. with swell to 2m. breaking around the course, triangle and windward and return. Best 2 TheMightyHobie18's where loving it with me and Taipan 5.7 chasing. I was happy to hold the TheMightyHobie18's on the Triangle, but of course had to pull the kite on the return to pass them. I went swimming on a gybe and fell in the sail pulling sail out of the mast so I headed to beach to fix but the second race started before it was fixed, so that was the end of the regatta for me <img src=
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Realized after, the capsize in gybe was probably aided by the broken tail on my traveller rope which happened on the first beat. It meant the traveller was down one side and centred on the other, so it had started moving in the gybe and the stopped in centre putting a force on the main I had not expected <img src=
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Tim on Mossie with out spin cleaned up on yardstick followed by 2 TheMightyHobie18's. With 2 DNF's I didn't get a look in. Not realy spinnaker conditions or courses, but wait till the next regatta.
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