(Report by Tim Duguid)
Sunday provided very pleasant sailing conditions for the annual Ron Weston event. A nice steady NE breeze of about eight knots coming in over the dam wall had nine boats on the start line with five Hunters , 'Dynamite' (of dubious pedigree), a Soling , a L26 and a Dart taking part. Race Officer Roy Shooter chose the usual first leg for the wind direction with the course to No 1(Quantum Sails), then right down to the bottom end of Ashley Bay , around the headland in to Thurlow Bay, around to Orient Bay, then to No 4 (Amanzi Water), on to No 6(Build It) and back to the jetty for the finish.
Race Officer Roy started promptly with a few boats still trying to rig and slip, making it an additional challenge for them to catch the starting members of the fleet. Knip, the L26 , and the Soling had good starts but Knip was OCS in
her eagerness to get going. Anton Ellens, with Vaughan and the gang on board Dynamite, took advantage of conditions and course and led from start to finish with Alan Barr on his Dart close behind.
Anthony Macmillan, making a return to his Hunter sailing, took Picannin out for the day. From starting about a minute late, he came from behind to be the first Hunter around No1.The Hunter fleet was dominated by Essex and Picannin.These two also constantly swapped positions. Unfortunately, Picannin had not rigged their bag at the start of the race, so this saw Essex get away until Picannin got their bag up to catch up very well again. Sailing back up Ashley, Essex decided to swap crew and skipper, putting Paul in the unfamiliar position as crew. Piccanin enjoyed a lift inside Essex and took the lead but was then caught up in the tussle between the Soling and L26, allowing Essex to sneak through again. Essex was constantly pushed by Piccanin, but managed to hold on to her lead to the finish. Nice to see
Rose and Jay on the water again, and Commodore Richard Solomon doing a 'Bertie Reed' and sailing well to beat the girls.
A wonderful duel took place between the Soling, with Keith Gearson at the helm, and the l26 of Georg ,Jenny and Clive with Tommy's sons on board.They constantly swapped positions throughout the entire race.
As Georg said; "It was far from a relaxing fun race, but a great race all the same."
Line honours went to : 1.Dynamite 2. Dart 3.Soling 4. L26
Boat handicaps saw the Hunters lead; 1.Essex 2. Picannin 3. Knip
A great day's sailing.Thanks to Roy Shooter for doing the duties.
Next up is Club Champs #5 incorporating the Monthly Mug and Hunter George Duffin series on Sunday 5 November.This is the last chance of practice before Hunter Provincials, so try and make it onto the water.
Speaking of HUNTER PROVS.......GET THOSE ENTRIES IN.
Entered to date: Essex Girl, Odin's Eye, Flirt, Knip, Picannin, Baby Blue, Hybrid Theory, Bad News.
That only makes eight !!! Come on guys, we normally have at least seventeen entries.
PLEASE COME AND GET THOSE NUMBERS UP.
SAILORS FROM DURBAN:JOIN IN. WE NEED TO KEEP THIS A WELL-ATTENDED HUNTER REGATTA.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
Class Champs #3(Sunday 7 November) and Looking Ahead at HMYC
The report from Tim Duguid (thanks Tim) on this past Sunday's action was as short as the RO for the day, Pete (Blitz) Metcalfe aided by one Rob (Flash) Bell, managed to keep the fleet's time on the water !!
But on to the edited version:
RO's Metcalfe and Bell had announced three back-to-back 2-lap windward/leeward races from the Centre mark, using No 1 (Quantum Sails) and a laid bottom can beyond the start/finish line, at the short 10h30 briefing.
The 11h00 start of the first race had seven Hunters, an L20 and an Extra moving off smartly in a steady 10 knot breeze coming over the dam wall.
The first race saw Odin's Eye (with young Marisca Lagrange as crew) get off to a good start from which she took full advantage. Essex Girl took second position with Hybrid Theory, showing good boat speed, hot on her heels.
Nigel Miln and Anton Ellens (Baby Blue), after missing the first race, gave a good account of themselves in the second. They made Hybrid Theory apply the good boat speed shown in the first race to the test, coming in second to a chasing Essex and Odin.
The third race was shortened to a single lap, not really allowing the closely-bunched fleet to fight for positions in a second lap. First three positions were taken by Essex, Hybrid and Knip.
Good sailing by Dr Tim Kerry on Grace saw him take Hunter Silver Fleet honours on the day and had him in close contention for the Monthly Mug. Essex Girl took the Monthly Mug with her consistent sailing.
Hunter Class George Duffin and Hunter Trophy series standings are looking interesting with only one point separating the top two boats in both competitions at this stage of the season.
All things considered, a good day on the water in good sailing conditions.
TO ALL HUNTER CLASS SAILORS: only one Class Champs event before Hunter KZN Provincials. Get your boat out on the water !!!!
___________________________________________________________________________________
LOOKING AHEAD AT HMYC
*Saturday 13 November - Ladies/Crew's Race (to be confirmed) - Briefing 13h30
Ladies at the helm or get your usual 'cross dressing' crew to skipper for this medium-distance event!
*Saturday 20 November - Partington Plate #3
Briefing 13h30 - Open to all classes ,with a growing number of larger keelers participating, this longer distance race is a great opportunity for many to get out onto the water. No Currie Cup rugby to distract you !
*Sunday 28 November - Ron Weston 20 Miler
Briefing 10h30 - THE long distance event of the HMYC calendar. Particularly suited to the keelers, large and small (and hardy dinghy and cat sailors), this event takes in the Midmar scenery while rounding marks in the far reaches of the dam. Make a day of it out on the water or a weekend at HMYC, with club camping available over the weekend.
*Sunday 5 December - Club Champs and Monthly Mug #4
Briefing 10h30:
**Thursday 16 to Saturday 18 December 2010
KZN HUNTER PROVINCIALS AT HMYC
(NOR and SI on www.hmyc.org.za )
Please remember the SAS KZN Christmas regatta between Christmas and New Year. If you would like to camp in the club grounds, you will need to book as soon as possible as there is limited space available.
Dave Wagner
VC SAILING
083 325 7757
But on to the edited version:
RO's Metcalfe and Bell had announced three back-to-back 2-lap windward/leeward races from the Centre mark, using No 1 (Quantum Sails) and a laid bottom can beyond the start/finish line, at the short 10h30 briefing.
The 11h00 start of the first race had seven Hunters, an L20 and an Extra moving off smartly in a steady 10 knot breeze coming over the dam wall.
The first race saw Odin's Eye (with young Marisca Lagrange as crew) get off to a good start from which she took full advantage. Essex Girl took second position with Hybrid Theory, showing good boat speed, hot on her heels.
Nigel Miln and Anton Ellens (Baby Blue), after missing the first race, gave a good account of themselves in the second. They made Hybrid Theory apply the good boat speed shown in the first race to the test, coming in second to a chasing Essex and Odin.
The third race was shortened to a single lap, not really allowing the closely-bunched fleet to fight for positions in a second lap. First three positions were taken by Essex, Hybrid and Knip.
Good sailing by Dr Tim Kerry on Grace saw him take Hunter Silver Fleet honours on the day and had him in close contention for the Monthly Mug. Essex Girl took the Monthly Mug with her consistent sailing.
Hunter Class George Duffin and Hunter Trophy series standings are looking interesting with only one point separating the top two boats in both competitions at this stage of the season.
All things considered, a good day on the water in good sailing conditions.
TO ALL HUNTER CLASS SAILORS: only one Class Champs event before Hunter KZN Provincials. Get your boat out on the water !!!!
___________________________________________________________________________________
LOOKING AHEAD AT HMYC
*Saturday 13 November - Ladies/Crew's Race (to be confirmed) - Briefing 13h30
Ladies at the helm or get your usual 'cross dressing' crew to skipper for this medium-distance event!
*Saturday 20 November - Partington Plate #3
Briefing 13h30 - Open to all classes ,with a growing number of larger keelers participating, this longer distance race is a great opportunity for many to get out onto the water. No Currie Cup rugby to distract you !
*Sunday 28 November - Ron Weston 20 Miler
Briefing 10h30 - THE long distance event of the HMYC calendar. Particularly suited to the keelers, large and small (and hardy dinghy and cat sailors), this event takes in the Midmar scenery while rounding marks in the far reaches of the dam. Make a day of it out on the water or a weekend at HMYC, with club camping available over the weekend.
*Sunday 5 December - Club Champs and Monthly Mug #4
Briefing 10h30:
**Thursday 16 to Saturday 18 December 2010
KZN HUNTER PROVINCIALS AT HMYC
(NOR and SI on www.hmyc.org.za )
Please remember the SAS KZN Christmas regatta between Christmas and New Year. If you would like to camp in the club grounds, you will need to book as soon as possible as there is limited space available.
Dave Wagner
VC SAILING
083 325 7757
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